The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Servitude \Serv"i*tude\, n. [L. servitudo: cf. F. servitude.]
1. The state of voluntary or compulsory subjection to a
master; the condition of being bound to service; the
condition of a slave; slavery; bondage; hence, a state of
slavish dependence.
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You would have sold your king to slaughter,
His princes and his peers to servitude. --Shak.
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A splendid servitude; . . . for he that rises up
early, and goes to bed late, only to receive
addresses, is really as much abridged in his freedom
as he that waits to present one. --South.
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2. Servants, collectively. [Obs.]
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After him a cumbrous train
Of herds and flocks, and numerous servitude.
--Milton.
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3. (Law) A right whereby one thing is subject to another
thing or person for use or convenience, contrary to the
common right.
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Note: The object of a servitude is either to suffer something
to be done by another, or to omit to do something, with
respect to a thing. The easements of the English
correspond in some respects with the servitudes of the
Roman law. Both terms are used by common law writers,
and often indiscriminately. The former, however, rather
indicates the right enjoyed, and the latter the burden
imposed. --Ayliffe. Erskine. E. Washburn.
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Penal servitude. See under Penal.
Personal servitude (Law), that which arises when the use of
a thing is granted as a real right to a particular
individual other than the proprietor.
Predial servitude (Law), that which one estate owes to
another estate. When it related to lands, vineyards,
gardens, or the like, it is called rural; when it related
to houses and buildings, it is called urban.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Penal \Pe"nal\, a. [L. poenalis, fr. poena punishment: cf. F.
p['e]nal. See Pain.]
Of or pertaining to punishment, to penalties, or to crimes
and offenses; pertaining to criminal jurisprudence: as:
(a) Enacting or threatening punishment; as, a penal statue;
the penal code.
(b) Incurring punishment; subject to a penalty; as, a penal
act or offense.
(c) Inflicted as punishment; used as a means of punishment;
as, a penal colony or settlement. "Adamantine chains and
penal fire." --Milton.
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Penal code (Law), a code of laws concerning crimes and
offenses and their punishment.
Penal laws, Penal statutes (Law), laws prohibiting
certain acts, and imposing penalties for committing them.
Penal servitude, imprisonment with hard labor, in a prison,
in lieu of transportation. [Great Brit.]
Penal suit, Penal action (Law), a suit for penalties.
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