[syn: slavery, slaveholding]
3. work done under harsh conditions for little or no pay;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Slavery \Slav"er*y\, n.; pl. Slaveries. [See 2d Slave.]
1. The condition of a slave; the state of entire subjection
of one person to the will of another.
[1913 Webster]
Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, slavery, said
I, still thou art a bitter draught! --Sterne.
[1913 Webster]
I wish, from my soul, that the legislature of this
state [Virginia] could see the policy of a gradual
abolition of slavery. It might prevent much future
mischief. --Washington.
[1913 Webster]
2. A condition of subjection or submission characterized by
lack of freedom of action or of will.
[1913 Webster]
The vulgar slaveries rich men submit to. --C. Lever.
[1913 Webster]
There is a slavery that no legislation can abolish,
-- the slavery of caste. --G. W. Cable.
[1913 Webster]
3. The holding of slaves.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Bondage; servitude; inthrallment; enslavement;
captivity; bond service; vassalage.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
slavery
n 1: the state of being under the control of another person
[syn: bondage, slavery, thrall, thralldom,
thraldom]
2: the practice of owning slaves [syn: slavery,
slaveholding]
3: work done under harsh conditions for little or no pay