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Meaning of "serf" in the English dictionary

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DICTIONARY
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ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD SERF

From Old French, from Latin servus a slave.
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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.
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PRONUNCIATION OF SERF

serf  [sɜːf] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF SERF

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Serf is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES SERF MEAN IN ENGLISH?

serf

Serfdom

Serfdom is the status of peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to manorialism. It was a condition of bondage which developed primarily during the High Middle Ages in Europe and lasted in some countries until the mid-19th century. Serfs who occupied a plot of land were required to work for the Lord of the Manor who owned that land, and in return were entitled to protection, justice and the right to exploit certain fields within the manor to maintain their own subsistence. Serfs were often required not only to work on the lord's fields, but also his mines, forests and roads. The manor formed the basic unit of feudal society and the Lord of the Manor and his serfs were bound legally, economically, and socially. Serfs formed the lowest social class of feudal society. The decline of serfdom in Western Europe has sometimes been attributed to the Black Death, which reached Europe in 1347, although the decline had begun before that date. Serfdom became increasingly rare in most of Western Europe after the Renaissance, but conversely, it grew strong in Central and Eastern Europe, where it had previously been less common.

Definition of serf in the English dictionary

The definition of serf in the dictionary is an unfree person, esp one bound to the land. If his lord sold the land, the serf was passed on to the new landlord.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH SERF


Astroturf
ˈæstrəʊˌtɜːf
channel-surf
ˈtʃæn əlsɜːf
curf
kɜːf
egosurf
ˌiːɡəʊsɜːf
enserf
ɪnˈsɜːf
erf
ɜːf
kerf
kɜːf
returf
riːˈtɜːf
scurf
skɜːf
skysurf
ˈskaɪˌsɜːf
surf
sɜːf
turf
tɜːf
unturf
ʌnˈtɜːf
windsurf
ˈwɪndˌsɜːf

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE SERF

serenate
serendipitist
serendipitous
serendipitously
serendipity
serene
serenely
sereneness
serenities
serenity
serfage
serfdom
serfhood
serfish
serflike
serfship
serge
serge suit
sergeancy
sergeant

WORDS THAT END LIKE SERF

Altdorf
arf
barf
Battle of Clontarf
brown dwarf
Clontarf
dwarf
go with the turf
headscarf
orf
red dwarf
rf
scarf
snarf
surf ´n´ turf
swarf
the turf
wharf
Whorf
zarf

Synonyms and antonyms of serf in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

SYNONYMS OF «SERF»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «serf» and belong to the same grammatical category.
synonyms of serf

Translation of «serf» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF SERF

Find out the translation of serf to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of serf from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «serf» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

农奴
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

siervo
570 millions of speakers

English

serf
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

कम्मी
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

القن
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

крепостной
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

serf
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

ক্রীতদাসবৎ দায়াবদ্ধ কৃযক
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

serf
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Serf
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Leibeigene
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

農奴
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

농노
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Serf
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

nông nô
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

அடிமை
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

सर्फ
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

serf
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

servo della gleba
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

chłop pańszczyźniany
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

Фортечний
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

iobag
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

δουλοπάροικος
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

lyfeiene
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

serf
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

livegne
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of serf

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «SERF»

The term «serf» is regularly used and occupies the 67.738 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Regularly used
69
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «serf» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of serf
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «serf».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «SERF» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «serf» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «serf» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about serf

EXAMPLES

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «SERF»

Discover the use of serf in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to serf and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Four Russian Serf Narratives
To date scholars have identified only twenty known Russian serf narratives. Four Russian Serf Narratives contains four of these accounts and is the first translated collection of autobiographies by serfs.
John MacKay, 2009
2
From Serf to Surfer: Becoming a Network Consultant
Attention all network administrators looking to break the 9-to-5 routine! This unique books shows professionals hot to leverage skills, become consultants, and make more cash at the same time.
Matthew Strebe, Marc S. Bragg, Steven T. Klovanish, 2000
3
The Serf, the Knight, and the Historian
Dominique Barthelemy presents a sharply revisionist account of the history of France around the year 1000, challenging the traditional view that France underwent a kind of revolution at the millennium which ushered in feudalism."
Dominique Barthélemy, 2009
4
Operation Serf
The stage is set for another Civil War as three factions battle for control of the pieces. The story takes place in many areas across the country, but centers on one extended family caught between the struggles of the rival factions.
Chris Sullins, 2009
5
Serf, Seigneur, and Sovereign: Agrarian Reform in ...
This is a detailed history of the agrarian reforms which took place in Bohemia during the reigns of the Habsburg rulers Maria Theresa, 1740–1780, and Joseph II, 1780–1790.
William E. Wright, 1966
6
The serf
Through the intensity of his language, which is violent, obscence, blasphemous, but also vivid baroque, fantastic, Winkler turns this picture of a backward rural community into a dark account of the human condition, in which we are all ...
Josef Winkler, Michael Mitchell, 1997
7
The slave, The serf and The freeman
THE. SERF. ' Whose freedom is by sufferance, and at will Of a superior, he is never free. Who lives, and is not weary of a life Exposed to manacles, deserves them well. Slaves, that once conceive the glowing thought Of freedom, in that hope ...
mrs. George Campbell Overend, 1872
8
Russian Serf Emancipation: four letters on its origin, ...
Serf-breeding Count Apraxia's chdfenu was set on fire by his was, in fact, a regular system. The master was serfs in consequence of his cruelty. A case ocoften the sole husband of the female flock: be- curred; some time ago, where a proprietor ...
James Long, 1864
9
The Serf-sisters: Or, The Russia of To-day
THE. RUSSIA. OF. TO-DAY. CHAPTER. I. EASTER DAY in St. Petersburg, — Easter Day of the year Eighteen Hundred and Fifty-four.! Crowds of people, the natives of every country of Asia and Eastern Europe, jostling each other in the broad ...
John Berwick Harwood, 1855
10
The Serf: A Play, in Five Acts
He that could see a woman die, without Offering some aid, or stretching forth his hand, But looks on, a spectator, unconcern 'd, Deserves no more to bear the name of man ; And it was duty solely, I perceive, Prompted the serf to save me from ...
J. Hector T. Courcelle, 1853

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «SERF»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term serf is used in the context of the following news items.
1
New York Police Shut Down Mint and Serf's Downtown Graffiti Pop-Up
At mid-afternoon Friday, the duo alerted a select group to the Soho location of the "Gimme Shelter" show, which was scheduled to run from 3–7 pm Saturday. «artnet News, Jun 15»
2
Saudi Arabia – Facing A Serf Revolt
Saudi Arabia – Facing A Serf Revolt. By: Pervez Hoodbhoy. Meeting between Pakistani and Saudi Arabian representatives on situation in Yemen. | Photo: ... «teleSUR English, May 15»
3
SERF - Eastbourne Rally Special Event Station GB6SRF
SERF - Eastbourne Rally Special Event Station GB6SRF. With only a month to go until the launch of the Eastbourne Rally, the Sussex Electronics and Radio Fair ... «Southgate Amateur Radio Club, May 15»
4
SERF, Music Performance Center recommendations receive state …
The Joint Southeast Campus Area Committee hears updates for SERF reconstruction and the School of Music Performance Center, but acknowledges funding ... «Madison.com, Mar 15»
5
The quantified serf
THINK of it as the workplace equivalent of the Fitbit or Nike FuelBand: a way to set your goals and monitor your progress, and to share the journey with ... «The Economist, Mar 15»
6
6 Things Standing Between You and Your Dream Life
Lamisha Serf-Walls is a life coach for women who are ready to live an amazing life on their own terms, but feel held-back and frustrated in how to make that ... «Huffington Post, Mar 15»
7
SERF approves $26K in grants for local schools
At the elementary education level, SERF approved funds for the Brainology program, based on the book Mindset by Carol Dweck, which teaches brain science ... «Wicked Local Sudbury, Jan 15»
8
UW-Madison sophomore's phone app answers 'How Full is the …
“How Full is the SERF?” displays live statistics of how many people are occupying each room in the SERF based on hourly headcounts conducted by the ... «Madison.com, Nov 14»
9
Mint & Serf: Support, Therapy and Instability
Mint & Serf, the art duo from NYC will showcase their large scale paintings at the Maxwell Colette Gallery in their Chicago debut of, "Support, Therapy and ... «Gapers Block, Nov 14»
10
Wanted: An enthusiastic serf to polish a baronet's broadsword …
His pride and joy is a collection of broadswords, pikes and halberds that hang on the castle halls, and he needs an enthusiastic serf to keep them polished. «Daily Mail, Oct 14»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Serf [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/serf>. Apr 2024 ».
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