thralln.1adj.1
/θrɔːl/, U.S. /θrɔl/, /θrɑl/ Now archaic or Historical.
A. n.1
I. A person in bondage, and related uses.
1.
a. One who is in bondage to a lord or master; a villein, serf, bondman, slave; also, in vaguer use, a servant, subject; transferred one whose liberty is forfeit; a captive, prisoner of war.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > slavery or bondage > [noun] > slave
theowc893
thrallc950
young manOE
slavec1290
boyc1300
servanta1325
bondc1330
bondmana1340
manciplea1387
man's-bond?a1400
thrillc1480
thrillmanc1480
serf1483
bondservant1535
bondslave1561
bondling1587
slave-boy1607
slave-labourer1607
chattel1649
bondsman1713
livestock1755
esne1819
thirl-man1871
task-labourer1897
α.
β. c1200 Vices & Virt. 17 Ðe ðe hlauerd betahte his þralle.c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 121 To lesen þe þrales of þralshipe.1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 3010 Þe king..Nom of him sikernesse to be is þral euere mo.1415 T. Hoccleve To Sir J. Oldcastle 98 Where is thy knyghtly herte, art thow his thral?1566 T. Drant Wailyngs Hieremiah in tr. Horace Medicinable Morall sig. L v Our yonge men, lyke to vylaine thrawles, In drudgerie did grinde.1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus (i. 4) 68 A Redeemer, purchasing vs beeing captiues, and thralls to Satan.1748 J. Thomson Castle of Indolence i. xi Outcast of Nature, Man! the wretched thrall Of bitter~dropping sweat.1867 J. H. Burton Hist. Scotl. to 1688 I. xi. 393 The thralls or personal slaves.γ. a1500 Spirit. Remedies in J. O. Halliwell Nugæ Poeticæ (1844) 65 Lorde, sende it unto the syke tharlle.c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Mark x. 44 And sua huæ seðe wælle in iuh forðmest wosa bie allra ðræl.
991 Laws of Æthelred ii. c. 5 §1 gyf Englisc man Deniscne ðræl ofslea, gylde hine mid punde.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 47 Heo [i.e. Sunday] on eorðe ȝeueð reste to alle eorðe þrelles, wepmen and wifmen of heore þrel weorkes.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 123 Herien we ure drihten þe..makede us freo of þeowan and of þrelan his ahȝene bern.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 105 Hwenne ȝe habbeð al wel idon seið ure lauerd. seggeð þet ȝe beoð unnute þralles.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 19 He deþ manhode to þe dyeule and becomþ his þrel.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 220 Serwandis and threllis mad he fre.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 274 Nane can tell Ye halle condicioun off a threll.
b. figurative. One who is in bondage to some power or influence; a slave (to something).
ΚΠ
c950 Lindisf. Gosp. John viii. 34 Seðe wyrcas synne ðræl is synnes.
c1230 Hali Meid. 5 Þeos as flesches þralles beoð in worldes þeowdom.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 86 Þet hi ne byeþ þrelles ne to gold ne to zeluer ne to hare caroyne.
1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (xxxvi. 5) They willingly yeelde themselves thralls to wickednes.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iii. vi. 13 Slaues of drinke, and thralles of sleepe. View more context for this quotation
1821 C. Lamb in London Mag. Aug. 152/1 The veriest thrall to sympathies, dispathies, antipathies.
II. Thraldom, and related uses.figurative.1576 Thanksgiving in W. K. Clay Liturg. Services Q. Eliz. (1847) 559 Thou didst set us free from thrall.1633 G. Herbert Church Porch in Temple xx When wanton pleasures becken us to thrall.1800–24 T. Campbell Jilted Nymph iv A suitor, Whose heart I have gotten in thrall.1856 D. M. Mulock John Halifax I. xii. 256 The Anonymous Friend: who held him in such fascinated thrall.† 3. Oppression, trouble, misery, distress. Obsolete.
2. The condition of a thrall; thraldom, bondage, servitude; captivity.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > slavery or bondage > [noun]
theowdomc893
thralshipc1200
thraldomc1275
thrallhead1297
servagec1300
thrall14..
bondage1330
dangera1375
servicea1382
servitutea1393
thaneheada1400
thrillagec1400
serviturea1422
servitudec1425
thrildomc1480
thirldom1489
thirlage1513
servilityc1530
slavedom1562
serviceage1594
bondmanship1611
bond-service1611
slaverya1616
slavishnessa1620
bond slavery1835
chattelship1857
chattelhood1871
thirl-band1871
thirl-service-
14.. Chester Pl. i. 129 If that yow in thrall yow bringe.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 6304 Quen moises þe folk had lad..out of þe þralle of pharaon.
a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) II. 44 The nyght in prosperatie, the morne in thraill.
1592 T. Tymme Plaine Discouerie Ten Eng. Lepers A ij b To bring this noble Realme of England to thraule.
1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster Famous Hist. Thomas Wyat sig. D4 You free your Countrie from base spanish thrall.
1793 R. Burns Poems (ed. 2) II. 178 In love and freedom they rejoice, Wi' care nor thrall opprest.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Sir Galahad ii, in Poems (new ed.) II. 175 For them I battle till the end, To save from shame and thrall.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > [noun]
sorec888
teeneOE
sorrowOE
workOE
wrakeOE
careOE
gramec1000
harmOE
howc1000
trayOE
woweOE
angec1175
derfnessc1175
sytec1175
unwinc1175
wosithc1200
ail?c1225
barrat?c1225
derf?c1225
grief?c1225
misease?c1225
misliking?c1225
ofthinkingc1225
passion?c1225
troublec1230
pinec1275
distress1297
grievancea1300
penancea1300
cumbermentc1300
languorc1300
cumbering1303
were1303
angera1325
strifea1325
sweama1325
woea1325
painc1330
tribulationc1330
illa1340
threst1340
constraintc1374
troublenessc1380
afflictiona1382
bruisinga1382
miseasetya1382
pressurec1384
exercisec1386
miscomfortc1390
mislikea1400
smarta1400
thronga1400
balec1400
painfulnessc1400
troublancec1400
smartness?c1425
painliness1435
perplexity?a1439
penalty?1462
calamity1490
penality1496
cumber?a1513
sussy1513
tribule1513
afflict?1529
vexation of spirit1535
troublesomeness1561
hoe1567
grievedness1571
tribulance1575
languishment1576
thrall1578
tine1590
languorment1593
aggrievedness1594
obturbation1623
afflictedness1646
erumny1657
pathos1684
shock1705
dree1791
vex1815
wrungnessa1875
dukkha1886
thinkache1892
sufferation1976
society > authority > rule or government > oppression > [noun]
threat971
duressc1320
defoulc1330
tyrantry1340
tyrannyc1368
oppressinga1382
overleadinga1382
tyrandisea1382
overlayingc1384
oppression1387
oversettinga1398
thronga1400
overpressingc1450
impressionc1470
tyrantshipc1470
tyrannesse?a1475
aggravation1481
defouling1483
supprissiona1500
oppressmentc1537
conculcation1547
iron hand?1570
thrall1578
tyrannizing1589
tyranting1596
ingrating1599
pressure1616
regrate1621
overpressure1644
slavishness1684
iron heel1798
1578 J. Rolland Seuin Seages 25 It is better..we all seuin suld die..Or this ȝoung man suld suffer ony thrall.
1609 S. Daniel Civile Wares (rev. ed.) viii. xciv. 227 Sit downe, And rest you, after all this passed thrall.
c1796 J. Graham in Chambers Scott. Songs (1829) 15 As yet you've met with little thrall.
a1829 in Roby Trad. Lanc. (1867) II. 26 In my trouble and thrall.
B. adj.1 [attributive use of the noun.] † 2. Belonging to or characteristic of thraldom; slave-like, slavish, servile. Obsolete.
1. That is a thrall; subject, captive, enslaved, in bondage.† b. preceding the noun. Obsolete.
a. in the predicate, or following the noun.
(a) literal.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > slavery or bondage > [adjective] > enslaved or in bondage
theowc888
thrall1297
bond1330
unfreec1380
servile1447
boundenc1480
thralled1527
bound1532
thirl1582
enthralled?1587
slaved1639
beslaved1656
enslaved1667
bondaged1790
unemancipated1811
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 4074 To bringe hom vnder þe þat þe wolde makie þral.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 51 Hardknoute of Danmark..he was born thralle.
c1430 J. Lydgate Chichevache & Bycorne in Minor Poems (1840) 132 For we ben thralle and they be free.
?1518 A. Barclay tr. D. Mancinus Myrrour Good Maners sig. Ev Sparyng the Citezins, to hym subiect and thrall.
a1641 T. Heywood & W. Rowley Fortune by Land & Sea iv, in Wks. (1874) VI. 418 We now are captives that made others thrall.
1863 S. Baring-Gould Iceland 252 Male or female—free or thrall.
(b) figurative.
ΚΠ
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 273 Hweðer is betere insecnesse to beon godes freo child. þen in flesches heale to beon þrel under sunne.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) Thoru a tre..was al mankind mad thrall.
1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 1 To be subgette and thral vnto the stormes of fortune.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke vi. 75 To be thrall to no vice.
a1600 in J. G. Dalyell Scotish Poems 16th Cent. (1801) II. 216 Sen word is thrall, and thoght is only free.
a1628 F. Greville Mustapha iii. i, in Certaine Wks. (1633) 119 Those silly natures, apt to louingnesse, Which euer must in others power liue, With doubt become more fond, with Wrong more thral.
1845 E. Holmes Life Mozart 167 It would seem that he was soon thrall to the court taste.
ΚΠ
a1530 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfeccyon (1531) iii. f. CCviii As thrall synners bounde in captiuite.
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 213 For the delyuerance of hys thrall seruante.
?a1560 in T. Wright Songs & Ballads Reign Philip & Mary (1860) 3 Beyng slaves to Sathan, and thrall captyves vyle.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > humility > servility > [adjective]
go-by-ground?a1300
thrall1398
abjectc1430
manly?c1430
servicious1440
serviceable1483
servile1537
tame1563
slavish1565
demiss1572
submissive1572
cringing1579
fawning1585
incrouching?1593
vassal1594
scraping1599
obsequious1602
spaniel1606
observing1609
deprostrate1610
supplea1616
vernile1623
shrugging1629
wormy1640
compliable1641
thrall-like1641
obeisant1642
inservient1646
truckling1656
cringeling1693
benecking1705
subservient1714
footman-like1776
bingeing1805
sidling1821
toadying1863
crawlsome1904
toadyish1909
crawling1941
ass-kissing1942
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) ii. xii. b vj b/2 To put of thrall drede & torne to god.
1528 Rede me & be nott Wrothe sig. e ijv Rid vs from antichristis bondes so thrall.
1535 in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) I. App. lxiii. 155 To perceive the thral captivity under the usurped power of the Bishop of Rome.
Compounds
attributive and in other combinations, as thrall-folk, thrall-man [Old Norse þræl-monni] , thrall-woman, thrall-work [Old Norse þrǽl-verk] ; thrall-like adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > work > [noun] > servile or menial work
thrall-workc1175
drudgery1548
slavery1551
journey-work1614
drudgery work1632
slave work1808
hackwork1824
dog's work1847
dog work1850
grind1851
daily grind1853
slave work1916
donkey-work1920
clock-punching1929
legwork1942
shitwork1958
kyeyo1996
the mind > emotion > humility > servility > [adjective]
go-by-ground?a1300
thrall1398
abjectc1430
manly?c1430
servicious1440
serviceable1483
servile1537
tame1563
slavish1565
demiss1572
submissive1572
cringing1579
fawning1585
incrouching?1593
vassal1594
scraping1599
obsequious1602
spaniel1606
observing1609
deprostrate1610
supplea1616
vernile1623
shrugging1629
wormy1640
compliable1641
thrall-like1641
obeisant1642
inservient1646
truckling1656
cringeling1693
benecking1705
subservient1714
footman-like1776
bingeing1805
sidling1821
toadying1863
crawlsome1904
toadyish1909
crawling1941
ass-kissing1942
society > authority > subjection > slavery or bondage > [noun] > slave > female
theowa900
ambohtc1175
thrallessa1382
bondwoman1387
serve1480
bondmaid1526
naif1531
maid slave1585
slave-girl1607
slave woman1607
woman bond1675
house girl1791
thrall-woman1886
bondswoman-
society > authority > subjection > slavery or bondage > [noun] > slave > collectively
string1744
stock1828
slaveage1831
slave-class1840
thirl-folk1871
thrall-folk1887
c11751Þrel weorkes [see sense A. 1aα. ].
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 229 Þat Dardanisc kun..woneð..inne þeowe-dome þrel-werkes [c1300 Otho þralle-workes] doð.
1641 J. Milton Of Reformation 4 Instead of..cheerefull boldnesse..came Servile, and thrallike feare.
1886 J. S. Corbett Fall of Asgard I. 35 She was a wild-looking thrall-girl.
1886 J. S. Corbett Fall of Asgard I. 86 The thrall-woman came to answer for herself.
1887 W. Morris tr. Homer Odyssey I. xi. 197 A-winter he sleeps in the feast-hall whereto the thrall-folk seek.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† thralln.2
Obsolete.
A space of time, a while.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > [noun] > stretch, period, or portion of time
tidea900
while971
fristOE
stemOE
throwOE
timeOE
selea1250
piecec1300
termc1300
stagea1325
whilesc1330
space?a1400
racec1400
spacec1405
termine1420
parodya1425
timea1425
continuancec1440
thrallc1450
espace1483
space of timec1500
tracta1513
stead1596
reach1654
amidst1664
stretch1698
spell1728
track1835
lifetime1875
time slice1938
c1450 Cov. Myst. xxxv. (1841) 351 I pray ȝow alle Abyde stylle a lytyl thralle.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 522 He..schew to him into that samin thrall, Far moir kyndnes nor ony of thame all.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
thrallthrawln.3
/θrɔːl/, U.S. /θrɔl/, /θrɑl/ dialect.
A stand or frame for barrels, milk-pans, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > a stand or support to raise from the ground
lathe1476
stool1481
stallagec1500
stand1587
thrall1674
stock1688
horse1703
stage1797
sub-base1865
stillage1875
1674 Inv. in New Shakspere Soc. Trans. (1881–3) App. ii. 14† In the Sellars..Throales, hogsheads..and Tubbs.
a1800 S. Pegge Suppl. Grose's Provinc. Gloss. (1814) Gantril, a stand for a barrel. North. Called also a Thrawl.
1843 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 4 ii. 497 A barrel thrawl, or stillion, of cast-iron, furnished with a..lever apparatus for tilting casks without shaking their contents.
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. vi. 136 The dairy thralls, I might ha' wrote my name on 'em.
1884 Vaughan Brit. Patent 14,432 A thrall or stand and tilter for casks.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† thralladj.2
Obsolete. rare.
? Strenuous, hard, severe.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > severity > [adjective]
heavyc825
grimc900
strongeOE
hardeOE
drearyOE
eileOE
sweerOE
deara1000
bitterOE
tartc1000
smartOE
unridec1175
sharp?c1225
straitc1275
grievousc1290
fellc1330
shrewda1387
snella1400
unsterna1400
vilea1400
importunea1425
ungainc1425
thrallc1430
peisant1483
sore?a1513
weighty1540
heinous?1541
urgent?1542
asperous?1567
dure1567
spiny1586
searching1590
hoara1600
vengible1601
flinty1613
tugging1642
atrocious1733
uncannya1774
severe1774
stern1830
punishing1833
hefty1867
solid1916
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > harshness or severity > [adjective]
heavyc825
retheeOE
stithc897
hardeOE
starkOE
sternOE
dangerous?c1225
sharp?c1225
unsoftc1275
sturdy1297
asperc1374
austerec1384
shrewda1387
snella1400
sternful?a1400
dour?a1425
thrallc1430
piquant1521
tetrical1528
tetric1533
sorea1535
rugged?1548
severe1548
iron1574
harsh1579
strict1600
angry1650
Catonian1676
Draconic1708
tetricous1727
alkaline1789
acerbic1853
stiff1856
acerbate1869
acerbitous1870
Draconian1876
Catonic1883
c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 3947 [Generides] was in hert thral; His shelde he made from him to fall.
c1525 in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) II. 118 At Beverley a sudden chaunce did falle, The parish chirch stepille it felle At evynsonge tyme, the chaunce was thralle, Fourscore folke ther was slayn thay telle.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
thrallv.
/θrɔːl/, U.S. /θrɔl/, /θrɑl/ archaic.
transitive. To bring into bondage or subjection; to deprive of liberty; to hold in thraldom, enthrall, enslave; to take or hold captive.
a. literal.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > slavery or bondage > be slave of [verb (transitive)] > enslave
thrallc1275
thrall?a1366
tie1390
enthral1447
thrillc1485
mancipate1533
thirl1535
esclavish1583
bethrall1596
slave1602
embondage1607
bondage1611
enfetter1611
servilize1619
emancipate1629
beslave1634
enslave1656
bond1835
asservilize1877
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 5589 He sloh þæ eorles. & þrallede þæ chærles.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 9485 Quils he es thralled in his seruis He ne mai be fre.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 17209 Þus am i thrald to ma þe fre.
c1450 Mirour Saluacioun 3311 The childere of Israel be pharao thralde hoegely.
a1612 J. Harington in E. Farr Sel. Poetry Reign Elizabeth (1845) I. 116 They that thralle us thus by wrong, Amid our sorrowes aske a song.
1872 Ld. Tennyson Gareth & Lynette 24 Yet lo! my husband's brother had my son Thrall'd in his castle, and hath starved him dead.
b. figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > slavery or bondage > be slave of [verb (transitive)] > enslave
thrallc1275
thrall?a1366
tie1390
enthral1447
thrillc1485
mancipate1533
thirl1535
esclavish1583
bethrall1596
slave1602
embondage1607
bondage1611
enfetter1611
servilize1619
emancipate1629
beslave1634
enslave1656
bond1835
asservilize1877
?a1366 Romaunt Rose 882 The God of Love..can wel these lordis thrallen.
c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 4658 He þat auaricious is, is thrallid To moneie.
?1531 J. Frith Disput. Purgatorye To Rdr. sig. a5v Fleshlye lust..wolde subdue..and holde vs thraulde vnder sinne.
?1614 W. Drummond Aye me, & I am now in Poems That bright Cherubine that thralles my Thought.
a1651 D. Calderwood Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1843) II. 391.
1835 Court Mag. 6 216/1 What right had he..to thrall her promise, and waste away her young life?
c. reflexive. To enslave, bind, or submit oneself.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > submissiveness > submission > submit [verb (reflexive)]
underlaya1300
bowa1400
thralla1400
submit?c1425
obeishc1449
surrender1585
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 23787 We thrall vs til vr ful fa In prisun for to life in wa!
c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 2959 They wolden nat hem to þo lawes thralle.
Derivatives
ˈthralling adj. rare enthralling.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > [adjective] > fascinating or enchanting
bewitching1553
witching1570
sirenical1599
taking1603
enchantinga1616
fascinating1618
bewitchfulc1633
charming1664
sirenica1704
captivating1772
captivative1772
fascinative1833
airy-fairy1837
enthralling1851
taky1854
thralling1871
1871 J. Hay Pike County Ballads (1880) 88 Wrapped in thralling memories.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1adj.1c950
n.2c1450
n.31674adj.2c1430v.c1275