bondservant

IPA/bˈɒndsɜːvənt/
IPA/bˈɑːndsɜːvənt/

bondservant — phrase

1. a person forced or obliged to serve another without pay, especially in older or

1.phraseC2
Definition

a person forced or obliged to serve another without pay, especially in older or religious writing

Example

In the old record, Miriam is listed as a bondservant in the governor's house.

be listed as a bondservant in a historical record

The pastor explained that Paul called himself a bondservant of Christ in the letter.

bondservant of + religious figure

Common collocations
  • bondservant of Christ
  • bondservant of God
  • former bondservant
  • bondservant for debt
Synonyms
  • slave

    stronger and more general; often stresses legal ownership rather than a specifically bound service role

  • indentured servant

    more specific to a fixed-term labour contract, often tied to debt or passage

  • servant

    broader and usually does not imply legal bondage or unpaid service

Antonyms
  • free person

    someone who is not legally bound to serve another

  • wage earner

    someone who works for pay instead of under bonded service

Grammar Patterns

be a bondservant

bondservant of + master/Christ

work as a bondservant

Usage Note

Mostly appears in historical writing, Bible translation, or formal discussion of older labour systems. In modern everyday English, writers usually choose servant, enslaved person, or slave depending on the exact relationship.

Common Mistakes

He worked as a bondservant for monthly wages.
He worked as a servant for monthly wages.
A bondservant is bound to service and is not described as an ordinary paid worker.

Etymology

English

This word was formed in English by joining bond and servant. Here bond carries the older idea of a legal tie or obligation, so the whole term means a servant whose service is bound rather than freely chosen. It now appears mostly in historical or religious writing.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined above