noun
serf
surf
Serf (noun) means a peasant tied to a piece of land under a feudal lord, obliged to work it but with very limited personal freedoms. Example: “Serfs in medieval Europe could not leave the land they worked without their lord's permission.”
noun
1
A peasant tied to a piece of land under a feudal lord, obliged to work it but with very limited personal freedoms.
"Serfs in medieval Europe could not leave the land they worked without their lord's permission."
How to use serf
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA historical peasant class bound to farm a lord's land, with little personal freedom.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "surf" (waves) — they sound the same but mean completely different things.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- serfs
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_____ in medieval Europe could not leave the land they worked without their lord's permission.
Etymology
From Old French serf, from Latin servus, "slave, servant."
Synonyms
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helot
villein
Antonyms
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Rhymes for serf
See all rhymes for serf →Frequently asked questions
What does “serf” mean?
The word “serf” means a peasant tied to a piece of land under a feudal lord, obliged to work it but with very limited personal freedoms. In plain terms, a historical peasant class bound to farm a lord's land, with little personal freedom.
How do you pronounce “serf”?
“Serf” is pronounced surf (/sɝf/ in IPA).
How do you use “serf” in a sentence?
Here is “serf” used in a sentence: “Serfs in medieval Europe could not leave the land they worked without their lord's permission.”
What part of speech is “serf”?
“Serf” is a noun.
Where does the word “serf” come from?
The word “serf” comes from Latin. From Old French serf, from Latin servus, "slave, servant.".
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