noun
thrall
thrawl
Thrall (noun) means a person held as a slave or in servitude, under the total control of another. Example: “In the old sagas, captured warriors were often made thralls.”
noun
1
A person held as a slave or in servitude, under the total control of another.
"In the old sagas, captured warriors were often made thralls."
2
The state of being completely controlled or dominated by something.
"The nation remained in thrall to the powerful trading company for decades."
"She was in thrall to his every word."
How to use thrall
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone enslaved, or the state of being completely under someone else's power or spell.
Common mistake
Modern use is almost always figurative, as in "in thrall to" — meaning captivated or dominated by something, not literally enslaved.
Common pairings
in thrall to
hold someone in thrall
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Word forms
- Plural
- thralls
- Third person singular
- thralls
- Past tense
- thralled
- Comparative
- more thrall
- Superlative
- most thrall
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In the old sagas, captured warriors were often made _____.
Etymology
From Old Norse þræll ("slave"), borrowed into Old English as þrǣl.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for thrall
See all rhymes for thrall →Frequently asked questions
What does “thrall” mean?
The word “thrall” means a person held as a slave or in servitude, under the total control of another. In plain terms, someone enslaved, or the state of being completely under someone else's power or spell.
How do you pronounce “thrall”?
“Thrall” is pronounced thrawl (/θɹɔːl/ in IPA).
How do you use “thrall” in a sentence?
Here is “thrall” used in a sentence: “In the old sagas, captured warriors were often made thralls.”
What part of speech is “thrall”?
“Thrall” is a noun.
Where does the word “thrall” come from?
The word “thrall” comes from Old English. From Old Norse þræll ("slave"), borrowed into Old English as þrǣl.
How many meanings does “thrall” have?
“Thrall” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person held as a slave or in servitude, under the total control of another.
