villenage

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The purchasers under these alienations had occasion for labourers; and these would be free servants in respect of such employers, though in villenage to their original lord.

From View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages, Vol. 3 by Hallam, Henry

A copyholder without legal remedy may seem little better than a tenant in mere villenage, except in name.

From View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages, Vol. 3 by Hallam, Henry

After this manner villenage went gradually into disuse throughout the more civilized parts of Europe: the interest of the master, as well as that of the slave, concurred in this alteration.

From The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part B. From Henry III. to Richard III. by Hume, David

As a villein might be enfeoffed of freeholds, though they lay at the mercy of his lord, so a freeman might hold tenements in villenage.

From View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages, Vol. 3 by Hallam, Henry

The condition of the peasantry, however, during this reign reached its lowest point, and the “recess,” or charter, of 1653 practically recognizes the existence of villenage.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 4 "Bradford, William" to "Brequigny, Louis" by Various