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.

All this practice was based upon the common law proceedings when a claim was made of villenage.

From The Journal of Negro History, Volume 5, 1920 by Various

And even the peasants themselves, though later than other orders of the state, made their escape from those bonds of villenage or slavery in which they had formerly been retained.

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

Much reference was made to the ancient laws of villenage, or semi-slavery, in Britain.

From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 448 Volume 18, New Series, July 31, 1852 by Chambers, William

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

This increase of villenage morally depressed the peasantry, and widened still further the breach between the yeomanry and the gentry.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 2 "Demijohn" to "Destructor" by Various