sleɪv n. & v. --n. 1 a
person who is
the legal property of
another or others
and is bound to
absolute obedience, a
human chattel. 2 a
drudge, a person
working very hard. 3 (foll. by
of, to) a
helpless victim of
some dominating
influence (slave of
fashion; slave to duty). 4 a
machine, or
part of
one,
directly controlled by another. --v. 1 intr. (often foll. by
at, over)
work very hard. 2 tr. (foll. by to)
subject (a device) to
control by another. øslave-bangle a
bangle of
gold,
glass,
etc.,
worn by a
woman usu.
above the
elbow. slave-born
born in
slavery, born of slave parents. slave-bracelet = slave-bangle. slave-drive (past -drove;
past part. -driven) work (a person) hard,
esp. excessively. slave-driver 1 an
overseer of slaves at work. 2 a person who works others hard. slave
labour forced labour. slave
ship hist. a ship transporting slaves, esp.
from Africa. Slave
State hist.
any of the
southern States of the US in
which slavery
was legal
before the
Civil War. slave-trade hist. the procuring, transporting, and selling of human beings, esp.
African Blacks, as slaves. slave-trader hist. a person
engaged in the slave-trade. [ME f. OF esclave = med.L sclavus, sclava
Slav (captive): see SLAV]
