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Captive vs Serf - What's the difference?

captive | serf | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between captive and serf

is that captive is one who has been captured or is otherwise confined while serf is a partially free peasant of a low hereditary class, slavishly attached to the land owned by a feudal lord and required to perform labour, enjoying minimal legal or customary rights.

As an adjective captive

is held prisoner; not free; confined.

captive

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • One who has been captured or is otherwise confined.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=19 citation , passage=When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him. The captive made no resistance […].}}
  • One held prisoner.
  • (figurative) One charmed or subdued by beauty, excellence, or affection; one who is captivated.
  • Adjective

    (-)
  • Held prisoner; not free; confined.
  • * Milton
  • A poor, miserable, captive thrall.
  • Subdued by love; charmed; captivated.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Even in so short a space, my wonan's heart / Grossly grew captive to his honey words.
  • Of or relating to bondage or confinement; serving to confine.
  • captive''' chains; '''captive hours

    serf

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A partially free peasant of a low hereditary class, slavishly attached to the land owned by a feudal lord and required to perform labour, enjoying minimal legal or customary rights.
  • A similar agricultural labourer in 18th and 19th century Europe.
  • (strategy games) A worker unit.
  • Synonyms

    * (strategy games) peasant, peon, villager

    Derived terms

    * serfage * serfdom * serfhood * serfish * serfism

    See also

    * slave

    Anagrams

    * ----