serf
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serf
A peasant in the Middle Ages or early modern period who was bound to a lord of the manor and could not leave his land without permission. Serfs had to perform certain services for their lord or pay dues.
Der Leibeigene durfte das Land seines Grundherrn nur mit dessen Erlaubnis verlassen.
The serf was allowed to leave his lord's land only with his permission.
'Leibeigene' is made up of 'Leib' (body) and 'eigen' (one's own). This combination suggests that a person was bound to their lord with their whole person.
Die Lebensbedingungen der Leibeigenen waren von der Macht des Grundherrn abhängig.
The serfs' living conditions depended on the power of the lord of the manor.
The word is used mainly in historical texts and often occurs together with terms such as 'Grundherr' (lord of the manor), 'Frondienst' (corvée labor), 'Abgaben' (dues), or 'Leibeigenschaft' (serfdom). In everyday life today, it is normally used only in reference to past social systems.
Im Geschichtsunterricht lernten die Schülerinnen und Schüler viel über Leibeigene und ihre Pflichten.
In history class, the students learned a lot about serfs and their duties.
Common collocations include 'Leibeigene freilassen' (to release serfs), 'Leibeigene befreien' (to liberate serfs), and 'Leibeigene mussten Frondienste leisten' (serfs had to perform corvée labor). These expressions describe legal changes or duties in the relationship with the lord of the manor.
Im 18. Jahrhundert wurden in manchen Regionen zahlreiche Leibeigene freigelassen.
In the eighteenth century, numerous serfs were released in some regions.
