Enslaved

/ɪnˈsleɪvd/ verb (past tense) / adjective

Definition

Made into a slave or forced to work without freedom; or being in a state of slavery or complete control by someone else.

Etymology

From Old English 'slaef' meaning captive, combined with prefix 'en-' meaning to put into a state. The word evolved from describing legal slavery to metaphorically describing any situation where someone loses their freedom or independence.

Kelly Says

The word 'enslaved' has become historically important because historians now prefer it over 'slave' as a noun when describing people—it emphasizes that slavery was something done to people, not something they were, which changes how we understand history.

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