Bondswoman: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ฉโ๐พ
bondswoman
[ หbษndzwสmษn ]
legal term
A bondswoman is a woman who is bound by indenture to serve a master for a certain period of time, typically in exchange for passage to a new land or for the payment of debts. Bondswomen were commonly used in the 17th and 18th centuries in the American colonies.
Synonyms
bondmaid, indentured servant, servant.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| bondswoman |
A term historically used to refer to a female slave or someone bound to serve another person. This term is considered outdated and offensive in modern usage.
|
| indentured servant |
Refers to a person who is bound by a contract to work for another person for a specified period of time, often to pay off a debt or as part of an agreement for passage to a new country. This term is historically accurate but should be used with sensitivity.
|
| bondmaid |
An archaic term for a female slave or servant who is bound to serve someone without freedom. It carries a negative connotation and is rarely used today.
|
| servant |
A general term for a person who is employed to perform duties for others, especially in a household. This term is still in use today, though it can imply a hierarchy and may be considered old-fashioned.
|
Examples of usage
- The bondswoman worked on the plantation for five years before gaining her freedom.
- She signed a contract to become a bondswoman in exchange for her brother's release from debt.
historical context
In ancient times, a bondswoman referred to a female slave or servant who was owned by another person and had no freedom or rights of her own. Bondswomen were often bought and sold as property and had to work for their owners without any pay or autonomy.
Synonyms
captive, female slave, servant.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| bondswoman |
Generally used in historical contexts to refer to a woman who is legally bound to serve another person.
|
| female slave |
Refers to a woman who is owned by another person. It carries a very negative connotation due to historical associations with forced labor and human rights abuses.
|
| servant |
A more general term for someone employed to perform duties for another person. It is less forceful than 'slave' and does not necessarily imply lack of freedom.
|
| captive |
Used to describe someone who is imprisoned or confined, not necessarily in a servitude context. It can be temporary and is often found in stories of kidnap or war.
|
Examples of usage
- The bondswoman was treated as property and had no say in her own affairs.
- She was born into slavery and spent her life as a bondswoman to a wealthy landowner.
Translations
Translations of the word "bondswoman" in other languages:
๐ต๐น escrava
๐ฎ๐ณ เคฌเคเคงเค เคฎเคนเคฟเคฒเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช Leibeigene
๐ฎ๐ฉ budak perempuan
๐บ๐ฆ ัะฐะฑะธะฝั
๐ต๐ฑ niewolnica
๐ฏ๐ต ๅฅณๅฅด้ท (ใใใฉใใ)
๐ซ๐ท esclave
๐ช๐ธ esclava
๐น๐ท kadฤฑn kรถle
๐ฐ๐ท ์ฌ์ ๋ ธ์ (yeoja noye)
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฌุงุฑูุฉ
๐จ๐ฟ otrokyne
๐ธ๐ฐ otrokyลa
๐จ๐ณ ๅฅณๅฅด (nว nรบ)
๐ธ๐ฎ suลพnja
๐ฎ๐ธ รพrรฆlka
๐ฐ๐ฟ าาฑะป ำะนะตะป
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแ แฅแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ qadฤฑn kรถlษ
๐ฒ๐ฝ esclava
Etymology
The term 'bondswoman' originated from the practice of indentured servitude in the early American colonies. Women who entered into indenture agreements to work for a certain period of time in exchange for passage to the New World or the payment of debts were known as bondswomen. In ancient times, the term referred to female slaves or servants who were owned as property by others. Bondswomen had limited rights and autonomy, and their status was determined by their owners. The history of bondswomen reflects the broader history of slavery and servitude throughout the world.
See also: bond, bondage, bonded, bondholder, bonding, bondmaid, bondman, bonds, bondservant, bondsmen, bondwoman.