villenage

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To people imbued with ideas of feudalism the way of escape from villenage seemed to be not independence, but a new reversion to it.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 8 "Chariot" to "Chatelaine" by Various

From so disadvantageous a condition as this of villenage it may cause some surprise that the peasantry of England should have ever emerged.

From View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages, Vol. 3 by Hallam, Henry

He said: 'If the statute of Charles II. ever be repealed, the law of villenage revives in its full force.'

From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 448 Volume 18, New Series, July 31, 1852 by Chambers, William

The purchasers under these alienations had occasion for labourers; and these would be free servants in respect of such employers, though in villenage to their original lord.

From View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages, Vol. 3 by Hallam, Henry

In the days of the most perfect villenage, they had, doubtless, eaten the bread of idleness, and claimed it as a right.

From International Miscellany of Literature, Art and Science, Vol. 1, No. 3, Oct. 1, 1850 by Various