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.

All this practice was based upon the common law proceedings when a claim was made of villenage.

From The Journal of Negro History, Volume 5, 1920 by Various

The tenements in villenage, whether by law or usage, were never separated from the lordship, while its domain was reduced to a smaller extent through subinfeudations, sales, or demises for valuable rent.

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

And when these had lasted a considerable time in any manor, the villenage of the latter, without any manumission, would have expired by desuetude.

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

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