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.

These are, first, the servitude or villenage of the peasantry, and their gradual emancipation from that condition; and, secondly, the continual increase of commercial intercourse with foreign countries.

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

This increase of villenage morally depressed the peasantry, and widened still further the breach between the yeomanry and the gentry.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 2 "Demijohn" to "Destructor" by Various

I cannot presume to conjecture in what degree voluntary manumission is to be reckoned among the means that contributed to the abolition of villenage.

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

But the germs of freedom did not die, for villenage in Normandy was lighter, and60 ceased far sooner, than in the rest of France.

From The Story of Rouen by Cook, Theodore Andrea, Sir

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