Yes, now we recall the meaning of the word “slave” only when we hear that some person has become addicted, for example, to television or the Internet. In other words, he cannot cope not only with objective reality, but with himself. The problem of slavery for Europe has ceased to exist, although some speak of capitalist slavery, but this is no more than a metaphor. Still, we have much more than the slave had in certain historical periods. We’ll start with history.
How was it?
Naturally, curious readers are interested in the original meaning of the word "slave." This is completely normal. We often use words, and then their meanings are erased, which, in turn, makes us turn to the sources and restore justice. Words, like people, they require careful handling. This time the etymological dictionary did not let us down and provided enough material.
The birth of words is preceded by the need for them. Officially, there was no slavery in Russia. But the position of the peasants before the abolition of serfdom and a rather long period after did not differ from the position of a slave. Therefore, the word arose. Initially, the word slave was neutral.
Slave is an Old Slavonic word (its female version of “robe” is a slave). These nouns, in turn, go back to the all-Slavic “orbi”. Unfortunately, the dictionaries do not specify the meaning of the word “orbi”; we cannot enlighten the reader on this issue. But there is the meaning of the Latin word orbus - "deprived of anything." And in Old Indian a slightly different spelling, but the meaning is "weak."
At first, the meaning of the word “slave” was “orphan”, then, under the influence of harsh reality, “orphan” turned into “slave”.
Semantic shift
The story is interesting, sad and expected. When an orphan was brought up in a strange family, the most difficult work was assigned to him, because the latter were reluctant to do anything. Naturally, in those days, poor children had no rights; they exploited them fiercely and without any conscience.
By the way, do you know why it is so important to learn a language sometimes? You understand things that are not related to linguistics, for example, that fairy tales do not deceive. Although now it seems to us that all this is just horror stories that help children to build the right moral values. But the history and meaning of the word “slave” tells us that the truth is much worse: that is how people lived.
Modern meaning
After the horror of history, it's a good idea to plunge into modernity. True, the latter can only reassure us that slavery is no longer a social problem. The rest of all our universal human ulcers are in place, including child abuse. But let's not talk about sad things. The meanings of the word “slave” are as follows:
- In a slaveholding society: a person deprived of all the rights and means of production and being the full property of the owner.
- Depressed, depressed person (figurative)
- A person who has completely subordinated his will and actions to something or someone (book and figurative).
What can I say? We have already learned what the meaning of the word “slave” was; now the reader can only warn: if you find in yourself the features of a slave, then you should constantly fight them.
“Work” and “slave” are cognates, but is there hope?
In the final, I would like to console, but especially nothing. One etymological dictionary reports that nouns are of the same root. And consoles only by the fact that, apparently, work was the duty of slaves, therefore such a connection. There was a common Slavic word orbota, then time turned it into "work".
Another etymological dictionary insists on an optimistic attitude and claims that orbota is closely related to the German Arbeit. True, optimism soon disappears in this source too, and the dictionary has to admit that the connection between “work” and “slave” exists, although not direct, but indirect. “Slave” and “work” still retain a historical memory of the hardships and oppression of those who had to work for gentlemen.
In defense of the work, only one thing can be said: without it, our world would not have existed. All that we see around us is the results of someone else's labor. And everyone is important - from the janitor to the artist. Indeed, not only do we get tired of labor, it also creates us as individuals, makes us move forward, and, as a result, improve ourselves and develop.