Definition of slavery

The word "slavery" has its roots in Old English and Latin. The term "slēa" or "sla" referred to servants or bonded laborers in Old English. The Latin term "servitium" meant "service" or " bondage." The words "slaw" and "sla" are thought to have been influenced by the Germanic word "skalu", meaning "flaw" or "blemish", and were used to describe a slave as someone who was marked or stained by their bondage. The modern English word "slavery" emerged in the 14th century from the Old French "esclavage", which was derived from the Latin "servitium". Over time, the term evolved to describe the cruel and exploitative practice of owning and controlling human beings as property. Today, the word "slavery" is widely recognized as a form of exploitation and human rights violation, and is considered to be a part of history that should be remembered and learned from in order to prevent its recurrence.