Bondservant

A bondservant is an individual who voluntarily serves another person under a legal agreement, often in return for basic needs and protection. This term historically refers to someone bound in service to a master for a set period, typically due to debt or familial obligation, and is often associated with the concept of indentured servitude.

Bondservant meaning with examples

• In the colonial era, many bondservants arrived in America seeking new opportunities, agreeing to work for several years in exchange for passage to the New World and eventual land ownership.
• The story of the bondservant unfolds as he navigates the challenges and privileges of life under his master's roof, balancing his desire for freedom with the obligations of his contract.
• As a bondservant, she found herself torn between loyalty to her master and the longing for autonomy, ultimately learning to negotiate her needs within the constraints of her binding agreement.
• His status as a bondservant provided him with stability, yet it was a constant reminder of the sacrifices made for the chance at a better future, forever indebted to the agreement he signed.
• Through the eyes of the bondservant in the narrative, readers gain insight into the complex dynamics of power and submission, revealing the often-hidden struggles of those who lived in servitude.