Definition

A person who is bound to serve another, often in a condition similar to slavery, especially in ancient Sparta.

Example

The helots worked the land and provided food for the Spartan citizens.

Conversation

Have you ever read about the life of a helot in ancient Sparta?

Not really, what was it like?

It was tough; they were basically serfs with no rights at all.

That sounds really harsh — I can't believe people lived like that!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Helot originates from the Latin word 'helota', which refers to a serf or slave in ancient Sparta. The term is derived from the Greek 'helōtēs', meaning a captive or enslaved person. Helots were essentially agricultural laborers bound to the land they worked on, serving the Spartan citizens.

Memory Tip

Think of the Greek word for a captive ('helōtēs') to remember that a helot refers to a person who is bound to serve others, particularly in agricultural labor.

Visually Confused Words