thrall
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: /θrɔːl/
KK: /θrɔl/
noun
Definition
A person who is in a state of servitude or bondage, often lacking freedom or control over their own life.
Example
The villagers were in thrall to the powerful lord, unable to make decisions for themselves.
Conversation
Have you ever felt like you're in thrall to your phone?
All the time! It's like I can't put it down even when I want to.
Right? Sometimes I feel enslaved by all the notifications.
Exactly! We really need to take breaks and disconnect.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
slave
serf
vassal
Antonyms
master
freeman
liberator
transitive verb
Definition
To make someone a slave or to control someone completely, often in a way that takes away their freedom.
Example
The conqueror sought to thrall the captured city and its people.
Tense Forms
Past: thralled
Past Participle: thralled
Conversation
I can't believe how a good book can thrall me for hours.
Right? It's like you enter another world completely.
Exactly! Sometimes, I feel like I'm thrall to the characters' lives.
Root Explanation
Thrall originates from Old Norse 'þræll' (meaning slave or thrall), which referred to a person in servitude or bondage. The word describes someone who is in a state of servitude or subjugation.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person in servitude or bondage, as 'thrall' comes from the Old Norse word for slave. This helps you remember that 'thrall' refers to someone who is under the control of another.
Visually Confused Words
unthrall
inthrall
enthrall
bethrall
thrill
thoral
thalli
thermally