Serfdom (noun)

A social and economic system in medieval Europe in which the lower classes were bound to the land and to their lords, and were required to provide labor and other services in exchange for protection and the use of land.

Origin:

From old english sēolfdom, from sēolf ("serf") + -dom ("condition, state").

Examples:

1. Serfdom was abolished in Russia in 1861.
2. The serfs were tied to the land and had to work for the lord of the manor.
3. The serfdom system was a form of slavery in medieval Europe.
4. The serfs were not allowed to leave the land without the permission of the lord.
5. The serfdom system was abolished in most of Western Europe in the Middle Ages.