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servo

servant; serf

noun SER-voh Rare
People & Society Professions

Origin: Latin servus, 'slave'

Usage Note

Servo historically denoted a serf or slave and today retains a strong archaic or literary flavour when used alone. In modern Italian, domestico or collaboratore domestico are preferred for 'domestic worker.' The feminine form is serva, which can sound derogatory. The phrase servo della gleba precisely translates the historical concept of 'serf.'

Examples

"Nel Medioevo, il servo lavorava la terra."

Natural Translation

In the Middle Ages, the serf worked the land.

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