enslave
UK[ɪnˈsleɪv]US[ɪnˈsleɪv]
v
to make someone a slave
v
to completely control someone or something so that they cannot escape or act independently
Morpheme Breakdown
en
slave
en
cause to be
slave
a person owned by another
Etymology
the word 'enslave' is a relatively modern english formation, appearing in the late 16th century. it was created by combining the prefix 'en-', which denotes causing a state or condition, with the noun 'slave'. the noun 'slave' itself has a poignant history, originating from the medieval latin 'sclavus', meaning "slavonic captive." this term emerged because, during the early medieval period, many slavic peoples were conquered and taken into servitude. thus, the literal construction of 'enslave' means "to cause someone to be a slave," directly linking the action to the historical condition from which the root noun derives.
Analysis
Structure: en (cause to be) + slave (a person owned by another)
en (from old french, from latin 'in-', a prefix meaning "in, into, cause to be"); slave (from old french 'esclave', from medieval latin 'sclavus', meaning "slav, captive")
Examples
the conquerors sought to enslave the entire population.
he felt enslaved by his demanding job and mounting debts.
the dictator used propaganda to enslave the minds of the citizens.