helot

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: Hel=ot

CIDE DICTIONARY

helot, n. [L. Helotes, Hilotae, pl., fr. Gr. E'e`lws and E'elw`ths a bondman or serf of the Spartans; so named from 'Elos, a town of Laconia, whose inhabitants were enslaved; or perh. akin to e`lei^n to take, conquer, used as 2d aor. of .].

 A slave in ancient Sparta; a Spartan serf; hence, a slave or serf.  [1913 Webster]
"Those unfortunates, the Helots of mankind, more or less numerous in every community."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

helot, n. a serf ( esp. Helot), of a class in ancient Sparta.

Derivative

helotism n. helotry n.

Etymology

L helotes pl. f. Gk heilotes, -otai, erron. taken as = inhabitants of Helos, a Laconian town

THESAURUS

helot

apple-polisher, ass-licker, backscratcher, backslapper, bondmaid, bondman, bondslave, bondsman, bondswoman, bootlick, bootlicker, brown-nose, brownie, captive, chattel, chattel slave, churl, clawback, concubine, courtier, creature, cringer, debt slave, dupe, fawner, flatterer, flunky, footlicker, galley slave, groveler, handshaker, homager, instrument, jackal, kowtower, lackey, led captain, lickspit, lickspittle, liege, liege man, liege subject, mealymouth, minion, odalisque, peon, puppet, serf, servant, slave, spaniel, stooge, subject, suck, sycophant, theow, thrall, timeserver, toad, toady, tool, truckler, tufthunter, vassal, villein, yes-man

ROGET THESAURUS

helot

Servant

N servant, subject, liegeman, servant, retainer, follower, henchman, servitor, domestic, menial, help, lady help, employe, attache, official, retinue, suite, cortege, staff, court, attendant, squire, usher, page, donzel, footboy, train bearer, cup bearer, waiter, lapster, butler, livery servant, lackey, footman, flunky, flunkey, valet, valet de chambre, equerry, groom, jockey, hostler, ostler, tiger, orderly, messenger, cad, gillie, herdsman, swineherd, barkeeper, bartender, bell boy, boots, boy, counterjumper, khansamah, khansaman, khitmutgar, yardman, bailiff, castellan, seneschal, chamberlain, major-domo, groom of the chambers, secretary, under secretary, assistant secretary, clerk, subsidiary, agent, subaltern, underling, understrapper, man, maid, maidservant, handmaid, confidente, lady's maid, abigail, soubrette, amah, biddy, nurse, bonne, ayah, nursemaid, nursery maid, house maid, parlor maid, waiting maid, chamber maid, kitchen maid, scullery maid, femme de chambre, femme fille, camarista, chef de cuisine, cordon bleu, cook, scullion, Cinderella, potwalloper, maid of all work, servant of all work, laundress, bedmaker, journeyman, charwoman, bearer, chokra, gyp (Cambridge), hamal, scout (Oxford), serf, vassal, slave, negro, helot, bondsman, bondswoman, bondslave, ame damnee, odalisque, ryot, adscriptus gleboe, villian, villein, beadsman, bedesman, sizar, pensioner, pensionary, client, dependant, dependent, hanger on, satellite, parasite, led captain, protege, ward, hireling, mercenary, puppet, tool, creature, badge of slavery, bonds, in the train of, in one's pay, in one's employ, at one's call, in bonds.