Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Helot
He′lot
(?; 277)
, Noun.
[L.
Helotes
, Hilotae
, pl., fr. Gr. Εἔλωσ
and Εἐλώτησ
a bondman or serf of the Spartans; so named from Ἐλος
, a town of Laconia, whose inhabitants were enslaved; or perh. akin to έλεῖν
to take, conquer, used as 2d aor. of [GREEK].] A slave in ancient Sparta; a Spartan serf; hence, a slave or serf.
Those unfortunates, the
Helots
of mankind, more or less numerous in every community. I. Taylor.
Definition 2024
helot
helot
English
Noun
helot (plural helots)
- An individual of the ancient Spartan class of serfs.
- A serf; a slave.
- 1911: Ameen Rihani, The Book of Khalid, p.16
- A man who conceives and writes a great book, my friend, has done more work than all the helots that laboured on these pyramidal futilities.
- 1911: Ameen Rihani, The Book of Khalid, p.16
Derived terms
- helotage
- helotry
Translations
Spartan slave
serf, slave — see slave