thrall
n. uncountablen. a state of being controlled or influenced by someone or something. It is often used to describe being trapped by a powerful person, a strong feeling, or a bad habit.
n. a state of subjection, bondage, or control by another person or force. Often used in the phrase 'in the thrall of' to describe being dominated by a powerful influence.
He was in the thrall of his new boss.
The young poet found himself in the thrall of a famous mentor who dictated every aspect of his creative life.
The novel explores how the protagonist remains in the thrall of his childhood trauma, even as he attempts to build a successful career in a distant city.
From Middle English thral, thralle, threl, threlle, from Old English þrǣl (“thrall, slave, servant”), from Old Norse þræll (“slave”), from Proto-Germanic þrahilaz, þragilaz, þrigilaz (“runner, gofer, servant”), from Proto-Indo-European tregʰ- (“to pull, drag, race, run”), possibly a variant of *dʰregʰ- (“to run”); related to Gothic 𐌸𐍂𐌰𐌲𐌾𐌰𐌽 (þragjan), Old English þrǣġan (“to run”).
From Middle English thrallen, from the noun above. Compare Old Norse þræla.