# thrall

/ˈθɹɔɫ/ (US) · /θɹˈɔːl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/thrall
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a person controlled by another

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a person who is a slave or is completely controlled by someone else.

For teachers: a person who is in bondage or under the absolute control of another.

- In the old story, the king treated every prisoner as a thrall.
- The historical accounts describe the life of a thrall as one of relentless labour and total lack of legal standing.

Usage: Commonly used in historical or fantasy literature to describe a specific class of unfree person.

### 2. the state of being controlled

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

the state of being under someone's power or being obsessed with something.

For teachers: the state of being under the power or influence of another person or a powerful force.

- He was in the thrall of a powerful drug that changed his personality.
- The entire nation seemed to be in the thrall of the charismatic leader, ignoring the obvious signs of corruption.

Usage: Usually appears in the fixed phrase 'in the thrall of' followed by a noun phrase.

### 3. to enslave

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

to make someone a slave or take away their freedom.

For teachers: to reduce a person to the condition of a thrall; to enslave or captivate.

- The cruel ruler sought to thrall the neighbouring tribes.
- The poem tells of a sorceress who could thrall any man with a single glance.

Usage: The modern verb 'enthrall' is much more common, though it now usually means to fascinate rather than to enslave.

### 4. captive

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

being held as a slave or prisoner.

For teachers: being in a state of servitude or captivity.

- The thrall soldiers were forced to fight for a cause they hated.
- He remained thrall to his desires, unable to break free from the habits that ruined his career.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.