NYT Dictionary

THRALL

/θɹɔl/
NounAdjectiveVerbTHRAWLGrade 8

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2025

Meaning

Slave; one under the control of another.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

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”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

graspbondageslaverythralldomthraldomabsolutismbondsmancaptivecaptivitychattel

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle:

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