servitus

servĭtūs, ūtis ( gen. plur. servitutium, Dig. 8, 2, 32 fin.; 8, 3, 1 fin.; and acc. to Ritschl also Plaut. Pers. 3, 3, 14), f. [id.], the condition of a servus; slavery, serfdom, service, servitude (freq. and class.).

I.

Lit.:

servitus est constitutio juris gentium, quā quis dominio alieno contra naturam subicitur,

Dig. 1, 5, 4; Just. Inst. 1, 3, 2:

servitutem servire,

Plaut. Capt. 2, 3, 31 (v. this freq. occurring phrase under servio, I. d): quibus nunc aerumna mea libertatem paro, Quibus servitutem mea miseria deprecor? Enn. ap. Gell. 6, 16, 9 (Trag. v. 173 Vahl.):

domi fuistis liberi: Nunc servitus si evenit, etc.,

Plaut. Capt. 2, 1, 4:

qui hodie fuerim liber, eum nunc potivit pater servitutis,

id. Am. 1, 1, 24 Fleck.: quis hoc imperium, quis hanc servitutem ferre potest? Cato ap. Gell. 10, 3, 17:

ipsam (mulierem) in servitutem adjudicare,

Cic. Div. in Caecil. 17, 56:

ista corruptela servi si impunita fuerit... fit in dominatu servitus, in servitute dominatus,

id. Deiot. 11, 30:

mors servituti anteponenda,

id. Off. 1, 23, 81:

servitutem perpessi,

id. Phil. 8, 11, 32:

aliae nationes servitutem pati possunt, populi Romani est propria libertas,

id. ib. 6, 7, 19:

servitutem pati,

id. ib. 6, 7, 19: similitudo servitutis id. Rep. 1, 27, 43: hunc nimis liberum populum libertas ipsā servitute afficit, etc... Nimia illa libertas in nimiam servitutem cadit, id. ib. 1, 44, 68:

socios nostros in servitutem abduxerunt,

id. Pis. 34, 84:

servitutis jugum,

id. Rep. 2, 25, 47:

Themistocles cum servitute Graeciam liberasset,

id. Lael. 12, 42:

conjuges in servitutem abstrahi,

Caes. B. G. 7, 14;

addicere aliquem in servitutem,

Liv. 3, 56; Caes. B. G. 7, 77:

liberum populum servitute adficere,

Cic. Rep. 1, 44, 68:

asserere aliquem in servitutem,

Liv. 3, 44, 5; 34, 18, 2; Suet. Tib. 2.—

* (β).

As a verbal noun with dat.: opulento homini hoc servitus dura est, this serving or being servant of a rich man, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 12.—

II.

Transf.

A.

In gen. (acc to servio, II.), servitude, subjection: numquam salvis suis exuitur servitus muliebris;

et ipsae libertatem, quam viduitas et orbitas facit, detestantur,

Liv. 34, 7 Drak.:

silvestres gallinae in servitute non foetant,

in confinement, Col. 8, 12; so id. 8, 15, 7:

hujus tanti officii servitutem astringebam testimonio sempiterno,

Cic. Planc. 30, 74:

est enim in illis ipsa merces auctoramentum servitutis,

id. Off. 1, 42, 150; cf.:

ut se homines ad servitutem juris astringerent,

Quint. 2, 16, 9; 7, 3, 16.—

B.

The government, rule, dominion of a master:

tibi Apud me justa et clemens servitus,

Ter. And. 1, 1, 9.—

C.

(Acc. to servio, II. B.) Jurid. t. t., of buildings, lands, etc., a liability resting upon them, an easement, servitude:

servitutes praediorum rusticorum sunt hae: iter, actus, via, aquaeductus,

Dig. 8, 3, 1:

jura praediorum urbanorum, quae servitutes vocantur,

Gai. Inst. 2, 14:

servitute fundo illi imposita,

Cic. Q. Fr. 3, 1, 2, § 3:

specus servitutis putat aliquid habituros,

id. Att. 15, 26, 4.—

D.

Concr. (for the class. servitium), slaves, servants (collect.); poet. of lovers: adde quod pubes tibi crescit omnis, Servitus crescit nova (= catervae amatorum semper novorum). Hor. C. 2, 8, 18; cf. Plaut. Pers. 3, 3, 14 Ritschl.