Editor's Corner

Dear Editrix,

I came across these words the other day: obdurate and thralldom. Can tell me more about them and their roots?

Thank you!

Dear reader,

Of course I’d love to do a little research! I cannot define either one from memory, and I don’t think I’ve ever even heard thralldom. I wonder if it is related to Thunderdome? Let’s have a look!

The definitions are from Merriam-Webster; the etymologies are from the Online Etymology Dictionary.

definition: obdurate (adjective)

1a: stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing (example: an unrepentant, obdurate sinner)

b: hardened in feelings

2: resistant to persuasion or softening influences (example: remaining obdurate to her husband’s advances—Edith Wharton)

etymology: obdurate

From mid-15c., "stubborn, inexorable, unyielding; hardened," especially against moral influences; "stubbornly wicked," from Latin obduratus "hardened," past participle of obdurare "harden, render hard; be hard or hardened; hold out, persist, endure," in Church Latin "to harden the heart against God," from ob "against" (see ob-) + durare "harden, render hard," from durus "hard," from PIE *dru-ro-, suffixed variant form of root *deru- "be firm, solid, steadfast." Variant opturate is from early 15c. in medicine in a literal sense of "stopped, obstructed." Related: Obdurately; obdurateness.

definition: thralldom (noun)

the state of being under the control of another person, a condition of servitude, bondage, or slavery

The etymology of thralldom points to the root word of thrall:

etymology: thrall

late Old English þræl "bondman, serf, slave; person obliged to serve someone else;" from or cognate with a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse þræll "slave, servant," figuratively "wretch, scoundrel." This is perhaps from Proto-Germanic *thrakhilaz, literally "runner" (hence "attendant"), from root *threh- "to run" (source also of Old High German dregil "servant," properly "runner;" Old English þrægan, Gothic þragjan "to run").

Generally a captive taken in war accepting servitude rather than death, or a freeman guilty of certain crimes and so sentenced; in either case the status passed to children. From late Old English it was extended to "person of low degree" generally, "wretch, inferior." Wycliffe (1382) has thrallesse "female slave or menial servant" in Jeremiah xxxiv.16 where KJV has handmaid.

The meaning "condition of servitude, thralldom" is from early 14c. As a verb, c. 1200, thrallen, "deprive (someone, a people) of freedom, put in bondage," from the noun or Old Norse, also "put under the power of some spell or influence, enthrall." As an adjective, "in a condition of slavery," late Old English, from the noun.

These words are reminiscent of some dark times, my friend. I hope that you are simply reading a history book or something.

One note, in today’s vernacular, enthrall (from the root thrall) means “to hold spellbound” or to “charm.” While being enthralled might seem magical, it has a darker history behind it. Beware, kids!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

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