thrall

American  

[thrawl] / θrɔl /

noun

1. a person who is morally or mentally enslaved by some power, influence, or the like.

   He was the thrall of morbid fantasies.

2. a person held in bondage or slavery.

3. slavery; thralldom.

4. the condition of being in the power of something or someone; a state of subjugation or rapt absorption.

   We will receive no help from the media, who are for the most part in thrall to the political establishment.

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verb (used with object)

1. Archaic. to put or hold in thralldom; enslave.

adjective

1. Archaic. subjected to bondage; enslaved.

thrall British  

/ θrɔːl /

noun

1. Also called: thraldom.   thralldom.  the state or condition of being in the power of another person

2. a person who is in such a state

3. a person totally subject to some need, desire, appetite, etc

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verb

1. (tr) to enslave or dominate

Other Word Forms

• unthralled adjective

Etymology

Origin of thrall

First recorded before 950; Middle English thral, thral(l)e, threl(l)e, Old English thrǣl “bondman, slave, servant, thrall,” from Old Norse thrǣll “slave, servant”

Example Sentences

The author was in awe of his father, at once afraid of him and in thrall to his boundless charisma and movie-star looks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Thurman benefits the most from spending an entire afternoon in the thrall of her performance.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025

He is no longer in thrall to policy and personnel choices.

From Slate • Jun. 4, 2025

It is more compelling than ever and will have the watching world in its thrall all over again on Friday.

From BBC • Nov. 8, 2024

At the field a heavy silence prevailed, overpowering motion like a ruthless, insensate spell holding in thrall the only beings who might break it.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller