Obs. exc. Hist. Also 4 þedome, 5 theudome, 7, 9 theodom. [OE. þéowdom, f. þéow, THEOW sb. + -DOM.] The condition of a ‘theow’ or slave; slavery, bondage, thraldom. (In OE. also in sense ‘service,’ without connotation of servility.)
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., I. x. § 6. Þæt men hie mehten aliesan mid feo of þeowdome.
a. 950. Rituale Dunelm. (Surtees), 6. In nedhernisse vel in ðeadome ic beʓo.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 524. Eʓe is twyfeald, and ðeowdom is twyfeald.
c. 1122. O. E. Chron., an. 675 (Laud MS.). Hi hit heafden ʓefreod … of ealle þewdom. Ibid., an. 963. Hi hit freodon … wið ealle weoruld þeudom.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 99. Men weren alesde from deofles ðeowdome.
c. 1200. Ormin, 3611. I þeowwdom unnderr laferrd. Ibid., 14779. Ut off þewwdomess bandess.
c. 1205. Lay., 454. Dardanisc kun … woneð in þisse londe … inne þeowe-dome [c. 1275 þeudome].
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 32. Summe ine prisune, summe ine alse muchele ðeudome alse oxe is oþer asse.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 247. Whon he him serwede in þewdome [v.rr. thewdome, þedome].
c. 1425. Eng. Conq. Irel., 138. Nether al to be vndone, ne fully I-broght yn-to theudome.
[1658. Phillips, Theodom (Sax.), servitude.
1833. Galt, in Fraser’s Mag., VIII. 497. Too fond of literature to relish the distasteful theodom of a tutor.]
