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. [servus], 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. δ): 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. 36.—
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.