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Webster 1913 Edition
Helot
He′lot
(?; 277)
, Noun.
[L.
Helotes
, Hilotae
, pl., fr. Gr. Εἔλωσ
and Εἐλώτησ
a bondman or serf of the Spartans; so named from Ἐλος
, a town of Laconia, whose inhabitants were enslaved; or perh. akin to έλεῖν
to take, conquer, used as 2d aor. of [GREEK].] A slave in ancient Sparta; a Spartan serf; hence, a slave or serf.
Those unfortunates, the
Helots
of mankind, more or less numerous in every community. I. Taylor.