ergastulum Definition
- 1a Roman building used to house slaves
- 2a dungeon or a prison
Using ergastulum: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "ergastulum" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The slaves were kept in the ergastulum.
Example
The prisoners were locked up in the ergastulum for days without food or water.
ergastulum Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for ergastulum
Phrases with ergastulum
hard labor, especially as performed by slaves in ancient Rome
Example
The slaves were forced to do ergastulum labor in the fields.
harsh discipline or punishment, especially as inflicted on slaves in ancient Rome
Example
The master imposed ergastulum discipline on the slaves who tried to escape.
a life of slavery or imprisonment, characterized by hard labor and harsh conditions
Example
The slaves endured an ergastulum life, working long hours in the fields and living in cramped quarters.
Origins of ergastulum
from Latin 'ergastulum', meaning 'a place of work'
Summary: ergastulum in Brief
'Ergastulum' [er-gas-tuh-luhm] refers to a Roman building used to house slaves or a dungeon/prison. The term is often used in historical contexts, such as 'The slaves were kept in the ergastulum.' It also extends into phrases like 'ergastulum labor,' referring to hard labor, and 'ergastulum discipline,' referring to harsh punishment.
