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theow

theow

9.9
A person completely controlled by a strong desire or habit
  • noun
  • /θiːoʊ/
  • Archaic
translation icon : esclavo
  • After years of struggle, she realized she was a theow to her fear, letting it control her decisions.

Examples

  • The artist was a theow to her creative impulses, unable to resist the urge to paint every moment.

  • He became a theow to his obsession with gaming, spending countless hours at his console.

  • Actually, she may be able to travel along it alone; the theow legends say that those with real magic have this power.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • She desired to be queen no more than she desired to be a theow housewife; both were confining for life.

    Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

thrall
vstheow
  • NSFW
8 9.9

Being completely controlled by someone or something

is archaic and figurative rather than common modern usage
captive
vstheow
8 5.6

A person controlled by a strong feeling

is about complete domination by any force not only emotions

How Controlled

slave
746 3.4
theow
  • Archaic
9.9
subject
311 4.7
freeperson
  • Archaic
9.3

Surface Forms

theow singular
theows plural

Etymology

Theow originally meant 'slave' and comes from Old English þēow, so a helpful way to remember the figurative use is to think of someone 'enslaved' by a feeling or habit. That's why calling someone a theow of desire means they are completely 'controlled' by it.