Medieval Europe Terminology

noun a citizen of a town or city, typically a member of the middle class

• The burgher was a respected member of the town council.
• The burgher always attends the community meetings.
• The burgher is like the mayor of our neighborhood.
• In the world of finance, he was considered a burgher among the elite investors.

noun a person entirely under the domination of another

• In medieval times, a villein was a peasant who was bound to work on their lord's land.
• Back in the day, a villein was basically a serf who had to work for the lord.
• The villein had to toil away in the fields all day long.
• Being treated like a villein in modern times means being stuck in a low-paying job with no prospects for advancement.