Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BOND'AGE, n.

1. Slavery or involuntary servitude; captivity; imprisonment; restraint of a person's liberty by compulsion. In ancient English law, villenage.
2. Obligation; tie of duty. He must resolve not to be brought under the bondage of observing oaths. – South.
3. In Scripture, spiritual subjection to sin and corrupt passions, or to the yoke of the ceremonial law; servile fear. – Heb. ii. Gal. ii. Rona. viii.