Obs. exc. Hist. [OE. ęsne = Goth. asneis:—OTeut. *asnjo-z harvestman, f. *asano-z harvest.] The OE. designation of a class of domestic slaves.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. x. 24. Ne is ðeʓn ofer ðone laruu nec ðea vel esne ofer hlaferde his.
c. 975. Rushw. Gosp., John iv. 51. Esnas ʓiurnon togæʓnes him.
1820. Scott, Ivanhoe, xxxii. Theow and Esne art thou no longer.
1861. Pearson, Early & Mid. Ages Eng., 201. The … esnés or day-labourers, were the lowest.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., I. v. 78. The esne or slave who works for hire.
