| Servant (5) | Mirror Quick | 18 Sep 2025 | 
          
            | Addict left during rescue (5) | Mirror Cryptic | 18 Sep 2025 | 
          
            | Work very hard, invest, keeping pounds (5) | The Sun Two Speed | 12 Sep 2025 | 
          
            | Work very hard, invest, keeping pounds (5) | The Sun Two Speed | 13 Aug 2025 | 
          
            | East European first to work hard (5) | Puzzler Cryptic | 12 Jul 2025 | 
          
            | ____ away, work very hard | The Telegraph Plusword | 08 Jul 2025 | 
          
            | Person held as property (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Work very hard to salvage about fifty (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Addict left during rescue | Mirror Cryptic | 22 May 2025 | 
          
            | Unpaid servant | Mirror Quick | 22 May 2025 | 
          
            | Work hard to put by fifty in it (5) |  |  | 
          
            | "12 Years a ___" (2013 Best Picture winner) |  |  | 
          
            | 12 Years a _, 2013 film (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Addict leaves hurriedly, without key (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Person forced to work for another (5) |  |  | 
          
            | A bondsman has to work so hard (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Chiwetel Ejiofor movie, 12 Years a ___-- (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Spartacus, notably | The Telegraph Cross Atlantic | 20 Mar 2025 | 
          
            | Mechanism controlled by another, except for about a pound (5) |  |  | 
          
            | ____ to the Rhythm, Grace Jones song | The Telegraph Mini | 22 Feb 2025 | 
          
            | Left inside, except addict (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Work very hard to rescue a number trapped in (5) |  |  | 
          
            | I'm a ...4 U (Britney Spears hit) (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Forced labourer | The Telegraph Mini | 28 Jan 2025 | 
          
            | Not a willing worker (5) |  |  | 
          
            | See 7 Across | Mirror Quiz | 28 Dec 2024 | 
          
            | Many a character in "Roots" |  |  | 
          
            | Work very hard, invest, keeping pounds | The Sun Two Speed | 30 Nov 2024 | 
          
            | Skivvy | The Sun Two Speed | 30 Nov 2024 | 
          
            | Work excessively hard to put by about a pound (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Labour (over) |  |  | 
          
            | Veal's cooked by serf (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Hard worker left locked up by husband (5) |  |  | 
          
            | (and 5 Across) Exploitation of people or valuables somehow (5,6) |  |  | 
          
            | Exploitation of people or valuables somehow (5,6) |  |  | 
          
            | Enforced labourer (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Keep about fifty to work as drudges (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Addict left during rescue | Mirror Cryptic | 29 Aug 2024 | 
          
            | Servant | Mirror Quick | 29 Aug 2024 | 
          
            | Northwest Territories body of water, Great ___ Lake |  |  | 
          
            | Skivvy | The Sun Two Speed | 21 Aug 2024 | 
          
            | Work very hard, invest, keeping pounds | The Sun Two Speed | 21 Aug 2024 | 
          
            | "12 Years a " |  |  | 
          
            | It's not the master who will put by about a pound (5) |  |  | 
          
            | He's bound to do a hard day's work |  |  | 
          
            | Work hard, save about 50 (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Work very hard (colloq) (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Work extremely hard to put by about a pound (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Captive worker |  |  | 
          
            | Keep student inside as a servant (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Unpaid worker | Mirror Quick | 18 Apr 2024 | 
          
            | Except having left serf | Mirror Cryptic | 18 Apr 2024 | 
          
            | One must work very hard, being a vassal (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Someone who is owned |  |  | 
          
            | Unpaid toiler |  |  | 
          
            | Work extremely hard to put by about fifty (5) |  |  | 
          
            | 12 Years a ___ (Nyong'o movie) |  |  | 
          
            | Movie, 12 Years A... |  |  | 
          
            | "12 Years a __" |  |  | 
          
            | Memoir of American abolitionist Solomon Northup from 1853 (6,5,1,5) |  |  | 
          
            | Drudge | Mirror Tea Time | 22 Jan 2024 | 
          
            | Work excessively hard | The Times Concise | 05 Dec 2022 | 
          
            | Work too hard | Newsday | 20 Nov 2022 | 
          
            | Heston Oscar role | Newsday | 26 Jun 2021 | 
          
            | '12 Years a ___' | New York Times | 05 Jan 2021 | 
          
            | Bondsman, thrall | The Times Concise | 04 Aug 2020 | 
          
            | Work like a dog | Wall Street Journal | 18 Mar 2020 | 
          
            | "12 Years a ___," 2013 biographical period drama film adapted from the 1853 memoir of the same name, whose music was composed by Hans Zimmer |  |  | 
          
            | Oscar-winning hit "12 Years a ___" |  |  | 
          
            | Unpaid worker | The Telegraph Quick | 26 Feb 2019 | 
          
            | Oscar-winning film, "12 Years a ___" |  |  | 
          
            | Work like a dog | USA Today | 18 Feb 2019 | 
          
            | Work like a dog |  |  | 
          
            | Person 'owned' by another | Irish Times Simplex | 22 Dec 2018 | 
          
            | Kunta Kinte, for one | Wall Street Journal | 31 Jul 2018 | 
          
            | Many a worker in ancient Rome | New York Times | 22 Jul 2018 | 
          
            | Human chattel | Canadiana | 02 Jul 2018 | 
          
            | Spartacus, for one | Wall Street Journal | 25 Jun 2018 | 
          
            | Really work | Premier Sunday | 03 Jun 2018 | 
          
            | Work like a dog | New York Times | 01 May 2018 | 
          
            | "12 Years a ___" | Universal | 19 Feb 2018 | 
          
            | "12 Years a ___," an Oscar-winning film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor |  |  | 
          
            | Work really hard | The Washington Post | 10 Jan 2018 | 
          
            | Work really hard | LA Times Daily | 10 Jan 2018 | 
          
            | Galley oarsman, e.g | USA Today | 06 Jan 2018 | 
          
            | Work really hard |  |  | 
          
            | Many a worker in ancient Rome |  |  | 
          
            | Spartacus, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Work like a dog |  |  | 
          
            | Kunta Kinte, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Galley oarsman, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | "12 Years a ___" |  |  | 
          
            | "___ to the Grind" | Universal | 16 Dec 2017 | 
          
            | Work excessively hard | The Times Concise | 07 Dec 2017 | 
          
            | Ben-Hur, for one | Wall Street Journal | 24 Oct 2017 | 
          
            | Bondservant | Universal | 05 Oct 2017 | 
          
            | Really toil | Premier Sunday | 24 Sep 2017 | 
          
            | Spartacus, e.g | Thomas Joseph | 05 May 2017 | 
          
            | Spartacus, for one | Thomas Joseph | 17 Mar 2017 | 
          
            | Toil away | USA Today | 24 Feb 2017 | 
          
            | "___ to the Grind" |  |  | 
          
            | Toil away |  |  | 
          
            | Bondservant |  |  | 
          
            | Underground Railroad user | Universal | 14 Dec 2016 | 
          
            | One in bondage | The Telegraph Quick | 25 Nov 2016 | 
          
            | Aida or Androcles | USA Today | 19 Nov 2016 | 
          
            | Toil away | Thomas Joseph | 24 Oct 2016 | 
          
            | Work very hard to put money aside when about fifty |  |  | 
          
            | Frederick Douglass was one | Universal | 22 Aug 2016 | 
          
            | One emancipated by emancipation | New York Times | 25 Jul 2016 | 
          
            | Ascending in medieval society, one worked hard |  |  | 
          
            | Frederic Douglass was one | Universal | 09 Jul 2016 | 
          
            | Toil away | Universal | 01 Jul 2016 | 
          
            | Toil (away) | LA Times Daily | 22 May 2016 | 
          
            | Work day and night | USA Today | 18 Mar 2016 | 
          
            | Serf | Canadiana | 29 Feb 2016 | 
          
            | Work too hard | Newsday | 28 Feb 2016 | 
          
            | Put money aside to cover student work | The Telegraph Cryptic | 27 Jan 2016 | 
          
            | One emancipated by emancipation |  |  | 
          
            | Underground Railroad user |  |  | 
          
            | Toil away |  |  | 
          
            | Frederick Douglass was one |  |  | 
          
            | Frederic Douglass was one |  |  | 
          
            | Toil (away) |  |  | 
          
            | Work very hard | Newsday | 19 Oct 2015 | 
          
            | Emancipation Proclamation subject | USA Today | 14 Sep 2015 | 
          
            | Caliban in 'The Tempest,' e.g | New York Times | 30 Aug 2015 | 
          
            | Thirteenth Amendment beneficiary | LA Times Daily | 25 Jul 2015 | 
          
            | Work hard | LA Times Daily | 16 Jul 2015 | 
          
            | Toil (away) | New York Times | 07 Apr 2015 | 
          
            | Work one's fingers to the bone | USA Today | 24 Feb 2015 | 
          
            | Emancipation Proclamation subject | LA Times Daily | 10 Feb 2015 | 
          
            | Person owned by another | Irish Times Simplex | 29 Jan 2015 | 
          
            | Bond servant | USA Today | 14 Jan 2015 | 
          
            | Thirteenth Amendment beneficiary |  |  | 
          
            | Emancipation Proclamation subject |  |  | 
          
            | Work hard |  |  | 
          
            | Work very hard |  |  | 
          
            | Caliban in "The Tempest," e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Toil (away) |  |  | 
          
            | Bond servant |  |  | 
          
            | Emancipation Proclamation subject |  |  | 
          
            | Work one's fingers to the bone |  |  | 
          
            | Spartacus, at one time |  |  | 
          
            | "12 Years a ___" |  |  | 
          
            | Work one's fingers to the bone |  |  | 
          
            | Toil |  |  | 
          
            | Nat Turner or Dred Scott |  |  | 
          
            | Amistad passenger |  |  | 
          
            | Verdi's Aida, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Bondservant |  |  | 
          
            | Dred Scott, once |  |  | 
          
            | Drudge |  |  | 
          
            | Skid Row "___ to the Grind" |  |  | 
          
            | Ben-Hur, for a while |  |  | 
          
            | Underground Railroad "passenger" |  |  | 
          
            | Underground Railroad "passenger" |  |  | 
          
            | Plug away |  |  | 
          
            | Underground Railroad traveler |  |  | 
          
            | Work too hard |  |  | 
          
            | Underground Railroad traveler |  |  | 
          
            | Toil (away) |  |  | 
          
            | Spartacus, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Thirteenth Amendment beneficiary |  |  | 
          
            | "Amistad" passenger |  |  | 
          
            | ___ driver |  |  | 
          
            | Toil |  |  | 
          
            | Work hard |  |  | 
          
            | Put in long hours |  |  | 
          
            | Ben-Hur, for a time |  |  | 
          
            | Britney's "I'm a ___ 4 U" |  |  | 
          
            | Galley drudge |  |  | 
          
            | Work your fingers to the bone |  |  | 
          
            | Dred Scott, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Sweat blood |  |  | 
          
            | Work like a dog |  |  | 
          
            | Underground Railroad "passenger" |  |  | 
          
            | Ben-Hur, for a time |  |  | 
          
            | Work with scant appreciation |  |  | 
          
            | Verdi's Aida, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Bond servant |  |  | 
          
            | Toil too hard |  |  | 
          
            | Slog |  |  | 
          
            | Verdi's Aida, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Spartacus, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Harriet Tubman "passenger" |  |  | 
          
            | Harriet Tubman "passenger" |  |  | 
          
            | Toil away |  |  | 
          
            | Toil away |  |  | 
          
            | Ben-Hur, for a time |  |  | 
          
            | Freedman, once |  |  | 
          
            | Work hard |  |  | 
          
            | Toil |  |  | 
          
            | "Amistad" extra |  |  | 
          
            | Work really hard |  |  | 
          
            | Spartacus, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Exploited worker |  |  | 
          
            | Joseph, while in Egypt |  |  | 
          
            | Labor feverishly |  |  | 
          
            | "Amistad" extra |  |  | 
          
            | Work like a dog |  |  | 
          
            | Bust one's hump |  |  | 
          
            | Aida, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Amistad passenger |  |  | 
          
            | Ben-Hur, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Amistad passenger |  |  | 
          
            | Emancipation Proclamation subject |  |  | 
          
            | Underground Railroad user |  |  | 
          
            | Drudge |  |  | 
          
            | Old plantation worker |  |  | 
          
            | Nat Turner, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Nat Turner, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Toil |  |  | 
          
            | Kind of wages |  |  | 
          
            | Old plantation worker |  |  | 
          
            | Work your fingers to the bone |  |  | 
          
            | Androcles, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | "A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half ___ and half free": Abraham Lincoln |  |  | 
          
            | Androcles, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Dred Scott, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Machine triggered by another |  |  | 
          
            | Toil |  |  | 
          
            | Esne |  |  | 
          
            | Canada's Great __ Lake |  |  | 
          
            | Toil |  |  | 
          
            | Bond servant |  |  | 
          
            | Work very hard |  |  | 
          
            | Aesop or Epictetus |  |  | 
          
            | Aïda, for instance |  |  | 
          
            | Bond servant |  |  | 
          
            | Master's minion |  |  | 
          
            | Work too hard |  |  | 
          
            | Nat Turner was one |  |  | 
          
            | Spartacus, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | 'Gladiator' extra |  |  | 
          
            | Androcles, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Computer device controlled by another |  |  | 
          
            | Aida was one |  |  | 
          
            | Serf, essentially |  |  | 
          
            | Egregious trade in American history |  |  | 
          
            | Really toil |  |  | 
          
            | Work like a horse |  |  | 
          
            | Canada's Great __ Lake |  |  | 
          
            | Unpaid laborer |  |  | 
          
            | Great __ Lake |  |  | 
          
            | Spartacus, notably |  |  | 
          
            | "Amistad" character |  |  | 
          
            | Drudge |  |  | 
          
            | Amistad passenger |  |  | 
          
            | Computer peripheral |  |  | 
          
            | Work day and night |  |  | 
          
            | Work like a dog |  |  | 
          
            | Work, work, work |  |  | 
          
            | Workhorse |  |  | 
          
            | Work with scant appreciation |  |  | 
          
            | Toil |  |  | 
          
            | Labor feverishly |  |  | 
          
            | Work one's fingers to the bone |  |  | 
          
            | Dred Scott or Nat Turner |  |  | 
          
            | Ben-Hur, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Drudge |  |  | 
          
            | Spartacus, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Verdi's Aïda, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Wage - |  |  | 
          
            | Toiler |  |  | 
          
            | Androcles  e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Vassal |  |  | 
          
            | Work hard |  |  | 
          
            | Nat Turner was one |  |  | 
          
            | See 26 Across |  |  | 
          
            | Kind of driver |  |  | 
          
            | Work, work, work |  |  | 
          
            | Aïda, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Dred Scott was one |  |  | 
          
            | Kind of labor |  |  | 
          
            | Dred Scott, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Frederic Douglass was one |  |  | 
          
            | Serf |  |  | 
          
            | Joseph in Egypt |  |  | 
          
            | Harriet Tubman was one |  |  | 
          
            | Turner or Tubman |  |  | 
          
            | Thrall |  |  | 
          
            | Work hard |  |  | 
          
            | Little Harriet Tubman |  |  | 
          
            | Spartacus was one |  |  | 
          
            | Choiceless worker |  |  | 
          
            | ___ bracelet |  |  | 
          
            | Helot |  |  | 
          
            | Eliza Harris, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Kind of bracelet |  |  | 
          
            | Caliban, to Prospero |  |  | 
          
            | Canadian river, fed by the Peace |  |  | 
          
            | Bondsman |  |  | 
          
            | Kind of labor or driver |  |  | 
          
            | Bondman |  |  | 
          
            | Spartacus, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Nat Turner, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Bracelet or ant |  |  | 
          
            | Joseph in Egypt, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Aesop, for one |  |  | 
          
            | ___ labor. |  |  | 
          
            | Citizen of Hitler's new order. |  |  | 
          
            | What Spartacus was. |  |  | 
          
            | What Aesop was. |  |  | 
          
            | Work like a dog |  |  | 
          
            | Onetime status of Booker T. Washington. |  |  | 
          
            | Drudge. |  |  | 
          
            | Aida's status. |  |  | 
          
            | Toil. |  |  | 
          
            | Tom, in "Uncle Tom's Cabin." |  |  | 
          
            | Great ___ Lake. |  |  | 
          
            | Vassal. |  |  | 
          
            | Aida was one. |  |  | 
          
            | ___ bracelet. |  |  | 
          
            | Demetrius in "The Robe." |  |  | 
          
            | Bondsman. |  |  | 
          
            | ___ driver. |  |  | 
          
            | Worker for Simon Legree. |  |  | 
          
            | Spartacus was one. |  |  | 
          
            | Great ___ Lake, in Canada. |  |  | 
          
            | Dominated person. |  |  | 
          
            | One who is completely dominated. |  |  | 
          
            | Dred Scott was one. |  |  | 
          
            | Uncle Tom, for instance. |  |  | 
          
            | Dred Scott. |  |  | 
          
            | Booker T. Washington was one. |  |  | 
          
            | "Be not the ___ of Words."—Carlyle. |  |  | 
          
            | Eliza Harris, for example. |  |  | 
          
            | Serf. |  |  | 
          
            | Aesop's early status |  |  | 
          
            | Toil |  |  |