Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person who owns or trades in slaves: A "slaver" is someone who holds people as property (slaves) or is involved in the business of buying and selling enslaved people.
   • (Archaic) A ship used in the slave trade: Historically, a "slaver" was a vessel specifically designed or used for transporting enslaved people.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To let saliva flow from the mouth; to drool: To "slaver" means to have saliva run uncontrollably from one's mouth.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The notorious slaver was finally brought to justice for his crimes.
  • In the 18th century, many slavers crossed the Atlantic Ocean.

• Verb:

  • The hungry dog began to slaver at the smell of cooking meat.
  • Babies often slaver when they are teething.

Advanced Usage

• "To slaver over something/someone": To show excessive desire or greed for something, often while drooling. This usage is figurative.
  • The collectors slavered over the rare painting at the auction.

Variants and Related Words

• Slave (n): A person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.
• Slavery (n): The state of being a slave; the practice or system of owning slaves.
• Slavish (adj): Behaving like a slave; showing no originality or independence.
• Drool (v): A more common synonym for the verb meaning "to let saliva run from the mouth."

Synonyms

• Noun (person): Slave trader, slaveholder, enslaver.
• Verb: Drool, salivate, dribble, drivel.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Slaver over: To show intense, often unseemly, desire or enthusiasm for something.
  • He slavered over the idea of becoming rich and famous.

Related Idioms

• None that are directly and exclusively formed with the word "slaver." The figurative use "to slaver over" functions similarly to an idiomatic expression, indicating excessive craving.

Noun

1. someone who holds slaves
2. a person engaged in slave trade

Verb

1. let saliva drivel from the mouth
   • The baby drooled