servile — [ sɛrvil ] adj. • mil. XIVe; lat. servilis 1 ♦ Didact. Propre aux esclaves et aux serfs, à leur état. Condition, travail servile. Théol. Œuvres serviles (opposé à libérales) : travaux manuels. 2 ♦ Fig. (plus cour.) Qui a un caractère de… … Encyclopédie Universelle
servile — Servile. adj. de tout genre. Qui appartient à l estat, à la fonction d un valet. Employ servile. homme de condition servile. On dit fig. Une ame, un esprit servile, pour dire, Une ame basse, un esprit qui a les sentimens, les manieres d agir d un … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
servile — late 14c., from L. servilis of a slave, servile, from servus slave (see SERVE (Cf. serve)). Earliest sense was legal, servile work being forbidden on the Sabbath; sense of cringing, fawning first recorded c.1600 … Etymology dictionary
servile — [sʉr′vəl, sʉr′vīl΄] adj. [ME < L servilis < servus, slave: see SERF] 1. of a slave or slaves 2. like that of slaves or servants [servile employment] 3. like or characteristic of a slave; humbly yielding or submissive; cringing; abject 4.… … English World dictionary
Servile — Serv ile, n. (Gram.) An element which forms no part of the original root; opposed to {radical}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
servile — I adjective abiectus, abject, compliant, deferential, downtrodden, fawning, groveling, harnessed, humble, humilis, ingratiating, low, mean, meek, menial, obedient, obeisant, obsequious, passive, prostrate, respectful, servilis, slavish, subject,… … Law dictionary
servile — agg. [dal lat. servilis, der. di servus servo ]. 1. [di servo, proprio dei servi] ▶◀ schiavile. ◀▶ padronale. 2. a. (estens., spreg.) [di azione, comportamento, ecc., che asseconda la volontà altrui, spec. dei potenti, per viltà, interesse e… … Enciclopedia Italiana
servile — *subservient, menial, slavish, obsequious Analogous words: *mean, abject, ignoble: fawning, cringing, truckling, cowering (see FAWN) Antonyms: authoritative … New Dictionary of Synonyms
servile — [adj] grovelling, subservient abject, base, beggarly, bootlicking, craven, cringing, despicable, eating crow*, eating humble pie*, fawning, humble, ignoble, low, mean, obedient, obeisant, obsequious, passive, slavish, submissive, sycophantic,… … New thesaurus
servile — ► ADJECTIVE 1) excessively willing to serve or please others. 2) of or characteristic of a slave or slaves. DERIVATIVES servilely adverb servility noun. ORIGIN Latin servilis, from servus slave … English terms dictionary
