2. Something or someone serving in a subordinate position;
as, theology should be the handmaiden of ethics. [WordNet
sense 1]
Syn: handmaid, servant. [WordNet 1.5]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
handmaid — (n.) late 14c., from HAND (Cf. hand) (n.) in the sense in close at hand + MAID (Cf. maid). Cf. Old English handþegn personal attendant … Etymology dictionary
handmaid — ► NOUN 1) archaic a female servant. 2) a subservient partner or element … English terms dictionary
handmaid — handmaiden UK [ˈhændˌmeɪd(ə)n] / US or handmaid UK [ˈhændˌmeɪd] / US noun [countable] Word forms handmaiden : singular handmaiden plural handmaidens Word forms handmaid : singular handmaid plural handmaids 1) old fashioned a woman who is someone… … English dictionary
handmaid — /hand mayd /, n. 1. something that is necessarily subservient or subordinate to another: Ceremony is but the handmaid of worship. 2. a female servant or attendant. Also, handmaiden. [1350 1400; ME; see HAND, MAID] * * * … Universalium
handmaid — hand•maid [[t]ˈhændˌmeɪd[/t]] also hand′maid en n. 1) a female servant or attendant 2) something subservient or subordinate: Ceremony is but the handmaid of worship[/ex] • Etymology: 1350–1400 … From formal English to slang
handmaid — noun see handmaiden … New Collegiate Dictionary
handmaid — noun /ˈhændˌmeɪd/ A maid that waits at hand; a female servant or attendant … Wiktionary
Handmaid — Servant (Gen. 16:1; Ruth 3:9; Luke 1:48). It is probable that Hagar was Sarah s personal attendant while she was in the house of Pharaoh, and was among those maid servants whom Abram had brought from Egypt … Easton's Bible Dictionary
handmaid — Synonyms and related words: Charlie McCarthy, abigail, agent, amah, ancilla, appliance, au pair girl, ayah, betweenmaid, biddy, chambermaid, chaperon, companion, contrivance, cook, creature, device, duenna, dummy, dupe, femme de chambre, fille de … Moby Thesaurus
handmaid — ‚hænd‚meɪd n. female servant, maid … English contemporary dictionary
