Dictionary > Servile

Servile

servile
1. Of or pertaining to a servant or slave; befitting a servant or a slave; proceeding from dependence; hence, meanly submissive; slavish; mean; cringing; fawning; as, servile flattery; servile fear; servile obedience. She must bend the servile knee. (Thomson) Fearing dying pays death servile breath. (Shak)
2. Held in subjection; dependent; enslaved. Even fortune rules no more, O servile land! (pope)
3. Not belonging to the original root; as, a servile letter. Not itself sounded, but serving to lengthen the preceeding vowel, as e in tune.
Origin: L. Servile, fr. Servus a servant or slave: cf. F. Servile. See Serve.

Last updated on January 18th, 2021

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