SERVILE

servile

(adjective) submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior; “spoke in a servile tone”; “the incurably servile housekeeper”; “servile tasks such as floor scrubbing and barn work”

servile

(adjective) relating to or involving slaves or appropriate for slaves or servants; “Brown’s attempt at servile insurrection”; “the servile wars of Sicily”; “servile work”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

servile (comparative more servile, superlative most servile)

of or pertaining to a slave.

submissive or slavish.

(grammar) Not belonging to the original root.

(grammar) Not sounded, but serving to lengthen the preceding vowel, like the e in tune.

Antonyms

• (submissive or slavish): authoritarian, arrogant

Noun

servile (plural serviles)

(grammar) An element which forms no part of the original root.

A slave; a menial.

Antonyms

• radical

Anagrams

• leviers, relives, reviles, veilers

Source: Wiktionary

Serv"ile, a. Etym: [L. servile, fr. servus a servant or slave: cf. F. servile. See Serve.]

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. (Gram.) (a) Not belonging to the original root; as, a servile letter. (b) Not itself sounded, but serving to lengthen the preceeding vowel, as e in tune.

Serv"ile, n. (Gram.)

Definition: An element which forms no part of the original root; -- opposed to radical.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition