handmaid
handmaid Lexical Profile
handmaid Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Something that serves a subordinate, supportive, or auxiliary role to another more important concept, institution, or cause.
"During the medieval period, philosophy was widely regarded as the handmaid of theology."
A female personal servant or attendant (now largely archaic or historical).
"In the ancient play, the queen confided her deepest fears only to her trusted handmaid."
Word Nuance & Usage
While historically and biblically used to denote a female personal attendant, in modern prose 'handmaid' (or 'handmaiden') is most frequently used figuratively in the construction 'the handmaid of...' to describe a discipline or practice that serves a larger goal, or else in allusions to Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel 'The Handmaid's Tale'.
• Rhymes for handmaid
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'handmayde', a compound of 'hand' (denoting close attendance or service) and 'maid' (female servant or young woman), popularized by early English translations of the Bible.