Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
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. Shakespeare
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
,Noun.
(Gram.)
An element which forms no part of the original root; – opposed to
radical
. Webster 1828 Edition
Servile
SERV'ILE
,Adj.
1. Such as pertains to a servant or slave; slavish; mean; such as proceeds from dependence; as servile fear; servile obedience.
2. Held in subjection; dependent.
Ev'n fortune rules no more a servile land. Pope.
3. Cringing; fawning; meanly submissive; as servile flattery.
She must bend the servile knee. Thomson.
Definition 2024
servile
servile
English
Adjective
servile (comparative more servile, superlative most servile)
- of or pertaining to a slave.
- Alexander Pope
- Even fortune rules no more, O servile land!
- Alexander Pope
- submissive or slavish.
- servile flattery; servile obedience
- (grammar) Not belonging to the original root.
- a servile letter
- (grammar) Not sounded, but serving to lengthen the preceding vowel, like the e in tune.
Derived terms
Related terms
Antonyms
- (submissive or slavish): authoritarian, arrogant
Translations
of or pertaining to a slave
submissive or slavish
|
Noun
servile (plural serviles)
Antonyms
Anagrams
French
Etymology
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /sɛʁ.vil/
Adjective
servile m, f (plural serviles)