Hypertext Webster Gateway: "servile"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Servile \Serv"ile\, n. (Gram.)
An element which forms no part of the original root; --
opposed to {radical}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Servile \Serv"ile\, a. [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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
servile
adj 1: involving slaves; "Brown's attempt at servile insurrection"
[syn: {servile(a)}]
2: pertaining to or involving slaves; "the servile wars of
Sicily"
3: 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"
[ant: {unservile}]
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