Handmaiden
noun
A woman or girl who serves or helps someone, especially a woman who helps another woman.
In the novel, she played the role of the queen's handmaiden.
Often appears as...
- queen's handmaiden
- personal handmaiden
noun
Something that provides help or support to something more important.
Trade was seen as the handmaiden to industry.
Often appears as...
- handmaiden of progress
- handmaiden of change
Usage tips
Formal
noun
A woman or girl who serves or helps someone, especially a woman who helps another woman.
In the novel, she played the role of the queen's handmaiden.
Often appears as...
- queen's handmaiden
- personal handmaiden
noun
Something that provides help or support to something more important.
Trade was seen as the handmaiden to industry.
Often appears as...
- handmaiden of progress
- handmaiden of change
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Servitude
Originally implied a female servant's role in a historical or traditional setting, often subordinate.
The handmaiden would rise at dawn to prepare her lady's bath.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Device
Often used in literature to depict a close, personal relationship between a female servant and her mistress.
Each evening, the princess shared her secret worries with her trusted handmaiden.
Pro Tip 3/3Antiquated Term
May sound old-fashioned and is less used in modern times, except in historical contexts.
The job posting requested a nanny, not a handmaiden.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Servitude
Originally implied a female servant's role in a historical or traditional setting, often subordinate.
The handmaiden would rise at dawn to prepare her lady's bath.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Device
Often used in literature to depict a close, personal relationship between a female servant and her mistress.
Each evening, the princess shared her secret worries with her trusted handmaiden.
Pro Tip 3/3Antiquated Term
May sound old-fashioned and is less used in modern times, except in historical contexts.
The job posting requested a nanny, not a handmaiden.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Servitude
Originally implied a female servant's role in a historical or traditional setting, often subordinate.
The handmaiden would rise at dawn to prepare her lady's bath.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Device
Often used in literature to depict a close, personal relationship between a female servant and her mistress.
Each evening, the princess shared her secret worries with her trusted handmaiden.
Pro Tip 3/3Antiquated Term
May sound old-fashioned and is less used in modern times, except in historical contexts.
The job posting requested a nanny, not a handmaiden.
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Quote examples
Dorothea Dix
American Activist
The rose is the flower and handmaiden of love - the lily, her fair associate, is the emblem of beauty and purity.
Quote examples
Horace
Roman Poet
Money is a handmaiden, if thou knowest how to use it; a mistress, if thou knowest not.
Quote examples
Karl Kraus
Austrian Writer
Language is the mother of thought, not its handmaiden.
Quote examples
Chuck Jones
American Director
Anxiety is the handmaiden of creativity.
Quote examples
Branch Rickey
American Athlete
Leisure is the handmaiden of the devil.
Quote examples
Dorothea Dix
American Activist
The rose is the flower and handmaiden of love - the lily, her fair associate, is the emblem of beauty and purity.
Quote examples
Horace
Roman Poet
Money is a handmaiden, if thou knowest how to use it; a mistress, if thou knowest not.
Quote examples
Karl Kraus
Austrian Writer
Language is the mother of thought, not its handmaiden.
Quote examples
Chuck Jones
American Director
Anxiety is the handmaiden of creativity.
Quote examples
Branch Rickey
American Athlete
Leisure is the handmaiden of the devil.
Example 1 of 5
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