menial servant

menial servant
A servant whose duties involve the most simple of domestic tasks, requiring little, if any, exercise of discretion, and often consisting in tasks of a degrading nature. Menials or menial servants were originally so called because they were employed to serve their masters intra moenia, within the walls; that is, in the house. They were domestic or household servants. See 1 Bl Comm 425.

Ballentine's law dictionary. . 1998.

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  • menial — adj. & n. adj. 1 (esp. of unskilled domestic work) degrading, servile. 2 usu. derog. (of a servant) domestic. n. 1 a menial servant. 2 a servile person. Derivatives: menially adv. Etymology: ME f. OF meinee household …   Useful english dictionary

  • menial — Low; servile. A menial servant …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • Servant — Serv ant, n. [OE. servant, servaunt, F. servant, a & p. pr. of servir to serve, L. servire. See {Serve}, and cf. {Sergeant}.] 1. One who serves, or does services, voluntarily or on compulsion; a person who is employed by another for menial… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Servant of servants — Servant Serv ant, n. [OE. servant, servaunt, F. servant, a & p. pr. of servir to serve, L. servire. See {Serve}, and cf. {Sergeant}.] 1. One who serves, or does services, voluntarily or on compulsion; a person who is employed by another for… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • menial — [mē′nē əl, mēn′yəl] adj. [ME meynal < Anglo Fr meignal < meiniee, a family retainer, servant < OFr meisniee, household < L mansio: see MANSION] 1. of or fit for servants 2. servile; low; mean n. 1. a domestic servant 2. a servile, low …   English World dictionary

  • Menial — Men ial, n. 1. A domestic servant or retainer, esp. one of humble rank; one employed in low or servile offices. [1913 Webster] 2. A person of a servile character or disposition. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • servant — [n] person who waits on another assistant, attendant, cleaning person, dependent, domestic, drudge, help, helper, hireling, live in, menial, minion, retainer, serf, server, slave; concept 348 Ant. master …   New thesaurus

  • servant — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) One who serves another Nouns 1. servant, servitor, domestic, menial, help; retainer, follower, henchman, subject, liegeman; retinue, suite, cortege, staff, entourage, court; majordomo, chamberlain. See… …   English dictionary for students

  • menial — {{11}}menial (adj.) late 14c., pertaining to a household, from Anglo Fr. meignial, from O.Fr. mesnie household, earlier mesnede, from V.L. *mansionata, from L. mansionem dwelling (see MANSION (Cf. mansion)). Sense of lowly, humble, suited to a… …   Etymology dictionary

  • menial — I. noun Date: 14th century a person doing menial work; specifically a domestic servant or retainer II. adjective Etymology: Middle English meynial, from Anglo French meignal, from mesnee, mayné household, retinue, from Vulgar Latin *mansionata,… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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