Handmaiden

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Handmaid \Hand"maid`\ (h[a^]nd"m[=a]d`), Handmaiden
  \Hand"maid`en\ (h[a^]nd"m[=a]d`'n), n.
     A maid that waits at hand; a female servant or attendant.
     [WordNet sense 2]
     [1913 Webster]
  


     2. Something or someone serving in a subordinate position;
        as, theology should be the handmaiden of ethics. [WordNet
        sense 1]
  
     Syn: handmaid, servant.
          [WordNet 1.5]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  handmaiden
       n 1: in a subordinate position; "theology should be the
            handmaiden of ethics"; "the state cannot be a servant of
            the church" [syn: {handmaid}, {servant}]
       2: a personal maid or female attendant [syn: {handmaid}]