handmaiden
4
7.7
- noun
- /ˈhændˌmeɪdən/
- Literature
:
auxiliar
- Furthermore, nurses and other health professionals have traditionally been the "handmaidens" of physicians.
- the handmaiden of modern science
- handmaiden role
- handmaiden to the social
OK, so these are not called handmaidens of the apocalypse for nothing.
- OK, so these are not called handmaidens of the apocalypse for nothing.
- Is this a reversion to what we might call the medieval understanding of philosophy as the handmaiden of theology?
Examples
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Shorn of theological or religious considerations, the Reformation becomes for them a handmaiden toward understanding Germany's Sonderweg or "special way" into modern Western history.
Academic text (2002) -
In all of this, science is the handmaiden of democracy.
Academic text (1995) -
The job of music is to be a handmaiden, to serve the power, the power of the Prince or the church.
-
Nature is the handmaiden of the Lord.
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As the handmaiden of the American political economy, the school system has helped to divide our cities.
Academic text (1992) -
The radical version runs as follows: "Yes, education is the handmaiden of politics, as we have just seen."
Academic text (1990) -
In Iraq, social policy played a handmaiden role in the militarization of the state.
Academic text (2003) -
Each day to work, to school, to church: routine and ritual were the handmaidens of reason.
Fiction book (1999) -
- GUS: We are merely attorneys, Mrs. Farmer... ...handmaidens of the law.
-
In the project, volunteers acted as handmaidens to the main organizers, assisting with various tasks.
Synonyms
165
1.0
A person who helps a larger group or leader by doing needed work
12
5.3
A woman who cares for young children in a private home
8
2.4
A woman paid to clean and do other jobs in a home
7
3.5
A young woman who works in a house to help with chores
3
7.1
A woman who works in a home doing cleaning and cooking
1
7.9
Something that helps and supports a more important person or idea
Antonyms
How Subordinate
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Handmaiden comes from hand ('helper' or 'worker') and maiden ('young woman'), and the word moved from meaning a female servant to meaning anything that 'serves' or supports something else. That's why we call something a handmaiden when it plays a supporting or less important role to a more important thing.