subservient
3
6.6
- adjective
- /səbˈsɜrviənt/
:
instrumental
- Brazilian state assemblies, moreover, have no strong or innovative legislative tradition, being heavily subservient to the governors.
- subservient role
- subservient approach
- subservient to civilian authority
It's a, it's a goal processing system subservient to executive function.
- It's a, it's a goal processing system subservient to executive function.
- He tells us it renders them the arts or professions more subservient to the interests of society.
Examples
-
The assistant took on a subservient position, always ready to help her boss with any tasks.
-
In the planning of the event, the budget was subservient to the vision of creating a memorable experience.
-
Study is deep and intelligent, yet subservient to the greater truth.
Academic text (2017) -
As it turns out, the American family is subservient to Adam Smith's principles of political economy.
Academic text (1996) -
Debates over personnel and organization are, at some level, debates over how best to ensure that the military is subservient to civilian authority.
Academic text (1996) -
Here we explain why self-organization plays a subservient role to selection in the evolution of biological complexity.
Academic text (2010) -
We can hope, however, that most Americans don't support medical decisions being made subservient to religious dogma.
Academic text (2011) -
The Trustees understood the stresses of wartime but still opposed any attempt to make the civil government subservient to military control.
Academic text (2011) -
While 6 felt that integrating the arts into the core curriculum would allow educators to advocate for the importance of the arts, 25 argued that this would place the arts in a subservient position, being used as a tool to teach other subjects.
Academic text (2015) -
In a successful team, each member plays a subservient role to ensure that the project's goals are met.
Synonyms
60
4.9
Very important in making something happen
Giving help to make something happen or succeed
Antonyms
How Helpful
Surface Forms
Morphology
subservient = servient (semi-transparent) = sub + serve + ent
The prefix 'sub-' adds a nuance of being under or subordinate, which is not fully transparent to all learners.
Etymology
Subservient comes from the Latin parts sub- 'under' and servire 'to serve', the same idea as the English verb serve. So something subservient can be thought of as 'under' or working to help a larger plan, which is why it can mean 'useful' or 'serving a purpose'.