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maidservant

maidservant

3 7.1
A woman who works in a home doing cleaning and cooking
  • noun
  • /ˈmeɪdˌsɜrvənt/
  • Archaic
translation icon : sirvienta
  • In the large house, the maidservant ensured that everything was clean and tidy for the family.

The master maidservant as a slave is regarded as a commodity.

Examples

  • The maidservant opened the door to me and replied that Mother and the others were already at the cemetery.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The next tale told by Sir John concerned the death of a young maidservant from one of London's great houses.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • I shall buy us a fine house of our own with a maidservant...

  • I was hired as more than a maidservant, but I will serve you well.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • You are in this house as a maidservant.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Is she not our maidservant?

    Academic text (1991)
  • I saw a maidservant in a white cap and apron walk by one of the windows.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Emma, the young maidservant she'd befriended, appeared to be too terrified to speak.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • I had poured tea hundreds of times since I had become maidservant to Peggy, but for some reason I became clumsy.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Felicita is a maidservant; Romolo, the family handyman.

    Fiction book (1999)

Synonyms

servant
vsmaidservant
422 1.0

A person who works in someone's home doing jobs like cooking and cleaning

is specifically female and highlights traditional household service tasks
maid
vsmaidservant
264 1.0

A woman paid to clean and cook in another person's home

is the same general household worker role described more formally
housekeeper
vsmaidservant
110 1.1

A person who manages household chores and keeps the home clean

is a worker doing household chores rather than managing the whole household
cleaning lady
vsmaidservant
  • Informal
27 1.0

A woman who cleans houses or offices for pay

is a traditional household employee rather than a general cleaner
domestic
vsmaidservant
  • UK
14 5.8

A person who works in a home doing cleaning and cooking

is specifically female and used for traditional household employment
handmaid
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
12 8.2

A woman who serves a lady and helps with household tasks

is the household role focused on general service tasks for the home
chambermaid
vsmaidservant
11 5.3

A hotel worker who cleans and tidies guest bedrooms

is a household worker role that applies across rooms, not only bedrooms
housemaid
vsmaidservant
8 2.4

A woman paid to clean and do other jobs in a home

is the general term for a household female worker without extra role detail
handmaiden
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
8 8.0

A woman who helps and cares for another person in a household

is focused on household work broadly rather than personal attendance
retainer
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
8 7.0

A person who works for a family in the home, often as a servant

is specifically female and emphasizes domestic cleaning and cooking
servant girl
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
7 3.5

A young woman who works in a house to help with chores

is the adult female household worker rather than a younger servant
cleaning woman
vsmaidservant
6 1.3

A woman who is paid to clean houses or offices regularly

is framed as a household role, usually live-in or household-based
scullion
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
4 9.9

A kitchen worker who does dirty, simple jobs like washing dishes

is a general household worker including higher status and varied tasks
lady's maid
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
3 8.6

A woman who works as a servant to help another woman get dressed and look tidy

is broader, handling household chores rather than personal attendance tasks
laundress
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
3 7.3

A woman who washes and irons clothes for other people

is the general female household worker who may do many tasks
house servant
vsmaidservant
1 2.3

A person who works in a home doing cleaning, cooking and other daily tasks

is specified as a female worker doing the same household tasks
kitchen maid
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
1 3.2

A woman who helps cook and clean in the kitchen of a large house

is broader, covering all typical household service tasks beyond the kitchen
serving girl
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
1 5.1

A girl or young woman who works in a home doing chores

is the standard adult female household worker role without youth emphasis
domestic help
vsmaidservant
1 2.6

A person paid to clean and cook in a home

is restricted to female domestic employment rather than any paid helper
amah
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A woman who works in a family's home doing cooking and cleaning, often in South or East Asia

is the general English household worker term without regional or historical note
laundrywoman
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
1 4.7

A woman who washes and irons clothes for other people

is broader, covering many household chores beyond laundering
parlormaid
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A woman who works in a home cleaning and serving guests in the front rooms

is broader and not limited to serving or parlor duties
bonne
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A woman who looks after children and helps with housework

is centered on general household tasks, not primarily childcare
houseworker
vsmaidservant
2.5

A person who cleans, cooks, or does other work in a home

refers specifically to a female worker rather than any gender
fille de chambre
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
9.9

A woman who cleans and looks after bedrooms in hotels

is a general modern household worker term rather than a historical label
pantrywoman
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
9.9

A woman servant who takes care of the wine and plates in a large house

is more general and includes basic cleaning and cooking duties
muchacha
vsmaidservant
  • Archaic
9.8

A woman who works in a home doing cleaning and cooking

is the general English term for the same female household worker

Antonyms

3.7

A person in charge of a group or place

791 2.7

A person or company that hires people to work for them

Surface Forms

maidservant singular
maidservants plural

Morphology

maidservant = maid + servant (transparent) = maid + servant

The meaning is a straightforward combination of 'maid' and 'servant', indicating a female domestic worker; components and the compound sense are directly predictable.

Etymology

Maidservant comes from two parts: maid, which once meant 'young woman', and servant, which means 'one who serves'. So a maidservant meant a 'young woman who serves', which explains why the word refers to a female household worker who does cleaning, cooking and other chores.