servile Meaning, Definition & Usage

adjective submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior
- spoke in a servile tone
- the incurably servile housekeeper
- servile tasks such as floor scrubbing and barn work
adjective satellite relating to or involving slaves or appropriate for slaves or servants
- Brown's attempt at servile insurrection
- the servile wars of Sicily
- servile work

L. servile, fr. servus a servant or slave: cf. F. servile. See Serve.

Of or pertaining to a servant or slave; befitting a servant or a slave; proceeding from dependence; hence, meanly submissive; slavish; mean; cringing; fawning; as, servile flattery; servile fear; servile obedience.
She must bend the servile knee. Thomson.

Fearing dying pays death servile breath. Shak.
Held in subjection; dependent; enslaved.
Even fortune rules no more, O servile land! Pope.
(Gram.) (a) Not belonging to the original root; as, a servile letter. (b) Not itself sounded, but serving to lengthen the preceeding vowel, as e in tune.

(Gram.) An element which forms no part of the original root; -- opposed to radical.