ENGLISH
REFERENCE

servant

n. countable
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈsɝvənt// UK //sˈɜːvənt// ser·vant Archaic General-service

n. a person who works in someone else's house, doing tasks like cleaning or cooking. In a religious context, it describes someone who serves God or a higher power with great devotion.

n. a person employed in another's household to perform domestic duties. In religious or formal contexts, it denotes an individual who performs duties for a deity or a government, often implying humility and obedience.


SIMPLE

The wealthy family employed a servant to manage the large house.

CONTEXTUAL

In many religious texts, the prophet is described as a humble servant of God who follows every command.

COMPLEX

While the historical role of the domestic servant has largely vanished in modern egalitarian societies, the term persists in the concept of a 'public servant' dedicated to the common good.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English servaunt, from Old French servant, from the present participle of the verb servir. Doublet of sergeant and servient. Morphologically serve + -ant. Displaced native Old English þeġn.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'of' to indicate who is being served, such as a 'servant of the people'.

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