Handmaid: meaning, definitions and examples

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handmaid

 

[ ˈhænd.meɪd ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

female servant

A handmaid is a woman who is employed to assist another woman, typically in domestic duties or care. In some cultural contexts, particularly within certain religious settings, a handmaid may also have specific roles involving childbirth and child-rearing, often in a subordinate position.

Synonyms

attendant, maid, servant

Examples of usage

  • The handmaid prepared dinner for the family.
  • In the book, the handmaid was forced to follow strict rules.
  • She dressed as a handmaid for the themed party.

Translations

Translations of the word "handmaid" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mãe de aluguel

🇮🇳 दासी

🇩🇪 Magd

🇮🇩 pengasuh

🇺🇦 служниця

🇵🇱 służebnica

🇯🇵 侍女

🇫🇷 servante

🇪🇸 sirvienta

🇹🇷 hizmetçi

🇰🇷 하녀

🇸🇦 خادمة

🇨🇿 služebná

🇸🇰 služka

🇨🇳 女仆

🇸🇮 služabnica

🇮🇸 þjónustustúlka

🇰🇿 қызметші

🇬🇪 მსახურების ქალი

🇦🇿 xidmətçi

🇲🇽 sirvienta

Etymology

The term 'handmaid' has its roots in Middle English, derived from the Old English 'handmægden', which translates to 'hand maiden' or 'female servant'. The components of the word are 'hand', referring to manual work, and 'maid', indicating a young woman or girl who is not married. Historically, handmaids were employed in wealthy households to perform a variety of tasks, from household chores to caring for children. The term has gained notoriety in modern culture through literature and television, particularly in works such as Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel 'The Handmaid's Tale', where handmaids are depicted as women stripped of their rights and autonomy, thus extending the term into new realms of discussion around gender and power dynamics.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,221, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.