Wordnet 3.0
ADJECTIVE (2)
1.
submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior;
- Example: "spoke in a servile tone"- Example: "the incurably servile housekeeper"- Example: "servile tasks such as floor scrubbing and barn work"2.
relating to or involving slaves or appropriate for slaves or servants;
- Example: "Brown's attempt at servile insurrection"- Example: "the servile wars of Sicily"- Example: "servile work"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Servile \Serv"ile\, n. (Gram.)
An element which forms no part of the original root; --
opposed to radical.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Servile \Serv"ile\, a. [L. servile, fr. servus a servant or
slave: cf. F. servile. See Serve.]
1. 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.
[1913 Webster]
She must bend the servile knee. --Thomson.
[1913 Webster]
Fearing dying pays death servile breath. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. Held in subjection; dependent; enslaved.
[1913 Webster]
Even fortune rules no more, O servile land! --Pope.
[1913 Webster]
3. (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.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
servile
adj 1: 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"
[ant: unservile, unsubmissive]
2: relating to or involving slaves or appropriate for slaves or
servants; "Brown's attempt at servile insurrection"; "the
servile wars of Sicily"; "servile work"