handmaiden

noun

hand·​maid·​en ˈhan(d)-ˌmā-dᵊn 

variants or less commonly handmaid

ˈhan(d)-ˌmād 

1

: a personal maid or female servant

2

: something whose essential function is to serve or assist

criticism is not the enemy of art but rather its handmaiden

—Gary Michael

Synonyms

• biddy
• char [British]
• charwoman
• house girl
• housekeeper
• housemaid
• maid
• maidservant
• skivvy [British]
• wench [old-fashioned]

Examples of handmaiden in a Sentence

the princess was intensely shy, and allowed only her handmaiden to enter her chambers

Recent Examples on the Web

But now, many millions of women in the U.S., and in Florida particularly, are the handmaidens of theocrats who are doing just that. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2024

Already convinced the coaches were nothing but handmaidens to the app, the firm piled on new clients heedlessly. —Allison Pugh, TIME, 14 Aug. 2024

Some of its most savage jokes lie in the dynamics between master and servant — and none of those are more toxic than the one between Pampinea and her loyal handmaiden Misia (Derry Girls‘ Saoirse-Monica Jackson). —Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 July 2024

Just for having been a handmaiden in that extraordinary outcome, hyperglobalization deserves—if not three—at least two cheers. —Dev Patel, Foreign Affairs, 12 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

handmaiden

noun

hand·​maid·​en -ˌmād-ən 

variants also handmaid

-ˌmād 

: a female servant or attendant