Main Entry:

hand·maid·en

Pronunciation:

\-ˌmā-d^ən\

Variant(s):

also hand·maid \-ˌmād\

Function:

noun

Date:

13th century

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>