maidservant

noun

maid·​ser·​vant ˈmād-ˌsər-vənt How to pronounce maidservant (audio)
: a female servant

Examples of maidservant in a Sentence

a large estate that once had many maidservants
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Julia, who was already pregnant with her and Henry’s second child, is forced to work as a maidservant for the reprehensible Lord Lovat (Tony Curran), who happens to be the father of Brian. Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025 As Julia takes on the role of maidservant, Henry’s outlook is a bit different. Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 8 Aug. 2025 Count Almaviva seeks to exercise droit du seigneur over his wife’s maidservant, Susanna, who is betrothed to his valet, Figaro. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 July 2025 If the apparent maidservant was actually a man committing fornication that might lead to another servant’s falling pregnant, then Hall was a materially destabilizing influence in the community. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Aug. 2023 Alfonso enlists the sisters’ maidservant, Despina, to aid in the plot. Jeremy Yudkin, BostonGlobe.com, 17 July 2023 On the other hand, in the 17th century a maidservant was able to thwart the unwelcome advances of the diarist Samuel Pepys by grabbing a pin from her pocket and threatening to stab him with it, according to his own account. Amanda Foreman, WSJ, 29 Sep. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of maidservant was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Maidservant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maidservant. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

maidservant

noun
maid·​ser·​vant ˈmād-ˌsər-vənt How to pronounce maidservant (audio)
: a female servant

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