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Menial

//ˈmiːni.əl// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of or relating to work normally performed by a servant.

    "She hung round him, watching his every look as if she grudged the veriest menial offices from the servants; and she almost scolded him for not eating, when he had done justice enough to the good things set before him to have satisfied even the cook herself."

  2. 2
    Of or relating to unskilled work.

    "menial job"

  3. 3
    Servile; low; mean.

    "a menial wretch"

Adjective
  1. 1
    used of unskilled work (especially domestic work) wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    A servant, especially a domestic servant.

    "“Nay, Dame Mary,” answered the Knight, “it is enough you desire such an attendant.—Yet I have never loved to nurse such useless menials—a lady's page—it may well suit the proud English dames to have a slender youth to bear their trains from bower to hall, fan them when they slumber, and touch the lute for them when they please to listen; […]”"

  2. 2
    a domestic servant wordnet
  3. 3
    A person who has a subservient nature.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English meyneal, from Anglo-Norman mesnal, from maisnee (“household”), from Vulgar Latin *mānsiōnāta, from Latin mānsiō (“house”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English meyneal, from Anglo-Norman mesnal, from maisnee (“household”), from Vulgar Latin *mānsiōnāta, from Latin mānsiō (“house”).

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