Servilely

//ˈsɝ.vaɪl.li// adv

adv ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Adverb
  1. 1
    In a servile way; fawningly.

    "In the works of nature we find, in many instances, beauty and sublimity involved among circumstances, which are either indifferent, or which obstruct the general effect: and it is only by a train of experiments, that we can separate those circumstances from the rest... Accordingly, the inexperienced artist, when he copies nature, will copy her servilely... and the beauties of his performances will be encumbered with a number of superfluous or disagreeable concomitants. Experience and observation alone can enable him to make this determination: to exhibit the principles of beauty pure and unadulterated, and to form a creation of his own, more faultless, than ever fell under the observation of his senses."

Adverb
  1. 1
    in an obsequious manner wordnet

Example

More examples

"Why did they wait upon him so servilely?"

Etymology

From servile + -ly.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.