| 释义 |
▪ I. servant, n.|ˈsɜːvənt|
Forms: α. 3–7 servand, 4 servon, serfaunt, 4–5 servaund, -ond, sirvand, 4–6 servande, -ante, serwand, sirvant, 4–7 servaunt(e, 5 servaunth, -awnt, -onde, -unt, serwaunt, siervaunt, cervawnte, 5–6 serwant, 6 servont, -ent, serwonde, serviand, scherv-, scherw-, schirwand, 3– servant; (pl. forms 3–4 servanz, 4 -ans); β. 4 sarvaunte, 4–5 sarvande, 4, 7, 9 dial. sarvant, 5–6 sarvaunt, 6 sarvand, -ante.
[a. F. servant, subst. use of pr. pple. of servir serve v.1
In mod.Fr. only the fem. servante has survived in this sense. In OF. the pr. pple. had the same form in both genders; hence the Eng. word has always been applied both to males and females, without any distinction of form.]
A person of either sex who is in the service of a master or mistress; one who is under obligation to work for the benefit of a superior, and to obey his (or her) commands.
1. A personal or domestic attendant; one whose duty is to wait upon his master or mistress, or do certain work in his or her household. (The usual sense when no other is indicated by the context; sometimes with defining word, as domestic servant.)
upper servant, a domestic servant of superior grade of employment, as a butler or a housekeeper. general servant (see general a. 6), servant of all work: a female servant who does all kinds of housework. servants' hall: an apartment for use as a common room by the servants in a large house.
αa1225Ancr. R. 428 Non ancre seruant ne ouhte, mid rihte, uorto asken i-sette huire. a1300Cursor M. 2560 Child haue i self nan, Bot mi seruand sun allan Þat serues me, eleazar [cf. Gen. xv. 2, Vulg.: filius procuratoris domus meæ]. c1386Chaucer Prol. 101 A Yeman hadde he and seruantz namo. 1433in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 295 No citsaine herafter..shall not bake ne brewe..but only by his wif or siervaunt. 1447Shillingford Lett. (Camden) 10 Alle men of habite servantis familiars knawed without any fraude generally. 1509Fisher Funeral Serm. C'tess Richmond Wks. (1876) 296 The housholde seruauntes muste be put in some good ordre. 1611Shakes. Cymb. iii. v, That man of hers, Pisanio, her old Seruant. c1702C. Fiennes, Journeys (1947) i. 55 Just behind the hall is the Servants hall. 1728Mrs. Delany Life & Corr. (1861) I. 183, I am in great concern at your being without a servant. 1780Mirror No. 96 We..keep a good number of servants. 1785G. Washington Diaries 12 Mar. (1925) II. 349 In a line with the East end of my Kitchen, and Servants' Hall. 1813Examiner 8 Feb. 89/1 The ethics of the kitchen and servants'-hall. 1819Morning Post 14 Jan. 1 (Advt.), Wanted immediately, a servant of all-work, where others are kept for the children. 1835Dickens Sk. Boz, Scenes vii, The intense delight with which ‘a servant of all work’, who is sent for a coach, deposits herself inside. 1843Wordsworth in Chr. Wordsw. Mem. (1851) II. 76 A stranger..asked of one of the female servants..permission to see her master's study. 1881A Chequered Career 285 Let us peep into the servants'-hall. 1908R. Bagot A. Cuthbert xxiii. 293 She had evidently learned the language from servants and was, therefore, not quite at home with her h's.
βc1400Rule of St. Benet (Verse) 54 And put vs vn-to pyen for þi, Als wykkyd saruandes er worthy. c1500God Speed the Plough 19 Our sarvauntys we Moste nedis paye. 1599Dallam in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.) 41 John Knill, sarvante to Mr. Wyseman, marchante. a1699A. Halkett Autobiog. (1875) 29 One of his sarvants came and told mee that [etc.].
2. a. In wider sense: One who is under the obligation to render certain services to, and to obey the orders of, a person or a body of persons, esp. in return for wages or salary.
1433Rolls of Parlt. IV. 475/1 How that late he sende into Bretayn Wauter Trenchevyle, his Servant, Factour and Attournay, to Marchandise ther. 1683W. Hedges Diary (Hakl. Soc.) I. 85 Y⊇ Honble Company's Servants. 1704Hearne Duct. Hist. (1714) I. 172 Polydore Virgil..Servant to the Pope in the Time of K. Henry VIII. 1783Burke Rep. Aff. India Wks. 1842 II. 6 One provision, indeed, was made for restraining the servants [of the E. Ind. Comp.]. 1848Times 6 Nov. 4/4 Every attention was paid by the servants of the [railway] company to the deceased.
b. fig. Applied to things (chiefly with more or less of personification).
c1350Will. Palerne 467 Mi siȝt is seruant to mi hert. 1390Gower Conf. III. 100 As it is in Phisique write Of livere, of lunge, of galle, of splen, Thei alle unto the herte ben Servantz. 1639J. Clarke Parœmiologia 206 Fire and water be good servants, but bad masters. 1688Holme Armoury iii. 320/2 A Shovel..is a Servant for several uses about the Lady Ceres. 1745Life Bampfylde-Moore Carew 17 Disposing therefore of his faithful Servants, his Horse and Asses in Bridgwater. 1900Daily News 19 Feb. 6/3 They knew that the Empire was the best servant that mankind had ever had.
†c. Used for sergeant, serjeant, in various senses. Obs.
13..Coer de L. 1641 Hys knyghtes weren dyght, al redy, Servauntes off armes, and squyers. 1340Ayenb. 37 Þe ontrewe reuen prouos and bedeles and seruons, þet steleþ þe amendes, and wyþdraȝeþ þe rentes of hire lhordes. 1511Chron. in Songs, Carols, etc. (1907) 156 This yer ix. seruantis of þe coyff made. 1513Bk. Keruynge A 4 b, in Babees Bk., Also yf marshall, squyers and seruauntes of armes be there. 1561–2New Yrs. Gifts in Nichols Progr. Eliz. (1823) I. 127 To John Betts, Servent of the Pastrye, twoo guilt spoones.
†d. One who assists a workman. Cf. serve v.1 36. Obs.
1554–5in Extracts Edin. Burgh Rec. (1871) II. 313 Item, to David Grahame, masoun, for his oulk's wage xxiiijs. Item, to Laurence Paterson, his servand viijs.
e. Applied occas. to any state official, as expressing his relation to the Sovereign. Similarly, servant of the state, public servant, etc. See also civil servant.
1570Buchanan Admonitioun Wks. (1892) 33 Being ane gude sruand to ye croun. 1607Shakes. Cor. ii. iii. 186 When he had no Power, But was a pettie seruant to the State. c1645Howell Lett. (1650) I. 112 Besides Scots and Swissers, there are divers of the King's servants that are protestants. 1676Hobbes Iliad i. 307 Talthybius and Eurybates..Two public servants of the king were these. 1787W. Thomson Cunningham's Hist. Gt. Brit. I. Introd. 16 King William was wont to observe, that he got more truth from Argyle than from all the rest of his servants in Scotland. 1845Gen. Index Parl. Papers 1832–44, 632 Public Servants voting at Elections. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 273 The chief servants of the crown form one body. 1888‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms xxxiv, We hadn't been used to firing on the Queen's servants.
f. In the 16th c., certain companies of actors were permitted to describe themselves as the ‘servants’ of some noble patron, and in the 17th c. similar privileges were granted by the sovereign. Hence in mod. use His (or Her) Majesty's servants sometimes appears as a jocular designation for the theatrical profession.
1559Earl of Leicester Let. to E. Shrewsbury in Collier Northbrooke's Dicing (Shaks. Soc.) Introd. 7 Where my servauntes..be suche as ar plaiers of interludes, and for the same haue the licence..to plaie in diverse shieres within the realme. 1603in Rymer Fœdera XVI. 505 James by the Grace of God &c... Knowe ye that Wee..doe licence and authorize theise our Servaunts, Laurence Fletcher, William Shakespeare,..And the rest of their Assosiates, Freely to use and exercise the Arte and Faculty of playing Comedies, Tragedies [etc.]. 1609in Shaks. Soc. Papers (1849) IV. 45 Thomas Greene [and others]..Servants to our most deerely beloved wiefe, Queene Anne. 1696J. Dryden, jun. (title), The Husband his own Cuckold. A Comedy, As it is acted..by His Majesty's Servants. 1864Doran (title) ‘Their Majesties’ Servants.’ Annals of the English Stage.
3. a. In the 14th and 15th c. often used to render the L. servus slave. In all the Bible translations from Wyclif to the Revised Version of 1880–4, the word very often represents the Heb. ﻋébed or the Gr. δοῦλος, which correspond to slave, though this term as applied to Israelitish conditions would perh. be misleading. servant of servants: a Hebraism for one in the most degrading bondage.
1375Barbour Bruce iii. 220 Serwandis and threllis mad he fre. 1382Wyclif Ezek. xxvii. 13 Thei, thi biers, brouȝten seruauntis [1388 boonde men] and brasen vessels to thi puple. 1388― Gen. ix. 25 Cursid be the child Canaan, he schal be seruant of seruantis [so the later versions] to hise britheren. 1483Cath. Angl. 330/2 To make a Servande, mansipare. c1520Nisbet N.T., Gal. iv. 30 The sonn of the seruand sall nocht be aire with the sonn of the fre wife.
fig.1474Caxton Chesse ii. iii. (1883) 38 For he is seruant & bonde vnto money and not lord therof.
b. In the North American colonies in the 17–18th c., and subsequently in the United States, servant was the usual designation for a slave.
1643Virginia Stat. at Large (1823) I. 253 If any such runnaway servants or hired freemen shall produce a certificate [etc.]. 1784Acts & Laws of Conn. (1784) 103 Apprentices under Age and Servants bought for Time excepted. 1809Kendall Trav. II. 272 Servant, in the statute book of Connecticut..is put for slave. 1852Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xxi. 223 Why don't we teach our servants to read?
4. In various transferred uses.
†a. One who owes feudal service to his overlord, a vassal. Obs.
c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 11505 Þou frolle, our baroun [v.r. seruant], slow, ffrance & fflaundres from vs þou drow. 1471Caxton Recuyell (Sommer) II. 525 O right noble kynge as I am your trewe seruant and vassale. 1527Caldwell Papers (Maitland Club) i. 58 Me Johne Mure..grants me and myne airs ppetualie, to bekum man and servand till Hew Erle of Eglingtone, and till his airs ppetualie.
†b. A professed lover; one who is devoted to the service of a lady. (Cf. mistress 10.) Also, in bad sense, a paramour, gallant. Obs.
c1368Chaucer Compl. Pite 60 Sheweth vnto youre rialle excellence Youre servaunt, yf I durst me so calle, Hys mortal harme. 1508Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 466, I have ane secrete seruand,..That me supportis of sic nedis. 1598B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. iv. ii, Servant (in troth) you are too prodigall Of your wits treasure, thus to powre it forth Upon..my worth. 1614W. Browne Sheph. Pipe vii. F 1 b, Nor hath her seruants nor her fauorites That waite her husbands issuing at dore. 1629Ford Lover's Mel. i. iii, For your reward, Henceforth Ile call you Seruant. 1666–7Pepys Diary 4 Jan., Pegg, and her servant, Mr. Lowther. a1700Sedley Poems Wks. 1778 I. 54 Some caution yet I'd have thee use, Whene'er thou dost a servant chuse: Men are not all for lovers fit.
c. With religious signification.
Servant of the servants of God (servus servorum Dei): a title assumed by the Popes (first by Gregory the Great).
a1300Cursor M. 3118 Herkens o godd þat all weldand, How he wald faand his lel seruand. a1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 1082 Þe world here, es þe devels servand, Þat brynges his servauntes til his hand. a1340― Ps. lxv. 5 Þai ere saruauntes til þaire godes. c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 362 It bylongiþ to þe godheed of criste..to rewarde his trewe saruandis. c1386Chaucer Pars. T. 699 The Pope calleth hym-self seruant of the seruantz of god. 1447O. Bokenham Seyntys ix. 904 She seruaunth was To Cryst in heuene. 1574Wills & Inv. N.C. (Surtees) I. 405 Lawrence dunccane serwand to the churche of god and Minister at the churche of belford. 1655(title) A true Testimony of what was done concerning the servants of the Lord, at the Generall Assizes at Northampton. a1770Jortin Serm. (1771) VII. ii. 19 Christians..must not draw back and become the servants of sin. 1823Scott Quentin D. xvi, The good Bishop labours night and day to preserve peace, as well becometh a servant of the altar. 1871J. Ellerton Hymn, ‘Now the labourer's task is o'er’ i, Father, in Thy gracious keeping Leave we now Thy servant sleeping.
d. your (humble, obedient) servant: one of the customary modes of subscribing a letter, or of addressing a patron in the dedication of a book. † (your) servant: a mode of expressing submission to another's opinion, often equivalent to ‘there is nothing more to be said upon the subject’; a form of greeting or leave-taking.
α [1444Paston Lett. I. 48 Wretyn right simply..By your most symple servaunt Jamys Gresham.] 1474Caxton Chesse Ded., Your most humble servant william Caxton amonge other of your seruantes sendes unto yow peas. c1550Bale K. Johan 1139 Yowr servont and Umfrey! of trewthe, father, I am he. 1601J. Donne in Kempe Losely MSS. (1836) 333 Yor L'ps most dejected and poore servant, J. Donne. 1649Lovelace Being treated to Ellinda, But now to close all I must switch-hard. Servant ever; Lovelace Richard. 1672Wycherley Love in Wood i. ii, Your Servant,—your Servant.—Mr. Ranger. 1687Prior Hind & P. Transversed Wks. (1907) 9 Nay Gentlemen, if you question my skill in the Language, I'm your humble Servant. 1705[T. Walker] Wit of a Woman ii. 21 Enter Boastwit. Boast. So, Sir, your Servant, your Servant, Captain. 1752Foote Taste ii. (1781) 27 As to Sculpture, I am his very humble Servant. A Man must know damn'd little of Statuary, that dislikes a Bust for want of a Nose. 1770― Lame Lover iii. Wks. 1799 II. 89 Oh! if you are angry, your servant—I thought that the news would have pleased you. 1806–7J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) vi. 116 Sen. I shall be content with a few selections..Tes. O, your servant!—those you shall have without demur. 1845[Macray] Man. Brit. Hist. Ded., To the Rev. Bulkeley Bandinel,..this volume is..dedicated, by his obedient and obliged servant. 1851Lytton Not so bad ii. i. 33 Enter Wilmot and Softhead. Wilmot. Your servant, ladies;—Sir Geoffrey, your servant. 1896Crockett Cleg Kelly vii, ‘Servant, m'am!’ said he, putting his pipe behind him as he came into the shop.
β1680–1Marlborough in Wolseley Life I. 237, I am your..faithful frend and sarvant. 1859Hughes Scouring Wh. Horse vii. 169 The old farmer..came and sat down at the table. ‘Your sarvant, gen'l'men,’ said he, taking off his broad-brimmed beaver.
5. attrib. and appositive, as servant-boy, servant-class, † servant-gentleman, servant-lass, servant-maid, servant-man, servant-problem, † servant-train, servant-trouble, † servant-wench, servant-wife, servant-woman; servant-like adj. and adv. Also servant-girl.
1832H. Martineau Hill & Valley vi, Her *servant-boy..now came up.
1876C. M. Yonge Womankind xxvii. 236 To raise the notions of the *servant and factory-classes about marriage. 1920‘O. Douglas’ Penny Plain xiii. 134 Mawson..belonged to that fast disappearing body, the real servant class.
1604in T. Pont's Topogr. Acc. Cunningham (Maitland Club) 183 To Thomas Blair, his *servand-gentilman of fie, xl lib.
1694Aberdeen Reg. (1872) IV. 315 That..noe *servant lass goe in to the pews of either churches. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair xxvi, The Irish servant-lass rushed up from the kitchen.
1616T. Scot Philomythie i. (ed. 2) H 5 b, When thou most *seruant-like thy head dost beare Downe to the ground. 1853Hickie tr. Aristoph. (1872) II. 567 This is a servant-like act which you have openly done.
1661–2in Swayne Churchw. Acc. Sarum (1896) 236 For the *servant maid of W. Hayter, 6s. 1782Cowper Let. to Hill Wks. 1837 XV. 113 As servant maids, and such sort of folks. 1880McKay Hist. Kilmarnock (ed. 4) 160 With his wife, eight children, and a servant-maid he then set out for London.
1379Poll-tax W. Riding in Yorks. Archæol. Jrnl. VI. 12 Robertus *seruantman, iiijd. 1815Ann. Reg., Chron. 17 The wife of Mr. Metters,..was murdered by her servant man.
1916A. Bennett These Twain iii. xvii. 361 The *servant problem had been growing acute. 1973R. Lewis Blood Money viii. 117, I suppose you see it as somewhat anachronistic—a young girl ‘in service’... But you won't be here to discuss the servant problem, Inspector Crow.
1725Pope Odyss. iv. 906 Must my *servant train Th' allotted labours of the day refrain?
1859Geo. Eliot Let. 26 Feb. (1954) III. 26 The *servant-trouble seems less mountainous to me than it did the other day. 1977A. Wilson Strange Ride of Rudyard Kipling vi. 272 Carrie Kipling['s]..diaries are entirely mundane..financial transactions..servant troubles.
1768Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) I. 128 A *servant wench in London. 1812Ann. Reg., Chron. 37 The servant-wench, who slept in the next room.
1906J. Joyce Let. 3 Dec. (1966) II. 199 *Servant-wife blows her nose in the letter and lawyer confronts the mistress.
1379Poll-tax W. Riding in Yorks. Archæol. Jrnl. VI. 23 Elena *Seruantwoman iiijd. 1842Aiton Domest. Econ. (1857) 126 The servant-women in the manse are nearly unexceptionable.
▪ II. † ˈservant, a. Obs. rare.
[a. F. servant, pr. pple. of servir to serve; cf. servant n.]
Serving, ministering; serviceable, useful; servant-like.
1531Tindale Exp. John (1537) 6 They..haue promysed..to waxe euer lower and lower, and euery daye more seruant then another. 1614–15Boys Wks. (1629) 758 He that in Christs Church is most seruant is the greatest, and he that is most lordly the least.
▪ III. † ˈservant, v. Obs. rare.
[f. servant n.]
1. trans. To put in subjection to.
1607Shakes. Cor. v. ii. 89 My affaires Are Seruanted to others.
2. pa. pple. Provided with a servant.
1631J. Done Polydoron (1650) 133 Hee is ill servanted that hears his mayde before hee sees her.
3. intr. to servant it, to act as a servant.
1656S. H. Golden Law 68 He mated..not only his Master, but his Masters also,..by servanting it to them all in his administrations and services..for their good. |