footman-likeadv.adj.
/ˈfʊtmənlʌɪk/, U.S. /ˈfʊtmənˌlaɪk/ A. adv.
In the manner of a footman.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [adverb] > like footman
lackey-like1603
footman-like1736
1736 T. Sheridan Let. 3 Apr. in Lett. Swift (1768) VI. 131 While footman like he waits in every hall, His ill-match'd wife is well receiv'd by all.
1884 A. Schlüter Let. in Lady's maid in Downing Street (1923) 124 Mr. W. H. Gladstone, footmanlike, jumped down from the box and put the luggage inside the front door.
2010 J. Byrne Out in Front 43 Footmanlike, I and a few others stood behind [the nominees].
B. adj.
Characteristic or reminiscent of a footman.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > humility > servility > [adjective]
go-by-ground?a1300
thrall1398
abjectc1430
manly?c1430
servicious1440
serviceable1483
servile1537
tame1563
slavish1565
demiss1572
submissive1572
cringing1579
fawning1585
incrouching?1593
vassal1594
scraping1599
obsequious1602
spaniel1606
observing1609
deprostrate1610
supplea1616
vernile1623
shrugging1629
wormy1640
compliable1641
thrall-like1641
obeisant1642
inservient1646
truckling1656
cringeling1693
benecking1705
subservient1714
footman-like1776
bingeing1805
sidling1821
toadying1863
crawlsome1904
toadyish1909
crawling1941
ass-kissing1942
1776 H. Brooke Fool of Quality (rev. ed.) IV. xvii. 296 Harry..put on a footman-like frock.
1796 Trifler No. 19. 148 In Mr Johnston's Ranger, we enjoy the most chaste and gentleman-like acting, free from the..vulgarity and footman-like manner of a Lewis.
1864 Realm 23 Mar. 4 The Globe, whose footmanlike servility to the Ministry is notorious.
1996 Globe & Mail (Toronto) (Nexis) 26 Jan. These hotels... cater to business with footman-like fervour.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.adj.1736