menial

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   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
   adj

   Of or relating to unskilled work.

   menial job

3. 3
   adj

   Servile; low; mean.

   a menial wretch

4. 4
   noun

   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; […]”

5. 5
   adj

   used of unskilled work (especially domestic work)

6. 6
   noun

   a domestic servant

7. 7
   noun

   A person who has a subservient nature.

Etymology

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