Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- something that is necessarily subservient or subordinate to another: Ceremony is but the handmaid of worship.
- a female servant or attendant.
noun
- a person or thing that serves a useful but subordinate purposelogic is the handmaid of philosophy
- archaic a female servant or attendant
late 14c., from hand (n.) in the sense in close at hand + maid. Cf. Old English handþegn “personal attendant.”