Slavish

Pronunciation: /ˈsleɪvɪʃ/

Definitions of slavish

adjective showing no originality; blindly imitative

Example Sentences

A1 She had a slavish devotion to her favorite singer.

A2 The dog followed its owner with slavish loyalty.

B1 The employees were expected to show slavish obedience to their boss.

B2 The dictator demanded slavish allegiance from his subjects.

C1 The author's slavish adherence to traditional storytelling techniques limited the originality of his work.

C2 The artist refused to be bound by slavish imitation, instead choosing to explore new and innovative techniques.

Examples of slavish in a Sentence

formal The employee showed a slavish dedication to his work, always arriving early and staying late.

informal She has a slavish devotion to that TV show, never missing an episode.

slang He's always been slavish about following the latest fashion trends.

figurative The dictator demanded slavish obedience from his subjects, controlling every aspect of their lives.

Grammatical Forms of slavish

• past tense: enslaved
• plural: slavish
• comparative: more slavish
• superlative: most slavish
• present tense: enslaves
• future tense: will enslave
• perfect tense: has enslaved
• continuous tense: is enslaving
• singular: slavish
• positive degree: slavish
• infinitive: to enslave
• gerund: enslaving
• participle: enslaved

Origin and Evolution of slavish

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'slavish' originates from the Middle English word 'sclavish', which came from the Old French word 'esclaviss-', ultimately derived from the Medieval Latin word 'Sclavus' meaning Slav (referring to the Slavic peoples).

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe characteristics or behaviors associated with Slavic people, the term 'slavish' evolved over time to take on a more negative connotation of being servile, submissive, or overly obedient.