Subservient

Pronunciation: /səbˈsɜrviənt/

Definitions of subservient

adjective showing willingness to serve or obey; submissive

Example Sentences

A1 She is very subservient to her boss, always following his orders without question.

A2 In some cultures, women are expected to be subservient to men.

B1 The new employee was subservient to his manager, eager to please and do whatever was asked of him.

B2 The dictator demanded that his citizens be subservient to his every whim.

C1 The royal family expected their servants to be subservient and obedient at all times.

C2 The CEO surrounded himself with subservient advisors who never questioned his decisions.

Examples of subservient in a Sentence

formal The servant was always subservient to his master's every command.

informal She always acted subservient around her boss to avoid any conflict.

slang He's so subservient, he'll do anything you ask him to.

figurative The government is accused of being subservient to the interests of big corporations.

Grammatical Forms of subservient

• past tense: subserviented
• plural: subservients
• comparative: more subservient
• superlative: most subservient
• present tense: subservient
• future tense: will be subservient
• perfect tense: has been subservient
• continuous tense: is being subservient
• singular: subservient
• positive degree: subservient
• infinitive: to be subservient
• gerund: subservienting
• participle: subserviented

Origin and Evolution of subservient

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'subservient' originated from the Latin word 'subserviens', which is derived from the verb 'subservingere' meaning 'to serve or be subject to'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'subservient' has retained its original meaning of being subordinate or obedient, but has also come to be used in a more general sense to describe someone or something that is compliant or submissive.