handmaid

Definition

A maid that waits at hand; a female servant or attendant.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English handemayde, hand-maide, handmaide, handmayd, hand mayde, hand-mayde, haundmaid, hondemayde, hondmaide, hond-mayde. By surface analysis, compound of hand + maid, the first component in the sense of "ready at hand".

Example Sentences

• "And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:"