handmaid
Lady's personal helper
A handmaid is a female servant or attendant, now archaic or literary in most contexts.
The term suggests personal service to someone of higher status, often a lady or noblewoman.
Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel *The Handmaid's Tale* revived the word, depicting women forced into reproductive servitude.
The related phrase handmaiden to describes something that serves or supports another: Technology should be the handmaiden to human flourishing, not its master.
One who assists others
- domesticOf the home
- lady-in-waitingFemale royal court attendant
- retainerUpfront professional fee
- servitorOne who attends another
bondswoman · housekeeper · helper · parlormaid · soubrette · scullion · lackey · menial
Sarah's Egyptian servant
- concubineSecondary female partner
- surrogateOne acting for another
- patriarchMale head of family
- barrenUnable to produce
fertile · Genesis · matriarch · bondservant · offspring · lineage · covenant · blessing
Celebrated Canadian literary figure
- GileadTransjordanian territory in scripture
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- commanderPerson with authority over others
- MarthaFeminine given name
salvaging · red · wings · fertility · totalitarian · theocracy · subjugation · breeding
Following commands willingly
- dutifulMotivated by obligation
- deferentialShowing humble submission
- compliantYielding to others' wishes
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
docile · meek · acquiescent · biddable · yielding · humble · loyal · devoted
attendant
One who assists others
- domesticOf the home
- lady-in-waitingFemale royal court attendant
- retainerUpfront professional fee
servitor · bondswoman · housekeeper · helper · parlormaid · soubrette · scullion · lackey · menial · underling
Hagar
Sarah's Egyptian servant
barren · fertile · Genesis · matriarch · bondservant · offspring · lineage · covenant · blessing
Atwood
Celebrated Canadian literary figure
- GileadTransjordanian territory in scripture
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- commanderPerson with authority over others
Martha · salvaging · red · wings · fertility · totalitarian · theocracy · subjugation · breeding · resistance
obedient
Following commands willingly
- dutifulMotivated by obligation
- deferentialShowing humble submission
- compliantYielding to others' wishes
submissive · docile · meek · acquiescent · biddable · yielding · humble · loyal · devoted · faithful
instrument
Device for specific tasks
- vehicleMeans of transport
- agentOne who acts independently
- facilitatorNeutral process guide
enabler · catalyst · means · conduit · medium · tool · auxiliary · adjunct · accessory · subordinate
- Handmaid's TaleGilead, June, red cloak, Marthas, Commanders
- nativitynativity set, baby Jesus, Christ child, Bethlehem, Mary
- Biblical Marriagemarriage covenant, bride, husband and wife, bridegroom, groom
- handmade giftPresent personally crafted
- handmade goodsObjects crafted by person
- handmade cardsPersonally crafted paper greetings
- handmade craftsGoods produced manually
- handmade paperSheets formed by hand
- handmade booksVolumes created without machinery