handmaiden
Noble lady's helper
A handmaiden is a female servant or attendant, especially one who serves a person of high rank.
The word is archaic in its literal sense but persists in figurative use to describe something that serves or supports another: Technology became the handmaiden of commerce.
The implication is subordination—useful but secondary to a greater purpose.
One who assists others
- domesticOf the home
- housekeeperDomestic cleaning professional
- lady-in-waitingFemale royal court attendant
- chambermaidHotel room attendant
servingwoman · nursemaid · governess · companion · aide · helper · nanny · caretaker
Excessive willingness to obey
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- submissionYielding to another's will
docility · meekness · humility · loyalty · devotion · fealty · dutifulness · fidelity
Subordinate addition to something
- facilitatorNeutral process guide
- enablerOne who facilitates harmful behavior
- instrumentDevice for specific tasks
- vehicleMeans of transport
conduit · catalyst · precursor · auxiliary · subordinate · accessory · corollary · supplement
attendant
One who assists others
- domesticOf the home
- housekeeperDomestic cleaning professional
- lady-in-waitingFemale royal court attendant
chambermaid · servingwoman · nursemaid · governess · companion · aide · helper · nanny · caretaker · stewardess
subservience
Excessive willingness to obey
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- complianceAdhering to requirements
submission · docility · meekness · humility · loyalty · devotion · fealty · dutifulness · fidelity · obeisance
adjunct
Subordinate addition to something
- facilitatorNeutral process guide
- enablerOne who facilitates harmful behavior
- instrumentDevice for specific tasks
vehicle · conduit · catalyst · precursor · auxiliary · subordinate · accessory · corollary · supplement · complement
Atwood
Celebrated Canadian literary figure
- GileadTransjordanian territory in scripture
- dystopiaImaginary terrible society
- CeresGoddess of crops and growth
mythology · epic · tragedy · ballad · romance · allegory · heroine · protagonist · damsel
Hagar
Sarah's Egyptian servant
Rachel · concubine · bondservant · patriarch · matriarch · scripture · testament · annunciation · nativity · genealogy
- castle staffchamberlain, chambermaid, butler, guard, jester
- servantsbutler, servant, servants, domestics, valet
- court ladieslady-in-waiting, gentlewoman, attendant, companion, confidante
- royaltyking, queen, prince, princess, kings
- attendantsflight attendant, cabin attendant, parking attendant, pool attendant, bathroom attendant
- Princess Thingstiara, crown, gown, jewels, scepter
handmaidenmistress
Illicit female lover
queen · lady · noblewoman · matriarch · empress
- Handmaid's TaleReproductive slavery narrative