waiting-maid
Definition
- Noun:
- Female domestic servant: "waiting-maid" refers to a female servant whose primary duty is to attend to the personal needs of a mistress or a female member of a household, such as helping with dressing, serving meals, or performing other household tasks.
- Archaic term for lady's maid: Historically, a "waiting-maid" was a woman employed to wait upon or assist a lady of higher social standing, often in a wealthy home or palace.
Usage Examples
- (A female servant who attends to a lady's needs.)
- (A personal female attendant in a historical context.)
Advanced Usage
- "to wait upon someone as a waiting-maid": to serve or attend to someone in a domestic capacity.
- She was employed as a waiting-maid to the duchess, performing tasks such as laying out clothes and arranging flowers. (She worked as a personal servant to the duchess.)
Variants and Related Words
- Waiting-woman (n): a synonym for waiting-maid, referring to a female attendant.
- The waiting-woman accompanied her lady to the ball. (A female servant who accompanies her mistress.)
- Lady's maid (n): a more specific term for a waiting-maid who specializes in personal grooming and wardrobe.
- The lady's maid was skilled in styling hair and selecting accessories. (A personal female servant focused on appearance.)
Synonyms
- Maid: a female domestic servant.
- Attendant: a person who serves or waits upon another.
- Servant: a person employed to perform domestic duties.
Related Idioms
- To wait hand and foot on someone: to serve someone in every possible way, similar to a waiting-maid's role.
- She waited hand and foot on her elderly aunt, just like a waiting-maid. (She provided thorough, attentive service.)