servility

Rarely ser·vile·ness

[sur-vil-i-tee]

noun

1. the quality of being slavishly submissive or fawning.

   The place was full of florists and decorators, all striving to outdo each other in servility to the bride-to-be.

2. the quality of being extremely imitative or unoriginal, especially in the arts.

   Servility to a French European tradition may explain why these 19th-century poets failed to leave a mark on French Canada’s literary history.

3. the state or condition of being a slave or servant.

   Under Guru Nanak, a people who had lived for centuries in total servility became valiant warriors against their oppressors.

Other Word Forms

• nonservileness noun
• nonservility noun
• overservileness noun
• overservility noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of servility¹

First recorded in 1525–35; servil(e) ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Example Sentences

Alas, the authors didn’t anticipate today’s Senate Republicans, whose servility to the wrathful Trump exceeds their respect for the Senate’s prerogatives and independence.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The CEOs knew the stakes were high this year – they were warned by lawmakers and researchers across the country and the globe – yet they chose profit and servility to Trump over preparedness and transparency.

Read more on Salon

Of special concern were college students accepting tips at summer jobs, because this marked them for “servility.”

Read more on National Geographic

In a typical fashion for the man who drew speculation about what fingers he uses to eat pudding, DeSantis went out trying to act tough but only ended up highlighting his servility to bigger bullies.

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They learned that there was no way to avoid that short of total servility and deference.

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