maid
/meid/
Definition
- Noun:
- A female domestic servant: A woman or girl employed to perform domestic tasks in a household, such as cleaning, cooking, or childcare.
- (Archaic) A young unmarried woman; a girl or virgin: This older usage refers specifically to a young, unmarried woman, often implying youth and purity.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Domestic Servant):
- The maid comes every Tuesday to clean the house.
- She worked as a maid in a large hotel for many years.
- Noun (Archaic: Young Woman):
- In the old tale, the fair maid awaited her knight's return. (This usage is now mostly found in historical or literary contexts.)
Advanced Usage
- "Maid of honour":
- In a wedding, the chief unmarried attendant to the bride.
- Her sister was her maid of honour.
- (Historical) An unmarried noblewoman attending a queen or princess.
- "Old maid":
- A derogatory term for an older woman who has never married.
- He cruelly referred to his unmarried aunt as an old maid.
- A simple card game, also known as "Old Maid".
Variants and Related Words
- Maidservant (n): A more formal or old-fashioned term for a female domestic servant.
- The maidservant was responsible for lighting the fires.
- Housemaid (n): A maid whose work is focused on cleaning and maintaining the house.
- The housemaid polished the silver.
- Maidhood (n, archaic): The state or time of being a maid (young, unmarried woman); virginity.
Synonyms
- Domestic: A person employed in household work.
- Housemaid: A female servant who cleans.
- Chambermaid: A maid who cleans bedrooms, especially in a hotel.
- (For the archaic sense) Damsel, maiden: A young unmarried woman.
Related Phrases
- Maid in waiting: A young woman who is a lady-in-waiting (an attendant to a queen or princess).
- Maid's room: A small bedroom in a house designated for a live-in maid.
Related Idioms
- "Maid of all work": A maid who is expected to do a wide variety of household tasks.
- In the small cottage, she was the maid of all work.
Noun
-
an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
-
a female domestic
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