maid-in-waiting
- Noun (countable, plural: maids-in-waiting or ladies-in-waiting):
- A female attendant or servant who serves a queen, princess, or other high-ranking noblewoman in a royal or aristocratic household. The role involves personal assistance, companionship, and performing duties such as helping with dressing, correspondence, and ceremonial tasks.
- (A female attendant assigned to assist a royal person.)
- (Her duties included presence at formal events.)
- (The attendant assisted with personal preparations.)
"to be a maid-in-waiting to someone": to serve as a personal attendant to a specific royal or noble person.
- She served as a maid-in-waiting to the duchess for over a decade. (She was the duchess’s loyal female servant.)
"the maid-in-waiting's duties": the specific responsibilities of this role, which often include managing the lady’s wardrobe, arranging appointments, and maintaining discretion.
- The maid-in-waiting's duties were both demanding and prestigious. (The role required hard work but offered high status.)
Lady-in-waiting (noun): an alternative term for maid-in-waiting, often used for more senior or noble attendants. Both terms are interchangeable, but "lady-in-waiting" is more common in modern usage.
- The queen appointed three new ladies-in-waiting. (Female attendants of noble birth.)
Waiting woman (noun): a historical synonym for a maid-in-waiting, less common today.
- The waiting woman brought the princess her morning tea. (A female attendant.)
- Attendant: a person who accompanies or serves another.
- Companion: a person who shares someone’s activities or provides company.
- Handmaiden: a female servant or attendant (often used in historical or literary contexts).
- Courtier: a person who attends a royal court (though this may include males and does not imply personal service).
"to wait on someone hand and foot": to serve someone in every possible way, similar to the attentive service of a maid-in-waiting.
- The queen’s maids-in-waiting waited on her hand and foot. (They provided constant, thorough service.)
"to be in waiting": to be in attendance or ready to serve, especially in a royal context.
- The ladies-in-waiting were always in waiting during the ceremony. (They were present and prepared to assist.)