different between servile vs fawning

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin serv?lis, from servus (“slave”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?s??(?).?va?l/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?s??.v?l/, /?s??.?va?l/

Adjective

servile (comparative more servile, superlative most servile)

1. of or pertaining to a slave.
2. submissive or slavish.

3. (grammar) Not belonging to the original root.

4. (grammar) Not sounded, but serving to lengthen the preceding vowel, like the e in tune.

Antonyms

• (submissive or slavish): authoritarian, arrogant

Derived terms

• servility

Related terms

• serve
• servant
• slave

Translations

Noun

servile (plural serviles)

1. (grammar) An element which forms no part of the original root.
2. A slave; a menial.

Antonyms

• radical

Anagrams

• leviers, relives, reviles, veilers

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin serv?lis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s??.vil/

Adjective

servile (plural serviles)

1. servile, slavish, subservient

Related terms

• serf
• servilement
• servilité
• servir

Further reading

• “servile” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• leviers, lièvres, livrées

Italian

Etymology

From Latin serv?lis.

Adjective

servile

1. servile

Related terms

• servire
• servitù
• servo

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ser?u?i?.le/, [s??r?u?i????]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ser?vi.le/, [s?r?vi?l?]

Etymology 1

Neuter adverbial accusative use of serv?lis (“servile, slavish”).

Adverb

serv?le (not comparable)

1. (rare) like a slave, slavishly, servilely

Synonyms

• serv?liter

Etymology 2

Adjective

serv?le

1. nominative neuter singular of serv?lis
2. accusative neuter singular of serv?lis
3. vocative neuter singular of serv?lis

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -??n??

Verb

fawning

1. present participle of fawn

Adjective

fawning

1. Seeking favor by way of flattery; flattering, servile.
   • c. 1596-97, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act I scene iii^[2]:

     Shylock: How like a fawning publican he looks ! […]

Translations

Derived terms

• fawningly
• fawningness

Noun

fawning (plural fawnings)

1. Servile flattery.
   • c. 1599-1601, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act III scene ii^[3]:

     Hamlet: No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, / And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee / Where thrift may follow fawning.

   • 1818, Hannah More, The Inflexible Captive

     Xantippus found his ruin ere it reached him, / Lurking behind your honours and rewards; / Found it in your feigned courtesies and fawnings.

Translations