Serv"ile (?), a. [L. servile, fr. servus a servant or slave: cf. F. servile. See Serve.]
1.
Of or pertaining to a servant or slave; befitting a servant or a slave; proceeding from dependence; hence, meanly submissive; slavish; mean; cringing; fawning; as, servile flattery; servile fear; servile obedience.
She must bend the servile knee.
Thomson.
Fearing dying pays death servile breath.
Shak.
2.
Held in subjection; dependent; enslaved.
Even fortune rules no more, O servile land!
Pope.
3. Gram.
- Not belonging to the original root; as, a servile letter.
- Not itself sounded, but serving to lengthen the preceeding vowel, as e in tune.
© Webster 1913.
Serv"ile, n. Gram.
An element which forms no part of the original root; -- opposed to radical.
© Webster 1913.