c. 1200, "personal or domestic attendant," from Old French servant "servant; foot-soldier," noun use of servant "serving, waiting," present participle of servir "to attend, wait upon" (see serve (v.)).
Meaning "professed lover, one devoted to the service of a lady" is from mid-14c. In North American colonies and U.S., the usual designation for "slave" 17c.-18c. (in 14c.-15c. and later in Biblical translations the word often was used to render Latin servus, Greek doulos "slave"). Public servant is attested from 1670s.
权威例句
1. Daniel arrived in Maryland as an indentured servant.
丹尼尔作为契约佣工来到马里兰州。
2. They treat their mother like a servant.
他们像对待用人一样对待自己的母亲。
3. The servant bowed the guests out as they left.
客人们离去时,仆人躬身送他们出门.
4. Tell the servant to knock me up at five o'clock.
告诉仆人五点敲门叫醒我.
5. The old servant fulfilled his master's charge to care for the children.