SLAVISH

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does slavish mean? 

• SLAVISH (adjective)
  The adjective SLAVISH has 2 senses:

1. blindly imitative

2. abjectly submissive; characteristic of a slave or servant

  Familiarity information: SLAVISH used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SLAVISH (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Blindly imitative

Context example:

a slavish copy of the original

Similar:

unoriginal (not original; not being or productive of something fresh and unusual)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Abjectly submissive; characteristic of a slave or servant

Synonyms:

slavish; submissive; subservient

Context example:

she has become submissive and subservient

Similar:

servile (submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior)

 Context examples 

I might have known it by the sleek face and the slavish manner too monk-ridden and craven in spirit to answer back a rough word.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The Cockney became more humble and slavish to me than even to Wolf Larsen.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Not that I humbled myself by a slavish notion of inferiority: on the contrary, I just said—You have nothing to do with the master of Thornfield, further than to receive the salary he gives you for teaching his protegee, and to be grateful for such respectful and kind treatment as, if you do your duty, you have a right to expect at his hands.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Whether those holy lords I spoke of were always promoted to that rank upon account of their knowledge in religious matters, and the sanctity of their lives; had never been compliers with the times, while they were common priests; or slavish prostitute chaplains to some nobleman, whose opinions they continued servilely to follow, after they were admitted into that assembly?

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)