Handmaid

Handmaid is a term for a female domestic servant who assists a mistress or household. In historical contexts, handmaids performed tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and attending noblewomen during ceremonies. They were part of a broader household staff and, depending on time and place, could have varying degrees of status and authority. In modern usage, the term is largely archaic or literary, with maid, maidservant, or housemaid more common in everyday speech.

Etymology and usage: The compound is from hand + maid; variants include handmaiden. Historically, handmaid and handmaiden were often interchangeable, though handmaid is less common in contemporary English and is typically reserved for historical or stylistic contexts.

Religious and literary usage: In biblical and liturgical language, handmaid denotes a female servant or devotee of God, as in the phrase the handmaid of the Lord. This usage emphasizes service rather than employment. In some poetic or ceremonial contexts, handmaid appears alongside handmaidens of God.

Modern cultural reference: The Handmaid's Tale, a novel by Margaret Atwood (1985) and its television adaptation, popularized the term in a dystopian setting where Handmaids are fertile women forced into reproductive servitude. The term has since entered broader discourse as a symbol in discussions of gender oppression and reproductive rights.

Related terms include handmaiden and maidservant.