In a subordinate position:
— Theology should be the handmaiden of ethics.

synonyms: handmaiden, servant.

Roget 631: instrumentality; aid etc. 707; subservience, subserviency; mediation, intervention, medium, intermedium^†, vehicle, hand; agency etc. 170.    minister, handmaid; midwife, accoucheur [Fr.], accoucheuse [Fr.], obstetrician; gobetween; cat's-paw; stepping-stone.    opener etc. 260; key; master key, passkey, latchkey; open sesame;" passport, passe-partout, safe-conduct, password.    instrument etc. 633; expedient etc. (plan) 626; means etc. 632.    ... show more

Roget 711: auxiliary; recruit; assistant; adjuvant, adjutant; ayudante^†, coaid^†; adjunct; help, helper, help mate, helping hand; midwife; colleague, partner, mate, confrere, cooperator; coadjutor, coadjutrix^†; collaborator.    ally; friend etc. 890, confidant, fidus Achates [Lat.], pal, buddy, alter ego.    [criminal law] confederate; accomplice; complice; accessory, accessory after the fact; particeps criminis [Lat.]; socius criminis [Lat.].    aide-de-camp, secretary, clerk, associate, marshal; right-hand, right-hand man, Friday, girl Friday, man Friday, gopher, gofer; candle-holder, bottle-holder; handmaid; servant etc. 746; puppet, cat's-paw, jackal^†.    tool, dupe, stooge, ame damnee [Fr.]; satellite, adherent.    votary; sectarian, secretary; seconder, backer, upholder, abettor, advocate, partisan, champion, patron, friend at court, mediator; angel (theater, entertainment). friend in need, Jack at a pinch, deus ex machina [Lat.], guardian angel, tutelary genius.    ... show more

Roget 746: subject, liegeman^†; servant, retainer, follower, henchman, servitor, domestic, menial, help, lady help, employe, attache; official.    retinue, suite, cortege, staff, court.    attendant, squire, usher, page, donzel^†, footboy^†; train bearer, cup bearer; waiter, lapster^†, butler, livery servant, lackey, footman, flunky, flunkey, valet, valet de chambre [Fr.]; equerry, groom; jockey, hostler, ostler^†, tiger, orderly, messenger, cad, gillie^†, herdsman, swineherd; barkeeper, bartender; bell boy, boots, boy, counterjumper^†; khansamah^†, khansaman^†; khitmutgar^†; yardman.    bailiff, castellan^†, seneschal, chamberlain, major-domo^†, groom of the chambers.    secretary; under secretary, assistant secretary; clerk; subsidiary; agent etc. 758; subaltern; underling, understrapper; man.    maid, maidservant; handmaid; confidente [Fr.], lady's maid, abigail, soubrette; amah^†, biddy, nurse, bonne [Fr.], ayah^†; nursemaid, nursery maid, house maid, parlor maid, waiting maid, chamber maid, kitchen maid, scullery maid; femme de chambre [Fr.], femme fille [Fr.]; camarista^†; chef de cuisine, cordon bleu [Fr.], cook, scullion, Cinderella; potwalloper^†; maid of all work, servant of all work; laundress, bedmaker^†; journeyman, charwoman etc. (worker) 690; bearer, chokra^†, gyp (Cambridge), hamal^†, scout (Oxford). serf, vassal, slave, negro, helot; bondsman, bondswoman^†; bondslave^†; ame damnee [Fr.], odalisque, ryot^†, adscriptus gleboe [Lat.]; villian^†, villein; beadsman^†, bedesman^†; sizar^†; pensioner, pensionary^†; client; dependant, dependent; hanger on, satellite; parasite etc. (servility) 886; led captain; protege [Fr.], ward, hireling, mercenary, puppet, tool, creature.    badge of slavery; bonds etc. 752.    ... show more

A personal maid or female attendant.

synonym: handmaiden.

Dutch: dienstmaagd