Maid
/meɪd/
Definitions
2 meaningsA female domestic servant.
/meɪd/
The hotel maid made the beds and tidied the room.
💡 Simply: A maid is like a helpful friend who cleans your house and takes care of things. Imagine your friend helping you tidy your room; that's what a maid does!
👶 For kids: A maid is someone who helps clean your house.
More Examples
She hired a maid to help with the housework.
The wealthy family employed several maids to manage their large estate.
How It's Used
"The maid cleaned the house every day."
"In Victorian times, a large house often employed several maids."
A young unmarried woman or girl; a virgin.
/meɪd/
The prince fell in love with the beautiful maid.
💡 Simply: In older stories, a maid was another word for a young lady or girl, like a princess before she got married. It's a bit like calling someone a 'young miss'.
👶 For kids: A maid can also mean a young girl who's not married.
More Examples
The poem spoke of the maid's delicate beauty.
The knight was devoted to the fair maid.
How It's Used
"The knight pledged his devotion to the fair maid."
"In medieval romances, the damsel was often referred to as a maid."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
maid of honor
The chief bridesmaid at a wedding.
"She was chosen as the maid of honor for her best friend's wedding."
From Middle English *maid*, *maiden*, from Old English *mægden* ('maiden, virgin') and *mægð* ('maiden, virgin, young woman'). Related to German *Magd* and Dutch *meid*.
The term 'maid' has been used for centuries, evolving from its original meaning of a young unmarried woman to also encompass the role of a domestic servant, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Memory tip
Think of the helpful 'maid' in a household.
Word Origin
"young unmarried woman; virgin"