Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913
Servile
Serv′ile (sẽrv′ĭl; 277), a. [L. servile, fr. servus a servant or slave: cf. F. servile. See Serve.] 1. Of or pertaining to a servant or slave; befitting a servant or a slave; proceeding from dependence; hence, meanly submissive; slavish; mean; cringing; fawning; as, servile flattery; servile fear; servile obedience.
She must bend the servile knee. Thomson.
Fearing dying pays death servile breath. Shak.
2. Held in subjection; dependent; enslaved.
Even fortune rules no more, O servile land! Pope.
3. (Gram.) (a) Not belonging to the original root; as, a servile letter. (b) Not itself sounded, but serving to lengthen the preceeding vowel, as e in tune.
Serv′ile, n. (Gram.) An element which forms no part of the original root; — opposed to radical.