/ ˈsɜːvaɪl; NAmE ˈsɜːrvl; -vaɪl/ adjective
( disapproving ) wanting too much to please sb and obey them
SYN fawning
► ser·vil·ity / sɜːˈvɪləti; NAmE sɜːrˈv-/ noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense suitable for a slave or for the working class ): from Latin servilis , from servus slave.