ˈslāvish, -vēsh sometimes ÷-lav- adjective
Etymology: slave (I) + -ish
1.
a. archaic : slave 2a
b. : requiring hard work : laborious
slavish attention and practice were required — Richard Hayward
2.
a. : resembling or characteristic of a slave : spineless , submissive
a slavish yes-man to the party bosses — S.H.Adams
b. archaic : of a despicable nature contemptible , low
to lie is a slavish vice — James Astry
3. archaic : of a despotic nature : oppressive
shake off our slavish yoke — Shakespeare
4. : copying obsequiously or without originality : imitative
out of the realm of mere slavish imitation of nature — Aldous Huxley
Synonyms: see subservient