Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A maid-servant.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun obsolete A maidservant; a handmaid.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun obsolete A maidservant; a handmaid.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Old French ancele, ancelle, Latin ancilla.

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Examples

  • Vna dierum ad regem quendam, Tuathlum nomine, pro cuiusdam ancille liberacione intercessurus accessit.

    The Latin & Irish Lives of Ciaran Translations Of Christian Literature. Series V. Lives Of The Celtic Saints Anonymous

  • She hath given to us example to be humble when prosperity of high riches cometh to us, for the first word that she spake or said when she was made mother of God and queen of Heaven, that was that she called herself ancille or handmaid, and not lady.

    The Golden Legend, vol. 3 1230-1298 1900

  • Fr. alleger, comforted or eased. among, adv., now and again. ancille, n.

    The Golden Legend, vol. 6 1230-1298 1900

  • I have brought here unto your blessed presence your humble servant and ancille Katherine, which for your love hath refused all earthly things, and hath at my sending obeyed to come hither, hoping and trusting to receive that I promised to her.

    The Golden Legend, vol. 7 1230-1298 1900

  • Porphyry came then tofore them all, and cried, saying: I am he that buried the body of the ancille and servant of Jesu Christ, and have received the faith of God.

    The Golden Legend, vol. 7 1230-1298 1900

  • Then S. Barbara, the ancille of our Lord Jesu Christ, descended from the tower for to come see the work of her father, and anon she perceived that there were but two windows only, that one against the south, and that other against the north, whereof she was much abashed and amarvelled, and demanded of the workmen why they had not made no more windows, and they answered that her father had so commanded and ordained.

    The Golden Legend, vol. 6 1230-1298 1900

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