slavish

slavish
[[t]sle͟ɪvɪʃ[/t]]
1) ADJ-GRADED (disapproval) You use slavish to describe things that copy or imitate something exactly, without any attempt to be original.

She herself insists she is no slavish follower of fashion.

Derived words:
slavishly ADV-GRADED ADV with v, ADV adj

Most have slavishly copied the design of IBM's big mainframe machines...

When a political columnist describes a cabinet minister in slavishly adoring terms, shouldn't we be told whether the two are pals?

2) ADJ-GRADED (disapproval) If you describe someone as slavish, you are critical of the fact that they behave like a slave, for example by always doing what another person wants.

Total devotion it certainly was, slavish devotion some would say.


English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?
Synonyms:
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , / , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Slavish — Slav ish, a. Of or pertaining to slaves; such as becomes or befits a slave; servile; excessively laborious; as, a slavish life; a slavish dependance on the great. {Slav ish*ly}, adv. {Slav ish*ness}, n. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • slavish — [slā′vish] adj. 1. of or characteristic of a slave or slaves; specif., a) hopelessly submissive; servile b) Now Rare involving drudgery; laborious 2. blindly dependent or imitative [slavish adherence to a model] slavishly adv. slavishness n …   English World dictionary

  • slavish — index loyal, obsequious, pliable, pliant, sequacious, servile, subservient Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton …   Law dictionary

  • slavish — 1560s, from SLAVE (Cf. slave) + ISH (Cf. ish). Sense of servilely imitative is from 1753. Related: Slavishly; slavishness …   Etymology dictionary

  • slavish — servile, menial, *subservient, obsequious Analogous words: *mean, abject, ignoble, sordid: *tame, subdued, submissive: *miserable, wretched …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • slavish — is spelt without an e …   Modern English usage

  • slavish — ► ADJECTIVE 1) showing no attempt at originality. 2) servile or submissive. DERIVATIVES slavishly adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • slavish — slavishly, adv. slavishness, n. /slay vish/, adj. 1. of or befitting a slave: slavish subjection. 2. being or resembling a slave; abjectly submissive: He was slavish in his obedience. 3. base; mean; ignoble: slavish fears. 4. deliberately… …   Universalium

  • slavish — slav•ish [[t]ˈsleɪ vɪʃ[/t]] adj. 1) of or befitting a slave: slavish subjection[/ex] 2) being or resembling a slave; abjectly submissive 3) deliberately imitative: a slavish reproduction[/ex] 4) base; mean; ignoble: slavish fears[/ex] • Etymology …   From formal English to slang

  • slavish — /ˈsleɪvɪʃ/ (say slayvish) adjective 1. of or befitting a slave: slavish submission. 2. being or resembling a slave; abjectly submissive. 3. base; mean; ignoble: slavish fears. 4. painstakingly faithful, as a copy; lacking originality: a slavish… …  

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”