Origin: 1350–1400; ME < L
servīlis, equiv. to
serv- (s. of
servīre to be a slave) +
-īlis -ile 
Related forms: ser⋅vile⋅ly, adverb
ser⋅vil⋅i⋅ty, ser⋅vile⋅ness, noun
Synonyms:
1, 2. cringing, sycophantic. Servile, menial, obsequious, slavish characterize one who behaves like a slave or an inferior. Servile suggests cringing, fawning, and abject submission: servile responses to questions. Menial applies to that which is considered undesirable drudgery: the most menial tasks. Obsequious implies the ostentatious subordination of oneself to the wishes of another, either from fear or from hope of gain: an obsequious waiter. Slavish stresses the dependence and labori-ous toil of one who follows or obeys without question: slavish attentiveness to orders. 2. mean, base, low.
Antonyms:
1. aggressive. 2. exalted.
[sur-vil, -vahyl] 