- menial (adj.)
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- late 14c., "pertaining to a household," from Anglo-French meignial, from Old French mesnie "household," earlier mesnede, from Vulgar Latin *mansionata, from Latin mansionem "dwelling" (see mansion). Sense of "lowly, humble, suited to a servant" is recorded by 1670s.
- menial (n.)
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- "domestic servant," late 14c., meynyal; see menial (adj.).