I.a maidservant, handmaid, female slave (com. used as fem. of servus, instead of serva).
I. Lit., Liv. Andron. ap. Non. p. 153 (Trag. Rel. p. 3 Rib.): Am. Quis me tenet? Br. Tua Bromia ancilla, Plaut. Am. 5, 1, 25: “ecqua ancilla est illi?” id. Mil. 3, 1, 199: “Servos, ancillas amove, atque audin?” id. Trin. 3, 3, 70 et saep.: “ancilla aere empta,” Ter. Phorm. 3, 2, 26; so id. And. 3, 1, 3; 5, 1, 19; id. Heaut. 1, 1, 78; 5, 1, 20 et saep.: “ancillarum beneficio emitti,” Cic. Har. Resp. 42: “ducebat ancillarum greges,” id. Mil. 55: “hunc servi ancillaeque amant,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 4: “cum ancillarum puerorumque comitatu,” id. Mil. 10 al.: “occultat se in tugurio mulieris ancillae,” Sall. J. 12, 5; Hor. C. 2, 4, 1; id. S. 1, 2, 63; 1, 2, 117; 2, 3, 215; id. Ep. 1, 18, 72: “nec (liberi) ancillis aut nutricibus delegantur,” Tac. G. 20; id. Or. 29: “ancilla dominā validior,” id. A. 14, 63.—
II. Trop.: “terrā usus mortalium semper ancillā,” Plin. 2, 63, 63, § 155.—As a term of reproach, of one servilely devoted to any thing: “Fufidius ancilla turpis,” Sall. H. 1, 15, p. 218 Gerl.
