menial
pronunciation
How to pronounce menial in British English:
UK [ˈmiːniəl]
How to pronounce menial in American English:
US [ˈmiːniəl]
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- Noun:
- a domestic servant
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- Adjective:
- used of unskilled work (especially domestic work)
Word Origin
- menial (adj.)
- 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.)
- "domestic servant," late 14c., meynyal; see menial (adj.).
Example
- 1. Skilled workers who have spent the past ten years earning inflated salaries doing menial jobs for foreigners will become more affordable for afghan companies-and more productive .
- 2. If educated sri lankans were allowed to work in india , they could get good jobs there instead of having to take menial work in the gulf , thus easing a growing shortage of skilled indian workers .
- 3. A further 20 percent of gdp is generated in fees from the american " transit center " outside the capital bishkek , with much of the rest coming from remittances from kyrgyz men working menial jobs in russia .