servants

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servants

livery - A company's distinctive color scheme or emblem on vehicles is called the livery; livery first referred to the dispensing of clothes, food, or provisions to servants.
gardyloo - A warning cry derived from French gare de l'eau, "beware of the water"—referring to the water and slops that were once thrown by servants from higher stories of a building onto the street.
servants' quarters - In Victorian days, they were usually referred to as below stairs; above stairs was the realm of the family.
family - First referred to the servants of a household and then to both the servants and the descendants of a common ancestor. It comes from Latin familia, "household; household servants," which came from another Latin term, famulus, "servant." It was not until 1667 that the term was used specifically for parents and their children.

References in classic literature ?

The choice of servants is of no little importance to a prince, and they are good or not according to the discrimination of the prince.

There were none who knew Messer Antonio da Venafro as the servant of Pandolfo Petrucci, Prince of Siena, who would not consider Pandolfo to be a very clever man in having Venafro for his servant.

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In London I was used to servants, and in moments of irritation would ring for them furiously, though doubtless my manner changed as they opened the door.

From my earliest days I had seen servants. The manse had a servant, the bank had another; one of their uses was to pounce upon, and carry away in stately manner, certain naughty boys who played with me.

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Servants' tongues and servants' letters -- as I need not tell you -- are oftener occupied with their masters and mistresses than their masters and mistresses suppose.

But I think I can still hold my place against the other servants -- I think I can still look the parlor-maid whom Admiral Bartram wants.

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"My good servants, who have been with me for years, have, I am ashamed to say, had their boxes and rooms searched already by the other officer.

"The other officer has done a world of harm to this inquiry, by letting the servants see that he suspected them.

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Then the cook sent three servants after them, who were to run and overtake the children.

why did you not pull the church to pieces, and bring the chandelier home with you?' And now the old cook herself got on her legs, and went with the three servants in pursuit of the children.

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But it is a desperate evil, in a servant to a prince, or a citizen in a republic.

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As these games were very silently conducted, notwithstanding the magnitude of the interests involved, Mr Swiveller began to think that on those evenings when Mr and Miss Brass were out (and they often went out now) he heard a kind of snorting or hard-breathing sound in the direction of the door, which it occurred to him, after some reflection, must proceed from the small servant, who always had a cold from damp living.