Jack
Is any distinction between maid and maiden?

I am confused with these 2 words, to some extent, they are synonym, however, seemingly they are to totally equivalent. Can anyone here give me example for these 2 words alike?

 

 

Maid vs Maiden

 

thank you very much

11 août 2014 01:40
Commentaires · 3
1

Maiden is an old-fashioned way to refer to a young, unmarried woman. I think nowadays it's used in poetry and fairy tales rather than in everyday speech.

 

Maid can be used the same way, but it also refers to a female servant. The general usage in the U.S. these days is to describe a person that is paid to clean homes or offices.

 

"Maiden" would never be used with the "servant" connotation. 

 

I hope that helps!

11 août 2014

Thanks for your answer to "maiden vs maid"

12 août 2014

"Maiden" can (in an old-fashioned way) mean an unmarried woman or even a virgin. Maiden is still used as ad adjective in a metaphorical sense in some phrases - "Maiden voyage", "Maiden over".

 

a "Maid" is usually young, but isn't necessarily - hence "old maid"!

11 août 2014