handmaiden /ˈhændˌmeɪdən/

• 1. 

  N-COUNT A handmaiden is a female servant. 侍女; 女仆 [文学性，老式]

• 2. 

  N-COUNT If one thing is the handmaiden of another, the first thing helps the second or makes it possible. 辅助物; 起服务作用的东西 [正式] [N 'of/to' n]

  例：

  The fear is that science could become the handmaiden of industry.

  人们担心的是科学可能会成为工业的仆人。