Meaning

(uncountable) Work of all kinds; general purpose tasks..

Definitions by Sense

1. (uncountable) Work of all kinds; general purpose tasks.
2. (countable) A general-purpose servant; a maid of all work.

Example Sentences

a maid of allwork, that is, a general servant

A dark and tyrannical count; an aged crone of a house-keeper, the depositart of many a family legend; a garrulous waiting-maid; a gay and light-hearted valet; a villain or two of allwork; and a heroine , fulfilled with all perfections, and subjected to all manner of hazards, from the stock in trade of a romancer or a melo-dramatist ; and if these personages be dressed in the proper costume, and converse in language sufficiently appropriate to their stations and qualities, it is not expected that the audience shall shake their sides at the humour of the dialogue, or weep over its pathos.

Mr. Giles acted in the double capacity of butler and steward to the old lady of the mansion; and Brittles was a lad of allwork, who, having entered her service a mere child, was treated as a promising young boy still, though he was something past thirty.

They had one female servant, a "girl of allwork."

Plaintiff's intestate was a man of allwork in defendant's power house .

She also permitted the excellent Mrs. Heathcote to say a great deal about the advantages of taking their own two capital maids of allwork with them.

Their skills ranged over 36 different trades, from general catgories such as allwork and general servant through to more specific skills such as upholsterer and jeweller.

Whilst employed as an "allwork" she was convicted of "man stealing" at the Middlesex Session Peace on 5 September, 1834. She reached Australia on the Numa in 1834.

Word Forms

• allworks

Related Words

When Should You Use Allwork?

Use allwork when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

Practice This Word

Frequently Asked Questions