Sērve1, v. t.
(14), v. t. [imp. & p. p. SERVED; p. pr. & vb. n. SERVING.] [Fr., Sp., & Pg. servir, Fr. servir, sirvir, It. & Lat. servire, from Lat. servus, a servant or slave.]
Sense 1. To work for; to labor in behalf of; to exert one's self continuously or steadily for the benefit of; to do service for; to act as servant to; to be in the employment of, as an inferior, domestic, serf, slave, hired assistant, official helper, or the like; specifically, to render spiritual obedience and worship to.
Jacob loved Rachel, and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. Gen. xxix. 18.
No man can serve two masters. Matt. vi. 24.
Had I not served my God with half the zeal I served my king, he would not in mine age Have left me naked to mine enemies. Shak.
A goddess among gods, adored and served By angels numberless, thy daily train. Milton.
Sense 2. To be subservient or subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to appear as the inferior of; to minister to.
Bodies bright and greater should not serve The less, not bright. Milton.
Sense 3. To wait upon in the services of the table; to attend at meals; to supply with food.
Others, pampered in their shameless pride, Are served in plate. Dryden.
Sense 4. Hence, to bring forward, arrange, deal, distribute; as, a portion of any thing, especially of food prepared for eating;—generally with up, and rarely with in; as, to serve out provisions to soldiers.
Bid them . . . serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner. Shak.
Some part he roasts, then serves it up so dressed. Dryden.
Sense 5. To perform the service of; to do the duties required in or for; as, a curate may serve two churches; to serve one's country.
Sense 6. To contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be left sufficient for; to satisfy; to content; as, to serve one's turn.
Sense 7. To answer as something to; to do duty for; to be in the place of any thing to; as, a sofa may serve one for a seat and a couch.
Sense 8. To treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act toward; as, he served me very ill.
To serve an attachment, or writ of attachment (Law), to levy it on the person or goods by seizure, or to seize.—To serve an execution, to levy it on lands, goods, or person, by seizure or taking possession.—To serve a process, in general to read it, so as to give due notice to the party concerned, or to leave an attested copy with him or his attorney, or at his usual place of abode.—To serve a warrant, to read it, and to seize the person against whom it is issued.—To serve a writ, to read it to the defendant, or to leave an attested copy at his usual place of abode.—To serve an office, to discharge a public duty.—To serve a rope (Naut.), to wind something, as spun-yarn, &c., tight round it, to prevent friction. Totten.—To serve one out, to retaliate upon; to requite. “I'll serve you out for this.” C. Kingsley.—To serve one's self of, to use; to make use of; to avail one's self of. [A. Vulg.] “I will serve myself of this concession.” Chillingworth.—To serve the time, to regulate one's actions by the requirements of the time, instead of by one's duty; to be a time-server. “They think herein we serve the time, because thereby we either hold or seek preferment.” Hooker.
Synonyms—To obey; minister to; subserve; promote; aid; help; assist; benefit; succor.