Serve \Serve\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Served; p. pr. & vb. n.
Serving.]
[OE. serven, servien, OF. & F. servir, fr. L.
servire; akin to servus a servant or slave, servare to
protect, preserve, observe; cf. Zend har to protect, haurva
protecting. Cf. Conserve, Desert merit, Dessert,
Observe, Serf, Sergeant.]
1. To work for; to labor in behalf of; to exert one's self
continuously or statedly for the benefit of; to do service
for; to be in the employment of, as an inferior, domestic,
serf, slave, hired assistant, official helper, etc.;
specifically, in a religious sense, to obey and worship.
God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit.
--Rom. i. 9.
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 but 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.
2. To be 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.
3. To be suitor to; to profess love to. [Obs.]
To serve a lady in his beste wise. --Chaucer.
4. To wait upon; to supply the wants of; to attend;
specifically, to wait upon at table; to attend at meals;
to supply with food; as, to serve customers in a shop.
Others, pampered in their shameless pride, Are
served in plate and in their chariots ride.
--Dryden.
5. Hence, to bring forward, arrange, deal, or distribute, as
a portion of anything, especially of food prepared for
eating; -- often with up; formerly with in.
Bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we
will come in to dinner. --Shak.
Some part he roasts, then serves it up so dressed.
--Dryde.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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