3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Serving  \Serv"ing\, 
  a.  &  n.  from  {Serve}. 
 
  {Serving  board}  (Naut.),  a  flat  piece  of  wood  used  in  serving 
  ropes. 
 
  {Serving  maid},  a  female  servant;  a  maidservant. 
 
  {Serving  mallet}  (Naut.),  a  wooden  instrument  shaped  like  a 
  mallet,  used  in  serving  ropes. 
 
  {Serving  man},  a  male  servant,  or  attendant;  a  manservant. 
 
  {Serving  stuff}  (Naut.),  small  lines  for  serving  ropes. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  serving 
  n  1:  an  individual  portion  of  food  or  drink:  "the  helpings  were 
  all  small";  "his  portion  was  larger  than  hers";  "there's 
  enough  for  two  servings  each"  [syn:  {helping},  {portion}] 
  2:  the  act  of  delivering  a  writ  or  summons  upon  someone  "he 
  accepted  service  of  the  subpoena"  [syn:  {service},  {service 
  of  process}] 

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