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serving |
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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