Webster's English Dictionary

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serve

1. serve \'s*rv\ vb [ME serven, fr. OF servir, fr. L servire to be a slave, 
   serve], fr. servus slave, servant, perh. of Etruscan origin 1a: to be a 
   servant  1b: to do military or naval service  2: to assist a celebrant as 
   server at mass  3a: to be of use  3b: to be favorable, opportune, or 
   convenient  3c: to stand by : ASSIST  3d: to hold an office : discharge a 
   duty or function {~ on a jur y} 4a: to prove adequate or satisfactory  4b: 
   to hold good  5: to help persons to food : as  5a: to wait at table  5b: to 
   set out portions of food or drink  6: to wait on customers  7: to put the 
   ball in play (as in tennis)  1a: to be a servant to : ATTEND  1b: to give 
   the service and respect due to (a superior)  1c: to comply with the 
   commands or demands of : GRATIFY  1d: to give military or naval service to  
   1e: to perform the duties of (an office or post)  2: to act as server at 
   (mass)  archaic  3: to pay a lover's or suitor's court to (a lady)  4a: to 
   work through or perform a term of service {served his time  as a mate} 4b: 
   to put in (a term of imprisonment)  5a: to wait on at table  5b: to bring 
   (food) to a diner  6a: to furnish or supply with something needed or 
   desired  6b: to wait on (a customer) in a store  6c: to furnish 
   professional service to  7a: to answer the needs of : AVAIL  7b: to be 
   enough for : SUFFICE  7c: to contribute or conduce to : PROMOTE  8: to 
   treat or act toward in a specified way : REQUITE {he se rved me ill} 9a: to 
   bring to notice, deliver, or execute as required by law  9b: to make legal 
   service upon (a person named in a writ)  of an animal  10: to copulate with 
    11: to wind yarn or wire tightly around (a rope or stay) for protection  
   12: to provide services that benefit or help  13: to put (the ball) in play 
   (as in tennis) 
2. serve n : the act of putting the ball in play in any of various net or 
   court games  (as tennis)