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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. |
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To be subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to
appear as the inferior of; to minister to. |
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To be suitor to; to profess love to. |
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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. |
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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. |
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To perform the duties belonging to, or required in or
for; hence, to be of use to; as, a curate may serve two churches; to
serve one's country. |
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To contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be sufficient
for; to satisfy; as, to serve one's turn. |
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To answer or be (in the place of something) to; as, a
sofa serves one for a seat and a couch. |
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To treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act
toward; as, he served me very ill. |
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To work; to operate; as, to serve the guns. |
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To bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either actually
or constructively, in such manner as the law requires; as, to serve a
summons. |
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To make legal service opon (a person named in a writ,
summons, etc.); as, to serve a witness with a subp/na. |
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To pass or spend, as time, esp. time of punishment; as,
to serve a term in prison. |
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To copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; --
said of the male. |
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To lead off in delivering (the ball). |
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To wind spun yarn, or the like, tightly around (a rope or
cable, etc.) so as to protect it from chafing or from the weather. See
under Serving. |
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To be a servant or a slave; to be employed in labor or
other business for another; to be in subjection or bondage; to render
menial service. |
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To perform domestic offices; to be occupied with
household affairs; to prepare and dish up food, etc. |
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To be in service; to do duty; to discharge the
requirements of an office or employment. Specifically, to act in the
public service, as a soldier, seaman. etc. |
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To be of use; to answer a purpose; to suffice; to suit;
to be convenient or favorable. |
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To lead off in delivering the ball. |