Part 256

Thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt.

Deut. v. 15.

3. A professed lover or suitor; a gallant. [Obs.]

In my time a servant was I one.

Chaucer.

Servant of servants, one debased to the lowest condition of servitude. -- Your humble servant, or Your obedient servant, phrases of civility often used in closing a letter.

Our betters tell us they are our humble servants, but understand us to be their slaves.

Swift.

Serv"ant, v. t. To subject. [Obs.] Shak.

Serv"ant*ess, n. A maidservant. [Obs.] Wyclif.

Serv"ant*ry (?), n. A body of servants; servants, collectively. [R.]

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.