SERVE

I. verb (~d; serving) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French servir, from Latin servire to be a slave, ~, from servus slave, servant Date: 13th century intransitive verb 1. to be a servant, to do military or naval service, to assist a celebrant as ~r at mass, 3. to be of use , to be favorable, opportune, or convenient, to be worthy of reliance or trust , to hold an office ; discharge a duty or function , to prove adequate or satisfactory ; suffice , to help persons to food: as, to wait at table, to set out portions of food or drink, to wait on customers, to put the ball or shuttlecock in play in various games (as tennis, volleyball, or badminton), transitive verb 1. to be a servant to ; attend , to give the service and respect due to (a superior), to comply with the commands or demands of ; gratify , to give military or naval service to, to perform the duties of (an office or post), to act as ~r at (mass), to pay a lover's or suitor's court to (a lady) , 4. to work through (a term of service), to put in (a term of imprisonment), 5. to wait on at table, to bring (food) to a diner, present , provide , 6. to furnish or supply with something needed or desired, to wait on (a customer) in a store, to furnish professional service to, 7. to answer the needs of, to be enough for ; suffice , to contribute or conduce to ; promote , to treat or act toward in a specified way , 9. to bring to notice, deliver, or execute as required by law, to make legal service upon (a person named in a process), to copulate with, to wind yarn or wire tightly around (a rope or stay) for protection, to provide services that benefit or help, to put (the ball or shuttlecock) in play (as in tennis or badminton), II. noun Date: 1688 the act or action of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play in various games (as volleyball, badminton, or tennis)