CONSERVE

I. transitive verb (~d; conserving) Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French ~r, from Latin conservare, from com- + servare to keep, guard, observe; akin to Avestan haurvaiti he guards Date: 14th century to keep in a safe or sound state , to preserve with sugar, to maintain (a quantity) constant during a process of chemical, physical, or evolutionary change , ~r noun II. noun Date: 15th century sweetmeat , preserve