[con.serve] vt con.served ; con.serv.ing [ME, fr. MF conserver, fr. L conservare, fr. com- + servare to keep, guard, observe; akin to Av haurvaiti he guards] (14c) 1: to keep in a safe or sound state "he conserved his inheritance"; esp: to avoid wasteful or destructive use of "~ natural resources"
2: to preserve with sugar
3: to maintain (a quantity) constant during a process of chemical, physical, or evolutionary change -- con.serv.er n
[2]con.serve n (15c) 1: sweetmeat; esp: a candied fruit
2: preserve; specif: one prepared from a mixture of fruits