Antonyms for serve
| Grammar : Verb |
| Spell : surv |
| Phonetic Transcription : sÉœrv |
Definition of serve
Origin :- late 12c., "to render habitual obedience to," also "minister, give aid, give help," from Old French servir "to do duty toward, show devotion to; set table, serve at table; offer, provide with," from Latin servire "be a servant, be in service, be enslaved;" figuratively "be devoted; be governed by; comply with; conform; flatter," originally "be a slave," related to servus "slave," perhaps from Etruscan (cf. Etruscan proper names Servi, Serve, Latinized as Servius).
- By c.1200 also as "to be in the service of, perform a service for; attend upon, be personal servant to; be a slave; owe allegiance to; officiate at Mass or other religious rites;" from early 13c. as "set food at table;" mid-14c. as "to wait on (customers)." From late 14c. as "treat (someone or something) in some fashion." To serve (someone) right "to treat as he deserves" is recorded from 1580s.
- He no schuld neuer wondTo seruen him fro fot to hond["Amis and Amiloun," c.1330]
- Sense of "be useful, be beneficial, be suitable for a purpose or function" is from early 14c.; that of "take the place or meet the needs of, be equal to the task" is from late 14c.; that of "suffice" is from mid-15c. Meaning "render active military service" is from 1510s. Sporting sense, in tennis, badminton, etc., first recorded 1580s. Legal sense "present" (a writ, warrant,etc.), "give legal notice of" is from early 15c.
- verb aid, help; supply
- verb act, do
- verb suffice; do the work of
- All pursuits that serve to connect the soul with the world whence it came are rejected.
- Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
- He tried to recall some forgotten detail of the business that might serve to occupy him.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- To serve your friend would have been, I deemed, a labour of love.
- Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 » by Various
- I would have parted with my life willingly, gladly, to serve you.
- Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 » by Various
- To make the balance even you have twenty years still to serve.'
- Extract from : « The Grand Old Man » by Richard B. Cook
- There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people.
- Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various
- It decrees that we, the people, elect leaders not to rule but to serve.
- Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various
- Season with the salt and pepper, heat thoroughly, and serve.
- Extract from : « Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 3 » by Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
- Who is there, save a false traitor, who would refuse to serve the English king?
- Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle
- Remove from the oven and serve with the sirup from the apricots.
- Extract from : « Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 5 » by Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
Synonyms for serve
- accept
- advantage
- agree
- answer
- answer the purpose
- apply
- arrange
- assist
- attend
- attend to
- avail
- be acceptable
- be adequate
- be employed by
- be good enough
- be of assistance
- be of use
- be useful
- benefit
- care for
- carry on
- complete
- content
- deal
- deliver
- discharge
- dish up
- distribute
- do
- do duty as
- do for
- fill the bill
- fit
- follow
- fulfill
- function
- give
- go through
- handle
- hearken
- hit
- labor
- make
- minister to
- nurse
- obey
- oblige
- observe
- officiate
- pass
- perform
- play
- present
- profit
- provide
- provision
- satisfy
- service
- set out
- subserve
- succor
- suit
- toil
- wait on
- work
- work for
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019