serve

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*ser-
2. Proto-Indo-European*serwos
3. Proto-Indo-European*serweyéti
4. Proto-Italic*serwijeti
5. Proto-Italic*serwijit
6. Proto-Italic*serwiō
7. Latinserviō
8. Old Frenchservir
9. Middle Englishserven
10. English todayserve

From Middle English serven, from Old French servir, from Latin serviō (“be a slave; serve”), from Latin servus (“slave; servant”), which perhaps derives from Etruscan (compare Etruscan proper names 𐌔𐌄𐌓𐌅𐌉 (servi), 𐌔𐌄𐌓𐌅𐌄 (serve)), or from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“watch over, protect”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 12th c. To be a formal servant for (a god or deity); to worship in an official capacity.
• from 13th c. To be a servant for; to work for, to be employed by.
• from 13th c. To wait upon (someone) at table; to set food and drink in front of, to help (someone) to food, meals etc.
• from 14th c. To render service by being a servant, worker, employee, or officeholder; to hold those roles and perform their duties.
• from 15th c. To set down (food or drink) on the table to be eaten; to bring (food, drink) to a person.
• from 13th c. To treat (someone) in a given manner.
• from 14th c. To be suitor to; to be the lover of.
• from 14th c. To be useful to; to meet the needs of.