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Webster 1913 Edition


Subserve

Sub-serve′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Subserved
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Subserving
.]
[L.
subservire
;
sub
under +
servire
to serve. See
Serve
.]
To serve in subordination or instrumentally; to be subservient to; to help forward; to promote.
It is a great credit to know the ways of captivating Nature, and making her
subserve
our purposes, than to have learned all the intrigues of policy.
Glanvill.

Sub-serve′

,
Verb.
I.
To be subservient or subordinate; to serve in an inferior capacity.
Not made to rule,
But to
subserve
where wisdom bears command.
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition


Subserve

SUBSERVE

,
Verb.
T.
subserv.' [L. subservio; sub and servio, to serve.]
To serve in subordination; to serve instrumentally. In most engines, we make the laws of matter subserve the purposes of art.
Not made to rule,
But to subserve where wisdom bears command.

Definition 2024


subserve

subserve

English

Verb

subserve (third-person singular simple present subserves, present participle subserving, simple past and past participle subserved)

  1. To serve to promote (an end); to be useful to.
  2. To assist in carrying out.
    • Glanvill
      'Tis a greater credit to know the ways of captivating Nature, and making her subserve our purposes, than to have learned all the intrigues of policy.

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