I shall . . . study broths, plasters, and conserves, till from a fine lady I become a notable woman. Tatler. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) A medicinal confection made of freshly gathered vegetable substances mixed with finely powdered refined sugar. See Confection. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A conservatory. [ Obs. ] Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

The amity which . . . they meant to conserve and maintain with the emperor. Strype. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To prepare with sugar, etc., for the purpose of preservation, as fruits, etc.; to make a conserve of. [ 1913 Webster ]

God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. Job xi. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

John Gay deserved to be a favorite. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

Encouragement is not held out to things that deserve reprehension. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To serve; to treat; to benefit. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A man that hath
So well deserved me. Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

One man may merit or deserve of another. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Have neither served nor disserved the interests of any party. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread. Ex. xii. 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

He wolde no such cursedness observe. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Must I budge? Must I observe you? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

With solemn purpose to observe
Immutably his sovereign will. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be on the watch respecting; to pay attention to; to notice with care; to see; to perceive; to notice; to discover; as, to observe an eclipse; to observe the color or fashion of a dress; to observe the movements of an army; to observe an accident. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

3. To express as what has been noticed; to utter as a remark; to say in a casual or incidental way; to remark. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make a remark; to comment; to make an observation{ 3 }; -- generally with on or upon. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

I have barely quoted . . . without observing upon it. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To remark. See Remark. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Detected by systematic scientific observation; as, variation in the observed flux may depend on a number of factors.
Syn. -- ascertained. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. Perceived directly with the eyes; observed at first hand.
Syn. -- seen, witnessed. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

The observed of all observers. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Careful observers may foretell the hour,
By sure prognostic, when to dread a shower. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who keeps any law, custom, regulation, rite, etc.; one who conforms to anything in practice. “Diligent observers of old customs.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

These . . . hearkened unto observers of times. Deut. xviii. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who fulfills or performs; as, an observer of his promises. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A sycophantic follower. [ Obs. ] Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To protect game for purposes of sport. [ 1913 Webster ]

O Lord, thou preserved man and beast. Ps. xxxvi. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now, good angels preserve the king. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To save from decay by the use of some preservative substance, as sugar, salt, etc.; to season and prepare for remaining in a good state, as fruits, meat, etc.; as, to preserve peaches or grapes. [ 1913 Webster ]

You can not preserve it from tainting. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To maintain throughout; to keep intact; as, to preserve appearances; to preserve silence. [ 1913 Webster ]

To preserve game, to protect it from extermination. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To keep; save; secure; uphold; sustain; defend; spare; protect; guard; shield. See Keep. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A place in which game, fish, etc., are preserved for purposes of sport, or for food. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who makes preserves of fruit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Game preserver. See under Game. [ 1913 Webster ]

However any one may concur in the general scheme, it is still with certain reserves and deviations. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is reserved, or kept back, as for future use. [ 1913 Webster ]

The virgins, besides the oil in their lamps, carried likewise a reserve in some other vessel for a continual supply. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which is excepted; exception. [ 1913 Webster ]

Each has some darling lust, which pleads for a reserve. Rogers. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Restraint of freedom in words or actions; backwardness; caution in personal behavior. [ 1913 Webster ]

My soul, surprised, and from her sex disjoined,
Left all reserve, and all the sex, behind. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

The clergyman's shy and sensitive reserve had balked this scheme. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A tract of land reserved, or set apart, for a particular purpose; as, the Connecticut Reserve in Ohio, originally set apart for the school fund of Connecticut; the Clergy Reserves in Canada, for the support of the clergy. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Mil.) (a) A body of troops in the rear of an army drawn up for battle, reserved to support the other lines as occasion may require; a force or body of troops kept for an exigency. (b) troops trained but released from active service, retained as a formal part of the military force, and liable to be recalled to active service in cases of national need (see Army organization, above). [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

7. (Banking) Funds kept on hand to meet liabilities. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Finance) (a) That part of the assets of a bank or other financial institution specially kept in cash in a more or less liquid form as a reasonable provision for meeting all demands which may be made upon it; specif.: (b) (Banking) Usually, the uninvested cash kept on hand for this purpose, called the real reserve. In Great Britain the ultimate real reserve is the gold kept on hand in the Bank of England, largely represented by the notes in hand in its own banking department; and any balance which a bank has with the Bank of England is a part of its reserve. In the United States the reserve of a national bank consists of the amount of lawful money it holds on hand against deposits, which is required by law (in 1913) to be not less than 15 per cent (U. S. Rev. Stat. secs. 5191, 5192), three fifths of which the banks not in a reserve city (which see) may keep deposited as balances in national banks that are in reserve cities (U. S. Rev. Stat. sec. 5192). (c) (Life Insurance) The amount of funds or assets necessary for a company to have at any given time to enable it, with interest and premiums paid as they shall accure, to meet all claims on the insurance then in force as they would mature according to the particular mortality table accepted. The reserve is always reckoned as a liability, and is calculated on net premiums. It is theoretically the difference between the present value of the total insurance and the present value of the future premiums on the insurance. The reserve, being an amount for which another company could, theoretically, afford to take over the insurance, is sometimes called the
reinsurance fund or the
self-insurance fund. For the first year upon any policy the net premium is called the
initial reserve, and the balance left at the end of the year including interest is the
terminal reserve. For subsequent years the initial reserve is the net premium, if any, plus the terminal reserve of the previous year. The portion of the reserve to be absorbed from the initial reserve in any year in payment of losses is sometimes called the
insurance reserve, and the terminal reserve is then called the
investment reserve. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

9. In exhibitions, a distinction which indicates that the recipient will get a prize if another should be disqualified. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

10. (Calico Printing) A resist. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

11. A preparation used on an object being electroplated to fix the limits of the deposit. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. Hence, to keep in store for future or special use; to withhold from present use for another purpose or time; to keep; to retain; to make a reservation{7}. Gen. xxvii. 35. In cases where one person or party makes a request to an agent that some accommodation (such as a hotel room or place at a restaurant) be kept (reserved) for their use at a particular time, the word reserve applies both to the action of the person making the request, and to the action of the agent who takes the approproriate action (such as a notation in a book of reservations) to be certain that the accommodation is available at that time. [1913 Webster +PJC]

Hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the time of trouble? Job xxxviii. 22,23. [1913 Webster]

Reserve your kind looks and language for private hours. Swift. [1913 Webster]

3. To make an exception of; to except. [R.] [1913 Webster]

In reserve, in keeping for other or future use; in store; as, he has large quantities of wheat in reserve; he has evidence or arguments in reserve. --
Reserve air. (Physiol.) Same as Supplemental air, under Supplemental. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Reservation; retention; limitation; backwardness; reservedness; coldness; restraint; shyness; coyness; modesty. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Restrained from freedom in words or actions; backward, or cautious, in communicating one's thoughts and feelings; not free or frank. [ 1913 Webster ]

To all obliging, yet reserved to all. Walsh. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nothing reserved or sullen was to see. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Re*serv"ed*ly adv. -- Re*serv"ed*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit. Rom. i. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. Gen. xxix. 18. [ 1913 Webster ]

No man can serve two masters. Matt. vi. 24. [ 1913 Webster ]

Had I but served my God with half the zeal
I served my king, he would not in mine age
Have left me naked to mine enemies. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to appear as the inferior of; to minister to. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bodies bright and greater should not serve
The less not bright. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be suitor to; to profess love to. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To serve a lady in his beste wise. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To wait upon; to supply the wants of; to attend; specifically, to wait upon at table; to attend at meals; to supply with food; as, to serve customers in a shop. [ 1913 Webster ]

Others, pampered in their shameless pride,
Are served in plate and in their chariots ride. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Hence, to bring forward, arrange, deal, or distribute, as a portion of anything, especially of food prepared for eating; -- often with up; formerly with in. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some part he roasts, then serves it up so dressed. Dryde. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To perform the duties belonging to, or required in or for; hence, to be of use to; as, a curate may serve two churches; to serve one's country. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be sufficient for; to satisfy; as, to serve one's turn. [ 1913 Webster ]

Turn it into some advantage, by observing where it can serve another end. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. To answer or be (in the place of something) to; as, a sofa serves one for a seat and a couch. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. To treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act toward; as, he served me very ill. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. To work; to operate; as, to serve the guns. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. (Law) (a) To bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either actually or constructively, in such manner as the law requires; as, to serve a summons. (b) To make legal service opon (a person named in a writ, summons, etc.); as, to serve a witness with a subpœna. [ 1913 Webster ]

12. To pass or spend, as time, esp. time of punishment; as, to serve a term in prison. [ 1913 Webster ]

13. To copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; -- said of the male. [ 1913 Webster ]

14. (Tennis) To lead off in delivering (the ball). [ 1913 Webster ]

15. (Naut.) To wind spun yarn, or the like, tightly around (a rope or cable, etc.) so as to protect it from chafing or from the weather. See under Serving. [ 1913 Webster ]

To serve an attachment or
To serve a writ of attachment (Law), to levy it on the person or goods by seizure, or to seize. --
To serve an execution (Law), to levy it on a lands, goods, or person, by seizure or taking possession. --
To serve an office, to discharge a public duty. --
To serve a process (Law), in general, to read it, so as to give due notice to the party concerned, or to leave an attested copy with him or his attorney, or his usual place of abode. --
To serve a warrant, to read it, and seize the person against whom it is issued. --
To serve a writ (Law), to read it to the defendant, or to leave an attested copy at his usual place of abode. --
To serve one out, to retaliate upon; to requite. “I'll serve you out for this.” C. Kingsley. --
To serve one right, to treat, or cause to befall one, according to his deserts; -- used commonly of ill deserts; as, it serves the scoundrel right. --
To serve one's self of, to avail one's self of; to make use of. [ A Gallicism ] [ 1913 Webster ] I will serve myself of this concession. Chillingworth. [ 1913 Webster ] --
To serve out, to distribute; as, to serve out rations. --
To serve the time or
To serve the hour, to regulate one's actions by the requirements of the time instead of by one's duty; to be a timeserver. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] They think herein we serve the time, because thereby we either hold or seek preferment. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To obey; minister to; subserve; promote; aid; help; assist; benefit; succor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord shall give thee rest . . . from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve. Isa. xiv. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To perform domestic offices; to be occupied with household affairs; to prepare and dish up food, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

But Martha . . . said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Luke x. 40. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be in service; to do duty; to discharge the requirements of an office or employment. Specifically, to act in the public service, as a soldier, seaman. etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Many . . . who had before been great commanders, but now served as private gentlemen without pay. Knolles. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To be of use; to answer a purpose; to suffice; to suit; to be convenient or favorable. [ 1913 Webster ]

This little brand will serve to light your fire. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

As occasion serves, this noble queen
And prince shall follow with a fresh supply. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Tennis) To lead off in delivering the ball. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A tray for dishes; a salver. Randolph. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not made to rule,
But to subserve where wisdom bears command. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]