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[ Bordar (or perh. bord a board) + service. ] (O. Eng. Law) Service due from a bordar; bordage. [ 1913 Webster ]

. In the United States, a commission appointed by the President, consisting of three members, not more than two of whom may be adherents of the same party, which has the control, through examinations, of appointments and promotions in the classified civil service. It was created by act of Jan, 16, 1883 (22 Stat. 403). [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. The substitution of business principles and methods for political methods in the conduct of the civil service. esp. the merit system instead of the spoils system in making appointments to office. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adj. protecting or saving from harm or loss; as, serves a conserving function.
Syn. -- preserving. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. the preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources.
Syn. -- conservation, conservancy. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Desert; merit. [ 1913 Webster ]

A person of great deservings from the republic. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Meritorious; worthy; as, a deserving person or act. -- De*serv"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Pref. dis- + service: cf. F. desservice. ] Injury; mischief. [ 1913 Webster ]

We shall rather perform good offices unto truth than any disservice unto their relators. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Calculated to do disservice or harm; not serviceable; injurious; harmful; unserviceable. Shaftesbury. -- Dis*serv"ice*a*ble*ness, n. Norris. -- Dis*serv"ice*a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a person who has served in the armed forces.
Syn. -- veteran, vet. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Service performed only under inspection, or the eye of an employer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers. Col. iii. 22. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. inserviens, p. pr. of inservire. ] Conducive; instrumental. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

lso pos>n. 1. (Feud. Law) The military service by rendering which a knight held his lands.

2. (Eng. Feud. Law) A tenure of lands held by knights on condition of performing military service. See Chivalry, n., 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

By far the greater part of England [ in the 13th century ] is held of the king by knight's service. . . . In order to understand this tenure we must form the conception of a unit of military service. That unit seems to be the service of one knight or fully armed horseman (servitium unius militis) to be done to the king in his army for forty days in the year, if it be called for. . . . The limit of forty days seems to have existed rather in theory than practice. Pollock & Mait. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

3. Service such as a knight can or should render; hence, good or valuable service. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Giving particular attention; habitually attentive to what passes; observant{ 1 }; as, an observing person; an observing mind. -- Ob*serv"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

{ or sometimes }. A corporation, such as a railroad company, lighting company, water company, etc., organized or chartered to follow a public calling or to render services more or less essential to the general public convenience or safety. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A member of a reserve force of soldiers or militia. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

. The detective service of a government. In the United States, in time of peace the bureau of secret service is under the treasury department, and in time of war it aids the war department in securing information concerning the movements of the enemy. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Of or pertaining to Servia, a kingdom of Southern Europe. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Servia. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ n., or . [ Properly, the tree which bears serve, OE. serves, pl., service berries, AS. syrfe service tree; akin to L. sorbus. ] (Bot.) A name given to several trees and shrubs of the genus Pyrus, as Pyrus domestica and Pyrus torminalis of Europe, the various species of mountain ash or rowan tree, and the American shad bush (see Shad bush, under Shad). They have clusters of small, edible, applelike berries. [ 1913 Webster ]

Service berry (Bot.), the fruit of any kind of service tree. In British America the name is especially applied to that of the several species or varieties of the shad bush (Amelanchier.) [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. servise, OF. servise, service, F. service, from L. servitium. See Serve. ] 1. The act of serving; the occupation of a servant; the performance of labor for the benefit of another, or at another's command; attendance of an inferior, hired helper, slave, etc., on a superior, employer, master, or the like; also, spiritual obedience and love. “O God . . . whose service is perfect freedom.” Bk. of Com. Prayer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Madam, I entreat true peace of you,
Which I will purchase with my duteous service. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

God requires no man's service upon hard and unreasonable terms. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The deed of one who serves; labor performed for another; duty done or required; office. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have served him from the hour of my nativity, . . . and have nothing at his hands for my service but blows. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

This poem was the last piece of service I did for my master, King Charles. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

To go on the forlorn hope is a service of peril; who will understake it if it be not also a service of honor? Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Office of devotion; official religious duty performed; religious rites appropriate to any event or ceremonial; as, a burial service. [ 1913 Webster ]

The outward service of ancient religion, the rites, ceremonies, and ceremonial vestments of the old law. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Hence, a musical composition for use in churches. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Duty performed in, or appropriate to, any office or charge; official function; hence, specifically, military or naval duty; performance of the duties of a soldier. [ 1913 Webster ]

When he cometh to experience of service abroad . . . ne maketh a worthy soldier. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Useful office; advantage conferred; that which promotes interest or happiness; benefit; avail. [ 1913 Webster ]

The stork's plea, when taken in a net, was the service she did in picking up venomous creatures. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Profession of respect; acknowledgment of duty owed. “Pray, do my service to his majesty.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. The act and manner of bringing food to the persons who eat it; order of dishes at table; also, a set or number of vessels ordinarily used at table; as, the service was tardy and awkward; a service of plate or glass. [ 1913 Webster ]

There was no extraordinary service seen on the board. Hakewill. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Law) The act of bringing to notice, either actually or constructively, in such manner as is prescribed by law; as, the service of a subpœna or an attachment. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. (Naut.) The materials used for serving a rope, etc., as spun yarn, small lines, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. (Tennis) The act of serving the ball. [ 1913 Webster ]

12. Act of serving or covering. See Serve, v. t., 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

Service book, a prayer book or missal. --
Service line (Tennis), a line parallel to the net, and at a distance of 21 feet from it. --
Service of a writ,
process, etc. (Law), personal delivery or communication of the writ or process, etc., to the party to be affected by it, so as to subject him to its operation; the reading of it to the person to whom notice is intended to be given, or the leaving of an attested copy with the person or his attorney, or at his usual place of abode. --
Service of an attachment (Law), the seizing of the person or goods according to the direction. --
Service of an execution (Law), the levying of it upon the goods, estate, or person of the defendant. --
Service pipe, a pipe connecting mains with a dwelling, as in gas pipes, and the like. Tomlinson. --
To accept service. (Law) See under Accept. --
To see service (Mil.), to do duty in the presence of the enemy, or in actual war. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Doing service; promoting happiness, interest, advantage, or any good; useful to any end; adapted to any good end use; beneficial; advantageous. “Serviceable to religion and learning”. Atterbury. “Serviceable tools.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

I know thee well, a serviceable villain. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Prepared for rendering service; capable of, or fit for, the performance of duty; hence, active; diligent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Courteous he was, lowly, and servysable. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bright-hearnessed angels sit in order serviceable. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Seeing her so sweet and serviceable. Tennnyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Serv"ice*a*ble*ness, n. -- Serv"ice*a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Servitude. [ Obs. ] Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

an elevator for carrying large or havy items, or for the use of service people. [ PJC ]

an entrance for use of servants and those providing services, such as deliveries or repair work. [ PJC ]

{ or }. (Mil.) A cap or hat worn by officers or enlisted men when full-dress uniform, or dress uniform, is not worn. In the United States army the service cap is round, about 31/2 inches high, flat-topped, with a visor. The service hat is of soft felt of khaki color, with broad brim and high crown, creased down the middle. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a business where automobiles may be serviced and repaired, usually also having a gasoline vending apparatus, in which case it is also called a gas station or gasoline station. Facilities for repair of automobiles but without a gasoline dispensing function are commonly called repair shops. [ PJC ]

. (Mil. & Nav.) The uniform prescribed in regulations for active or routine service, in distinction from dress, full dress, etc. In the United States army it is of olive-drab woolen or khaki-colored cotton, with all metal attachments of dull-finish bronze, with the exceptional of insignia of rank, which are of gold or silver finish. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ L. serviens, -entis, p. pr. See Serve. ] Subordinate. [ Obs. except in law. ] Dyer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Servient tenement or
Servient estate (Law), that on which the burden of a servitude or an easement is imposed. Cf. Dominant estate, under Dominant. Gale & Whately. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] A table napkin. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. servile, fr. servus a servant or slave: cf. F. servile. See Serve. ] 1. Of or pertaining to a servant or slave; befitting a servant or a slave; proceeding from dependence; hence, meanly submissive; slavish; mean; cringing; fawning; as, servile flattery; servile fear; servile obedience. [ 1913 Webster ]

She must bend the servile knee. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fearing dying pays death servile breath. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Held in subjection; dependent; enslaved. [ 1913 Webster ]

Even fortune rules no more, O servile land! Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Gram.) (a) Not belonging to the original root; as, a servile letter. (b) Not itself sounded, but serving to lengthen the preceeding vowel, as e in tune. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Gram.) An element which forms no part of the original root; -- opposed to radical. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a servile manner; slavishly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality of being servile; servility. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. servilité. ] The quality or state of being servile; servileness. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be a queen in bondage is more vile
Than is a slave in base servility. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & n. from Serve. [ 1913 Webster ]

Serving board (Naut.), a flat piece of wood used in serving ropes. --
Serving maid, a female servant; a maidservant. --
Serving mallet (Naut.), a wooden instrument shaped like a mallet, used in serving ropes. --
Serving man, a male servant, or attendant; a manservant. --
Serving stuff (Naut.), small lines for serving ropes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It. servita. ] (R.C.Ch.) One of the order of the Religious Servants of the Holy Virgin, founded in Florence in 1223. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., fr. servire to serve: cf. F. serviteur. ] 1. One who serves; a servant; an attendant; one who acts under another; a follower or adherent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your trusty and most valiant servitor. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Univ. of Oxford, Eng.) An undergraduate, partly supported by the college funds, whose duty it formerly was to wait at table. A servitor corresponded to a sizar in Cambridge and Dublin universities. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office, rank, or condition of a servitor. Boswell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. servitudo: cf. F. servitude. ] 1. The state of voluntary or compulsory subjection to a master; the condition of being bound to service; the condition of a slave; slavery; bondage; hence, a state of slavish dependence. [ 1913 Webster ]

You would have sold your king to slaughter,
His princes and his peers to servitude. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A splendid servitude; . . . for he that rises up early, and goes to bed late, only to receive addresses, is really as much abridged in his freedom as he that waits to present one. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Servants, collectively. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

After him a cumbrous train
Of herds and flocks, and numerous servitude. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) A right whereby one thing is subject to another thing or person for use or convenience, contrary to the common right. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The object of a servitude is either to suffer something to be done by another, or to omit to do something, with respect to a thing. The easements of the English correspond in some respects with the servitudes of the Roman law. Both terms are used by common law writers, and often indiscriminately. The former, however, rather indicates the right enjoyed, and the latter the burden imposed. Ayliffe. Erskine. E. Washburn. [ 1913 Webster ]

Penal servitude. See under Penal. --
Personal servitude (Law), that which arises when the use of a thing is granted as a real right to a particular individual other than the proprietor. --
Predial servitude (Law), that which one estate owes to another estate. When it related to lands, vineyards, gardens, or the like, it is called rural; when it related to houses and buildings, it is called urban. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Servants, collectively. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. servitus. ] Servitude. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. The quality or state of being subservient; instrumental fitness or use; hence, willingness to serve another's purposes; in a derogatory sense, servility. [ 1913 Webster ]

The body wherein appears much fitness, use, and subserviency to infinite functions. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a regular subordination and subserviency among all the parts to beneficial ends. Cheyne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. subserviens, -entis, p. pr. See Subserve. ] Fitted or disposed to subserve; useful in an inferior capacity; serving to promote some end; subordinate; hence, servile, truckling. [ 1913 Webster ]

Scarce ever reading anything which he did not make subservient in one kind or other. Bp. Fell. [ 1913 Webster ]

These ranks of creatures are subservient one to another. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their temporal ambition was wholly subservient to their proselytizing spirit. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a subservient manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Overofficious; doing more than is required or desired. “A superserviceable, finical rogue.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Obsequiously complying with the spirit of the times, or the humors of those in power. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An obsequious compliance with the spirit of the times, or the humors of those in power, which implies a surrender of one's independence, and sometimes of one's integrity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Temporizing. -- Timeserving, Temporizing. Both these words are applied to the conduct of one who adapts himself servilely to times and seasons. A timeserver is rather active, and a temporizer, passive. One whose policy is timeserving comes forward to act upon principles or opinions which may promote his advancement; one who is temporizing yields to the current of public sentiment or prejudice, and shrinks from a course of action which might injure him with others. The former is dishonest; the latter is weak; and both are contemptible. [ 1913 Webster ]

Trimming and timeserving, which are but two words for the same thing, . . . produce confusion. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ I ] pronounce thee . . . a hovering temporizer, that
Canst with thine eyes at once see good and evil,
Inclining to them both. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Neglect of duty; idleness; indolence. [ Obs. ] Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]