service

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French servise, from Latin servitium condition of a slave, body of slaves, from servus slave Date: 13th century 1. a. the occupation or function of serving <

in active service

> b. employment as a servant <

entered his service

> 2. a. the work performed by one that serves <

good service

> b. help, use, benefit <

glad to be of service

> c. contribution to the welfare of others d. disposal for use <

I'm entirely at your service

> 3. a. a form followed in worship or in a religious ceremony <

the burial service

> b. a meeting for worship — often used in plural <

held evening services

> 4. the act of serving: as a. a helpful act <

did him a service

> b. useful labor that does not produce a tangible commodity — usually used in plural <

charge for professional services

> c. serve 5. a set of articles for a particular use <

a silver tea service

> 6. a. an administrative division (as of a government or business) <

the consular service

> b. one of a nation's military forces (as the army or navy) 7. a. a facility supplying some public demand <

telephone service

> <

bus service

> b. a facility providing maintenance and repair <

television service

> 8. the materials (as spun yarn, small lines, or canvas) used for serving a rope 9. the act of bringing a legal writ, process, or summons to notice as prescribed by law 10. the act of a male animal copulating with a female animal 11. a branch of a hospital medical staff devoted to a particular specialty <

obstetrical service

> II. transitive verb (serviced; servicing) Date: 1528 to perform services for: as a. to repair or provide maintenance for <

serviced the furnace

> b. to meet interest and sinking fund payments on (as government debt) c. to perform any of the business functions auxiliary to production or distribution of d. of a male animal serve 10 • servicer noun III. adjective Date: 1837 1. of or relating to the armed services 2. used in serving or supplying <

delivery men use the service entrance

> 3. intended for hard or everyday use 4. a. providing services <

the service trades—from filling stations to universities — John Fischer

> b. offering repair, maintenance, or incidental services IV. noun Etymology: Middle English serves, plural of serve fruit of the service tree, service tree, from Old English syrfe, from Vulgar Latin *sorbea, from Latin sorbus service tree Date: 1530 an Old World tree (Sorbus domestica) resembling the related mountain ashes but having larger flowers and larger edible fruit; also a related Old World tree (S. torminalis) with bitter fruits