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Webster 1913 Edition
Subserve
Sub-serve′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Subserved
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Subserving
.] 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
But to
subserve
where wisdom bears command. Milton.
Webster 1828 Edition
Subserve
SUBSERVE
,Verb.
T.
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)
- To serve to promote (an end); to be useful to.
- 1840, Abel Upshur, A Brief Enquiry into the Nature and Character of our Federal Government, Campbell, page 69:
- Their principles will cease to be dear to them, whenever they shall cease to subserve the purposes of good order.
-
- 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.
- Glanvill