Hello,

I’m doing research on the word "SERVE".   I would like for anyone to help me out with the origin of the word.   Also if possible, different definitons in other languages/dialects.

Thank you in advance.

from AHD:

[Middle English serven, from Old French servir, from Latin servre, from servus, slave.]

david

Hi Marie!  One of my favorite sites is the excellent Online Etymology Dictionary.  Here’s what you would find there:

c.1175, "to render habitual obedience to," from O.Fr. servir "to serve," from L. servire "to serve," originally "be a slave," related to servus "slave," perhaps from an Etruscan word (cf. Etruscan proper names Servi, Serve). Meaning "to attend to (a customer)" is first recorded 1362; that of "to set food on (a table)" is from c.1386. Sporting sense, in tennis, badminton, etc., first recorded 1585; the noun in this sense is from 1688. To serve (someone) right "to treat as he deserves" is recorded from 1587. To serve the time "shape one’s views to what is in favor" is from 1560, translating L. tempori servire.

-Tim

[quote author=marie12 link=board=etymology;num=1096864139;start=0#0 date=10/04/04 at 00:28:59]Hello,

I’m doing research on the word "SERVE".   I would like for anyone to help me out with the origin of the word.   Also if possible, different definitons in other languages/dialects.

Thank you in advance.

As you know, to serve one of many English words with multiple meanings.  In the third season of the old television show The Twilight Zone there was an episode titled "To Serve Man."  Aliens showed up and said they wanted to serve Man, and everyone thought it meant to help Mankind.  Some people got a hold of one of the aliens’ books and tried to translate it.  In the end, the book titled "How To Serve Man" turned out to be a cookbook!

You might be able to see that show when the SciFi channel runs another Twilight Zone Marathon.

We now know how to interpret the sentence
"The children are ready to eat."

Bon appetit
BNJTOKYO

We now know how to interpret the sentence
"The children are ready to eat."

Here’s an appropriate little neopagan TIC poem I enjoy:

I love children, yes I do.
Baked or broiled or in a stew.

gailr

Then there is always the great W C Fields, about whom it is said that when confronted by a woman who in a slightly hysterical voice asked him : «Mr Fields, Mr Fields, it’s not true you hate children ?» replied in his most resounding tones : «I don’t know, Madame, I never ate one»....

(This anecdote is not found among the Field quotes I found on the net and it may well be apocryphal, but it seems to convey the quality of his humour….)

Henri

"Madam, there’s no such thing as a tough child—if you parboil them first for seven hours, they always come out tender."

- W.C. Fields

The closest I could find with little effort…

-Tim

[quote author=Tim Ward link=board=etymology;num=1096864139;start=0#7 date=10/29/04 at 19:28:47]

The closest I could find with little effort…

-Tim

Gosh, I’m really prefering the rotisserie for the really tough meats these days. (TIC, oc)

Katy

[quote author=KatyBr link=board=etymology;num=1096864139;start=0#8 date=10/29/04 at 21:14:16]
Gosh, I’m really prefering the rotisserie for the really tough meats these days. (TIC, oc)

Katy

Altho’ it is hard yto keep the tongue from falling out of the cheek when the ‘meat’ is upside down, lol

Katy
I really AM kidding.