service English · revision 2003

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1100|origins=la servus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈsɜː.vɪs/, US /ˈsɝː-/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|servise]], late Old English [[m|ang|serfise|t=ceremony]],^(RHWU) [[bor|fro|servise|t=homage, servitude, service at table, Mass]],^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)^(SOED 2002) from [[la|servitium|t=slavery, servitude; slaves collectively]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[m|la|servus|t=slave]], the source also of [[serve]] and [[servant]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) The service tree, whose name comes from the plural serves of Old English [[m|ang|syrfe]], from Latin [[m|la|sorbus]], is a different word.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Public religious worship according to a set form (about 1100).^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The meanings “the act of serving, the work of a servant” and “help, a helpful act” date from about 1200,^(Etymonline) “labour done for another” and “the state of being bound to serve” from the mid-13th century.^(Etymonline) About 1300 ''service'' also meant employment at court or in government and military service, especially by a knight, hence “the armed forces” as an occupation (1706).^(Etymonline) At table it meant the provision of food and the sequence of dishes (about 1300), and then the dishes and utensils themselves (mid-15th century), as in ''tea service''.^(Etymonline)^(HTOED) In law the serving of a writ is from 1426.^(HTOED) The supply of gas, water or electricity is a ''service'' by 1879, extended to broadcasting in 1927.^(Etymonline) The Middle English verb ''servisen'' “to serve as a knight” (about 1300) died with the feudal system.^(Etymonline) The modern verb “to provide with a service” (1893) is probably a new formation, and “to maintain and repair” is by 1926.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – public worship.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1200 – the work of a servant, and help.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-13th century – labour for another.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – court and military service, and the serving of food.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1426 – the serving of a writ.^(HTOED)

+ * mid-15th century – a set of dishes.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1706 – the armed forces as an occupation.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1879 – a supply of gas, water or electricity.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1893 – verb, to provide with a service.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1926 – verb, to maintain and repair.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1927 – a broadcasting service.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Work done for another or for a government; [[employment]].^(AHD)

+ # A government department and its staff: ''the civil service''.^(AHD)

+ # The armed forces, or one branch of them.^(AHD)

+ # Work done for others as a business: ''a delivery service''.^(AHD)

+ # Maintenance or repair: ''the car is due for a service''.^(AHD)

+ # A form of public [[worship]]: ''a church service''.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+ # The serving of food, or a set of dishes: ''a tea service''.^(Etymonline)^(HTOED)

+ # A supply of gas, water or electricity, or a broadcasting system.^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(law)'' The delivery of a writ or summons.^(HTOED)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To repair or maintain: ''service the boiler''.^(AHD)

+ # To provide services to.^(AHD)

+ # To pay interest on (a debt).^(AHD)

+ # Of a male animal, to mate with.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of the armed forces, or for supplying or repairing: ''a service entrance''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[servicer]]

+ * [[unserviced]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[serve]]

+ * [[servant]]

+ * [[servile]]

+ * [[serf]]

+ * [[sorb]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Apart from finance (''service a debt'') and animal breeding, the verb service is used mainly for “to repair or maintain”;^(AHD) for “to supply goods or services to” the AHD prefers [[serve]] (''one radio network serves three states'').^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}