service English · revision 2132

15 Oct 2026, 02:42 by bogdan “Redone from scratch with separate homographs” current version

Changes in this edit

@@ -1,53 +1,80 @@
− {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1100|origins=la servus}}
+ English has two words spelled ''service'': the common word for serving, from Latin ''servitium'' “slavery”, and the name of a European tree, from Old English ''syrfe''.^(Chambers 2008)^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline)
  
  ==Pronunciation==
− * IPA: UK /ˈsɜː.vɪs/, US /ˈsɝː-/^(Roach et al. 2011)
+ * IPA: UK /ˈsɜː.vɪs/, US /ˈsɝː.vɪs/^(Roach et al. 2011)
+ 
+ {{homograph|1|serving, work, help}}
+ 
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1100 (public worship)|origins=la servus}}
  
  ==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)
+ The common word is [[inh|enm|servise]], late Old English [[m|ang|serfise]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998) [[bor|fro|servise|t=homage, servitude, service at table, Mass]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[la|servitium|t=slavery, servitude; slaves collectively]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|servus|t=slave]], the source also of [[serve]] and [[servant]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)
  
  ==Earliest recorded meaning==
− Public religious worship according to a set form (about 1100).^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002)
+ 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)
+ 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) The supply of gas, water or electricity is a ''service'' by 1879, extended to broadcasting in 1927,^(Etymonline) and help given by sellers to buyers by 1919.^(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,^(Etymonline) “to maintain and repair” is from 1926, and “to pay interest on a debt” from 1942.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)
  
  ==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)
+ * c. 1200 – the work of a servant; help.^(Etymonline)
+ * c. 1300 – court and military service; the serving of food.^(Etymonline)
+ * 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)
+ * 1893 – verb, to provide with a service.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)
+ * 1926 – verb, to maintain and repair.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)
+ * 1942 – verb, to pay interest on a debt.^(OED 1989)
  
  ==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)
+ # Work done for others; [[employment]], especially for a government.^(AHD)
+ # The [[armed forces]], or a branch of them.^(AHD)
+ # An act of help or assistance.^(AHD)
+ # A religious ceremony, or a form of [[liturgy]].^(AHD)
+ # A system supplying a public need, such as transport, water or electricity.^(AHD)
+ # Attendance on customers, as in a shop or restaurant.^(AHD)
+ # A set of dishes or utensils: ''a tea service''.^(AHD)
+ # In [[tennis]] and similar games, the act of serving the ball.^(AHD)
  
  ===Verb===
− # To repair or maintain: ''service the boiler''.^(AHD)
+ # To maintain or repair: ''service a car''.^(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]]
+ * [[serviceable]]
+ * [[serviceman]]
+ * [[servicewoman]]
  * [[unserviced]]
+ 
+ {{homograph|2|tree}}
+ 
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1530|origins=la sorbus}}
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ The tree is an extended form, originally a plural, of obsolete ''serve'' “the service tree”,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) [[inh|enm|serves]], plural of [[m|enm|serve]],^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|syrfe]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[la-vul|*sorbea]], from [[la|sorbus|t=service tree]] (see [[sorb]]).^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) Chambers suggests instead [[la|cerevisia]], a cider-like drink made from the fruit.^(Chambers 2008)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ A European tree related to the mountain ash, and its fruit, recorded in 1530.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ Its small pear-shaped or round fruit is eaten when overripe.^(SOED 2002) The ''wild service'' is a related tree with bitter fruit (1741).^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) The [[serviceberry]] is recorded from the 1570s and ''service tree'' from about 1600;^(Etymonline) in North America ''serviceberry'' names a different shrub.^(OED 1989)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1530 – the tree and its fruit.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)
+ * 1570s – ''service-berry''.^(Etymonline)
+ * c. 1600 – ''service tree''.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1741 – ''wild service''.^(OED 1989)
+ 
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A European tree related to the [[mountain ash]], with small edible fruit; the ''service tree''.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)
+ # The fruit of this tree.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[service tree]]
+ * [[serviceberry]]
  
  ==Related words==
@@ -55,9 +82,6 @@
  * [[servant]]
  * [[servile]]
− * [[serf]]
+ * [[servitude]]
  * [[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==