| 释义 |
▪ I. service, n.1|ˈsɜːvɪs|
Forms: 1 serfise, 2–5 servise, 3 serviz, 3–4 serveis, 3–6 servyse, 3–7 servis, 4 servijs, servyss, Sc. serwise, 4–5 servese, serveys(e, 4–6 servyce, servys, 4–6 (8) serves, 5 cervyce, sarvyse, servysse, serwyse, 5–6 sarvys, 5–6 (8–9 vulgar) sarvice, 5–7 Sc. serwice, 6 sarves, servicie, Sc. schervice, scherwyce, servyiss, servyss, serwyce, 6–7 servies, 6–8 dial. sarvis, 7 cervis, 9 Sc. sairvice, 3– service. pl. 7 service.
[a. OF. servise, service, also servige, serviche (mod.F. service), ad. L. servitium, f. servus slave. Cf. Pr. servizi, servis, Sp. servicio, Pg. serviço, It. servizio, servigio.
The word in English, as also in the Romanic langs., has supplied the place of a noun of action to the cognate serve v.1, and its sense-development appears to have been materially influenced by association with the verb.]
I. The condition of being a servant; the fact of serving a master.
1. The condition, station, or occupation of being a servant. (In mod. use almost exclusively spec. = domestic service.)
a. In phrases with preps. † at service, in service, † into service, † on service, out of service; to go to service, put to service, set to service; to go into service, put into service, take into service; to place out at service.
1320–30Horn Ch. 644 Icham comen to fand, For to win gold & fe, In seruise wiþ ȝour king to be. c1400Destr. Troy 4400 He ordant angels after his deuyse, And set hom in seruice hym seluyn to honour. c1400Apol. Loll. (Camden) 4 If a man haue an hired plowman in to serueys to dwel wiþ him. 1426E.E. Wills (1882) 71 And I woll and pray ȝow þat Phelippe be kept on seruice stille. 1495Coventry Leet Bk. 568 Þat euery Maide & sole woman.. take a Chambre within an honest persone..or els to go to seruice. 1543–4Act 35 Hen. VIII, c. 1 Persons..that shall haue any offyce..or shalbe receyued in saruice with his grace. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VII, 49 b, The sayde Barlo set me with a merchaunt of Middelboroughe too seruyce. c1550N. Smyth tr. Herodian i. 10 The same beynge put to seruice in the Emperours house. 1557Order Hospitalls F 5, Whether the same Childe be..in the Howse, or at Nurse; at Service, or els dead. 1592Soliman & Pers. ii. ii. 76 Least my maister turne me out of seruice. 1610Shakes. Temp. i. ii. 286 Caliban Whom now I keepe in seruice. 1749Smollett Gil Blas i. xvii. (1782) I. 104, I resolved to go to service, and hired myself to a great woollen-draper. 1771― Humph. Cl. 29 May, They..swarm up to London, in hopes of getting into service. 1798O'Keeffe Wild Oats ii. ii, I place her out at sarvice. 1833H. Martineau Vanderput & S. i. 12 All this is less than many a maid has that has been at service a shorter time. 1841Thackeray Gt. Hoggarty Diam. vii, He had put two of his daughters into service. 1881A. O'Shaughnessy Songs of Worker 176 Not even the fretting when the eldest girl In service far away forgot to write.
fig.1600Shakes. A.Y.L. i. iii. 26 But turning these iests out of seruice, let vs talke in good earnest.
b. In other constructions.
c1420Sir Amadace (Camden) sc. i, Alle that ther wold seruyse haue, Knyȝte squiere, ȝoman and knaue. a1450Knt. de la Tour lxv. (1906) 86 The whiche Amon was Seneschall of the king,..and became riche by his seruice. 1525in Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. an. 1527 (1883) 97 Gif ony freman of the said craft pass furth of the toun or his band of his service be worne furth. 1567Painter Pal. Pleas. ii. xi. (1890) II. 268 [She] determined therefore..to seeke seruice in that house, counterfaytinge the kynde and habite of a Page. 1768Sterne Sent. Journ. (1778) II. 124 (Le Dimanche), The sons and daughters of service part with liberty, but not with nature in their contracts. 1785Paley Mor. Philos. iii. i. xi, Service in this country is, as it ought to be, voluntary, and by contract. 1870–2Liddon Elem. Relig. iv. §1 (1904) 137 Holy Scripture..speaks of sin as a service, the wages of which is death. 1876Hardy Ethelberta xxx, I wish you could have given up service by this time. 1886Herford Lit. Rel. Eng. & Germany 310 Grumshall..goes to take service with Bartervile, a well-reputed Naples merchant. 1891Kipling Light that Failed ix. (1900) 157 ‘When did you leave service?’..‘How did you know I was in service?..I was. General servant.’
Proverb.c1412Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 841 Seruyse, I wot wel, is non heritage. 1631R. Brathwait Whimzies, Undersheriff 98 But service is no inheritance;..therefore..hee beginnes now in his summer, to store up against winter. 1729Swift Direct. Serv. Gen. Direct., Answer, that..a poor servant is not to be blamed if he strives to better himself; that service is no inheritance.
†c. Servitude, slavery. Obs.
1340–70Alisaunder 935 On weies & women awrak hee his teene And solde them too seruise in sorowe too liue.
2. a. Const. of or possessive: The condition of being a servant of a particular master.
c1290St. Cristofer 39 in S. Eng. Leg. 272 Ich am a man opon mi seruiz [Harl. MS. in mie seruise] and noman serui i nelle Bote mi louerd þat ich seche. Ibid. 59 Daþeit þanne, Cristofre seide, þat leng beo in þine seruise. a1300Cursor M. 9485 Nu has him sathanas in wald,..Quils he es thralled in his seruis He ne mai be fre on nakins wis. 1382Wyclif 2 Kings v. 3 A lytill chyld woman caytife, that was in the seruyce [Vulg. in obsequio] of the wiyf of Naaman. c1400Rom. Rose 4594, I am so sore bounde him til, From his servyse I may not fleen. 1536Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 5 For my sake to accept this berer salisbury again into your seruice. 1596Shakes. Merch. V. ii. ii. 156 To leaue a rich Iewes seruice. 1716Hawkins Pleas Crown i. 130 If a Parent in a reasonable Manner chastise his child, or a Master his Servant, being actually in his Service at the Time. 1835Dickens Sk. Boz, Mr. Watkins Tottle i, That's the very housemaid... She went into Fanny's service when we were first married, and has been with us ever since. 1841Thackeray Gt. Hoggarty Diam. xii, You will hardly fancy that I..knew anything of the concerns of the Company into whose service I entered as twentieth clerk. 1881Besant & Rice Chapl. Fleet I. 26, I do not ask thee to enter my service, or to receive wages.
b. In religious use: The condition or fact of being a servant (of God). Cf. 13. † to end in God's service: to die in the faith.
c1230Hali Meid. 28 Þe selie godes spuses, þe..in his anes seruise hare lif leadeð. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2277 Constance is eldoste sone in godes seruice Monek he made at winchestre. a1300Cursor M. 5482 Siþen him deid ioseph, þat wis, And endid in our lauerd seruis. c1325Prov. Hendyng 11 in Böddeker Alteng. Dicht. (1878) 288 Leue vs alle to ben wys, Ant to ende in his seruys. c1450tr. De Imitatione iii. xi. [x.] 79 O þe acceptable & þe iocunde seruice of god. 1549Bk. Comm. Prayer, Morn. Prayer, 2nd Collect, O God..whose seruice is perfect fredome.
†c. The condition of being the ‘servant’ (of Love, of one's lady). Obs. (Cf. 10.)
c1374Chaucer Compl. Mars 189 For this day in hir seruise shal I dye. c1386― Sqr.'s T. 272 He moste han knowen loue and his seruyse. a1450Myrc 57 Wymmones serues thow most forsake. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xlvi. 8 This wes hir sentens sueit and delectable, A lusty lyfe in luves scheruice bene. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 276 And Longauill was for my seruice borne. 16..Mure Sonn. to Marg. ii. 12 Gif I be thyne, no greiff can death impairt Sall mak me seime thy service to deny.
†d. A particular ministerial office or charge.
c1250Gen. & Ex. 3754 He [sc. Korah and his company] seiden he weren wurði bet to ðat seruise to ben set. c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 247 Þe sixte servise takeþ he þat is above in bysynesse..In þe sevenþe servyse is he þat haþ mercy in gladnes. 1382― 2 Cor. v. 18 God..ȝaf to vs the mynisterie, or seruyse, of reconcilinge.
3.
†a. A situation or place as servant (obs.).
b. A particular employ; the serving of a certain master or household.
1469Paston Lett. II. 387 Whedyr that they shall sek hem newe servysys or not. 1505in Extracts Burgh. Rec. Edin. (1869) I. 107 Ony maner of vagabounds, young fallowis or young husis, haffand na prettik nor seruice to life vpon. 1564Child-Marr. 126 John Jackson came to this deponent, and willed to have a Service for a maide. 1596Shakes. Merch. V. ii. ii. 165, I cannot get a seruice, no, I haue nere a tongue in my head. 1634Milton Comus 85 And take the Weeds and likenes of a Swain, That to the service of this house belongs. 1719D'Urfey Pills (1872) III. 248 And doubtless for so small abuse, a young man may his Service lose. 1767A. Young Farmer's Lett. to People 181 The children..were put into the world in services. 1779Warner in Jesse Selwyn & Contemp. (1844) IV. 53 Her mother, who is now reduced to wish a service [as French governess] in a foreign land. 1818Scott Rob Roy vi, It seems to me..that you might have found a service where they eat less, and are more orthodox in their worship. 1850Tennyson In Mem. xx, ‘It will be hard’ they say ‘to find Another service such as this’.
4. a. The condition or employment of a public servant (of a sovereign or state). in the British, French, etc. service: (chiefly of a soldier or sailor).
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2418 & hii ssolle be such þat no prince ne dorre hom vorsake Ac vor hor prowesse gladliche in to hor seruise hom take. 13..Guy Warw. 704 & wiþ him felawes tventi,..Þat wiþ þerl Rohaud hadde ben long, In his seruise armes to vnder-fong. 1396–7XII Concl. Lollards vi. in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1907) XXII. 299 A kyng and a bisschop al in o persone,..a curat and an officer in worldly seruise, makin euery reme out of god reule. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xvii. 19 b, He being in seruice of his most Christian Maiesty. a1763W. King Polit. & Lit. Anecd. (1819) 55 My Lord Taaffe of Ireland, a general officer in the Austrian service. 1779Warner in Jesse Selwyn & Contemp. (1844) IV. 95 Charles Fox has made his motion for the removal of Lord Sandwich from his Majesty's service and counsels. 1839Thackeray Fatal Boots Jan., I have borne the commission of lieutenant in the service of King George. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 594 That the three English regiments in the Dutch service might be sent to the Thames. 1897E. G. Constantine Mar. Engin. vi. 51 Blasco de Garay, an officer in the Spanish naval service.
†b. horse of service, a war-horse or charger.
1577–86Stanyhurst Descr. Irel. ii. 20/1 in Holinshed, Of the horsse of seruice they make great store. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iv. xxxiii. 155 b, Those whiche..might maintaine a horse of seruice, were..called knights. 1606Choice, Chance, etc. (1881) 48 To see a horse of seruice drawe in a doung-carte. 1679Blount Anc. Tenures 116 That the said Robert ought to come armed upon his Horse of service, with twenty men at Armes [etc.].
c. to take service: to enlist under a military commander, join a fighting force.
1847Marryat Childr. N. Forest xxvii, Recollect, that, whatever general you take service under, you will follow him. 1878Simpson Sch. Shaks. I. 78 He.. had gone to Spain to take service against the Moors.
5. a. A branch of public employment, or a body of public servants, concerned with some particular kind of work or the supply of some particular need, as in the consular service, the customs service, the diplomatic service, the excise service, the civil service.
1685W. Hedges Diary (Hakl. Soc.) I. 176 Fearing Agent Beard and Councill at Hugly might be soe displeased with him for shewing any kindness to me, as to turne him out of y⊇ Service. 1776Mickle tr. Camoens' Lusiad Introd. 153 Thomas Pearson, Esq.; of the East India Company's Service. 1801T. S. Surr Splendid Misery II. 194 A Neapolitan pirate originally, but who took to the land service afterwards. 1815Scott Guy M. x, Francis Kennedy, of his majesty's excise service. 1835Act 5 & 6 Will. IV, c. 19 §45 To prevent any Seaman..from entering or being received into the Naval Service of His Majesty. 1860Mrs. Gaskell Sylvia's L. xxiii, The commanding officer of the impress service. 1901Skrine Sir W. Hunter 308 With a small Service which has a few splendid prizes and many blanks, it is inevitable that [etc.].
b. the service: the Army or Navy (according to the implication in the context) considered as a sphere of duty or occupation, or as a profession. Also, the Air Force and intelligence departments. So the (United) Services, the Army and Navy.
For the senior service (the Navy), see senior a. 2.
1706Farquhar Recruit. Officer iv. i, Sir, I wou'd qualifie my self for the Service. 1714Spect. No. 566 ⁋3 A Man has scarce the Face to make his Court to a Lady, without some Credentials from the Service to recommend him. 1777Earl Carlisle in Jesse Selwyn & Contemp. (1844) III. 208 No domestic reasons can be strong enough to justify a man in quitting the service at the opening of a campaign. 1833Marryat P. Simple xxviii, I wish Mr. Harrison would stay on shore with his wife altogether,—it's really trifling with the service. 1842Burn Nav. & Mil. Techn. Fr. Dict. Pref. (1852), My brother officers, or those of the Sister Service. 1845Stocqueler Brit. India (1854) 381 The merchants and others not connected with ‘the services’ could only be admitted by ballot. 1862G. H. Kingsley Sport & Trav. (1900) 362 Every morning there is a small row of the United Services standing just abaft of the mainmast. 1872Routledge's Ev. Boy's Ann. 185/1 The Service is going to the dogs.
II. The work or duty of a servant; the action of serving a master.
6. a. Performance of the duties of a servant; attendance of servants; work done in obedience to and for the benefit of a master. to do, † bear (one) service, to serve, attend on (a master); now rare exc. poet.
a1200Vices & Virtues 33 Ȝewerȝed bie ðe man..þe want his herte..more to mannes seruise ðanne te godes. a1300Cursor M. 28283 Ouer slaw i was for þam to ris, Reckeles to do þam þair seruise. 13..K. Alis. 3138 Threo hundrod to-fore him stode, Flombardynges, knyghtis gode,..Redy to the kyngis servys. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 210 Seruauns for heore seruise..Takeþ Meede of heore Maystres. 1390Gower Conf. III. 145 Thre ther were That most service unto him bere. 1470–85Malory Arthur vii. xxiv. 251 Bothe I and these fyue honderd knyghtes shal alweyes be at your somons to doo you seruyse. 1586Shuttleworths' Acc. (Chetham Soc.) 32 Margerie Heselden for tene wykes servies iijs vjd. 1607Shakes. Cor. iv. v. 1 Wine, Wine, Wine: What seruice is heere? I thinke our Fellowes are asleepe. 1610― Temp. i. ii. 247 Remember I haue done thee worthy seruice. 1822S. Carolina Stat. (1840) VII. 462 In case any male slave or slaves be so permitted..to hire out their own time, labor or service. 1845S. Fox Monks & Monast. xiii. 147 He [the porter] was allowed the service of a boy. 1859Tennyson Geraint & Enid 405 Then tending her rough lord,..In silence, did him service as a squire. 1878Mann Dom. Econ. 351 When there is a parlour-maid in the establishment her share of the service is the parlour and pantry work, and waiting at table.
fig. (of things).1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 6389 What nede war þat þa creatures þan Shewed swilk servyse mare for man. 1535Coverdale 2 Esdras vi. 46 The starres didest thou sett in ordre, and gauest them a charge, to do seruyce euen vnto man [Vulg. ut deservirent homini].
b. An act of serving; a duty or piece of work done for a master or superior.
a1300Cursor M. 15333 [Christ washing the disciples' feet.] Þe seruis al i yow ha don. 1390Gower Conf. III. 156 Thus scholde every worthi king Take of his knihtes knowleching, Whan that he syh thei hadden nede, For every service axeth mede. 1600Shakes. Sonn. lvii. 4, I haue no precious time at al to spend, Nor seruices to doe til you require. 1610― Temp. iv. i. 35 Thou, and thy meaner fellowes, your last seruice Did worthily performe.
†c. the flesh's service, sexual intercourse. Also the service of Venus. Obs.
c1315Shoreham i. 1960 Ȝef þer ne mey noþere kendelyche Do þe flesches seruyse. Ibid. 1975 And þaȝ þat seruyse be foul, Ȝet hyt hys tokne of gode. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. iii. (1495) 605 The swete almonde..kyndlyth the seruyce of Venus [orig. venerem accendit].
†7. The use of the n. (in sense 6) as obj. to verbs of ambiguous meaning like pay, yield, led to the development of the sense: Reward for service, wages, payment. (Cf. serve v.2) Obs.
a1300K. Horn 990 King þe wise, ȝeld me mi seruise. a1300Cursor M. 28397 Myn hird-men and als oþer maa Haf i þaire seruis halden fra. 13..Ibid. 12390 (Gött.) Trein beddes was he wont to make, And þar-for his seruis to take. c1325Song of Merci 102 in E.E.P. (1862) 121 But ȝe þat hated cristendame..Ȝour seruise schal be endeles schame. c1425Cast. Persev. 846 in Macro Plays 102 Pay not þi serwauntys here serwyse! c1430Chev. Assigne 178 She..delyuered hym his seruyse & he out of cowrte wendes. 1533Gau Richt Vay (1888) 17 Thay that wil noth help thair nichtburs in thair necessite and wil notht len to thayme in thair mister without okker mony or seruice or raward.
8. In feudal use.
†a. Feudal allegiance, fealty; profession of allegiance, homage. Obs.
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 3865 Þe king wende þo to parys..& alle þe heye men of the lond þuder come ywis. Hor omage of hom & hor seruise he nom. 1390Gower Conf. I. 259 But he [the king of France], that wiste nothing why He scholde do so gret servise After the world in such a wise, Withstod the wrong of that demande. a1400–50Wars Alex. 918 Þis freke all his franche of Ph[ilip] he haldis, And was a suget to himself & serues him aȝt. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xiv. 325 And I shall holde you quyte of all the servyse that ye owe me & your eyres also, for evermore. 1538Starkey England 55 Gyuyng..to theyr pryncys and lordys al humbul seruyce and meke obedyence. 1595Shakes. John v. i. 23 Vpon your oath of seruice to the Pope. Ibid. 34 Your Nobles will not heare you, but are gone To offer seruice to your enemy.
fig.1523Skelton Garl. Laurel 425 O noble Chaucer..bounde ar we with all deu reuerence..To owe to yow our seruyce.
b. A duty (whether a payment in money or kind, a definite amount of forced labour, or some act useful or complimentary) which a tenant is bound to render periodically to his lord. Cf. knight-service 1.
1338R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 290 Þe barons..said, þei suld not so, Suilk a new seruise to reise ne to do. c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 26 Vpon þis seruyces þei han þes heiȝe statis & lordischipis. c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 7984 Þe monkes possessiouns made he Fra all seruice and customes fre. 1491Act 7 Hen. VII c. 19 Kyng Edward the fourthe..graunted the Lordshippe..to Griseld..to have and hold to hir and to hir heires..by the service of a redde rose yerely. 1549Registr. Aberdon. (Maitland Club) I. 434 Payand heir for ȝeirlie..ten penneis for bundage arrage or carrage and vthir dew seruice vsit and wont. 1651Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxiv. 129 Divers services reserved on the Land he gave his Subjects. a1700Evelyn Diary 11 Apr. 1689, When the King and Queen had din'd, the ceremonie of the Champion, and other services by tenure were perform'd. 1801Farmer's Mag. Nov. 404 Landlords would soon find their advantage in converting all these services into a fixed rent. 1818Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 611 The Duke of Bridgwater..granted the said premises to the said W. Murhall..freed and enfranchised from all services. 1883R. W. Dixon Mano i. v. 13 The peasants groan..Weighed down by tolls, by services and dues, Which to their mighty lords they ever owe.
c. to hold in service [tr. AF. tenir en service (Britton), law Latin tenere in servitio]: To hold (land) not in one's own occupation (‘in demesne’) but in that of a sub-tenant. See demesne 1.
†d. A feudal holding. Obs.
1362Langl. P. Pl. A. ii. 69 In al þe seruyse of Slouþe I sese hem to-gedere.
9. transf.
a. In complimentary expressions: Respect, ‘duty’. my service to you: a phrase accompanying the drinking to a person. In epistolary use, give my service to = remember me respectfully to (a third person). to pay, present one's service (to), to pay a call of ceremony. Now rare or Obs.
1601Shakes. Twel. N. iii. i. 106 My dutie Madam, and most humble seruice! 1606― Tr. & Cr. v. v. 3 Fellow, commend my seruice to her beauty. 1625Massinger New Way i. ii, He will in person first present his seruice. 1646Endecott in Hutchinson Collect. Papers Massachusetts Bay (1769) 158 [P.S.] My wife desires to have her service remembred to Mrs. Winthrop. 1679Lady R. Russell Lett. I. i. 9 My kindest service to all the dear young ones. 1693Congreve Old Bach. i. i. 4 It lies convenient for us to pay our Afternoon Service to our Mistresses. 1711Swift Jrnl. to Stella 4 Apr., Give my hearty service to Stoyte and Catherine. c1751Chatham Lett. Nephew i. (1805) 3 Pray shew him this letter, with my service to him. 1773Goldsm. Stoops to Conq. ii, Sir, my service to you. 1778F. Burney Evelina xxi, Call..and give my service to him. 1816Scott Old Mort. xxxiv, ‘My service to you, Mr. Morton’, he said, filling one horn of ale for himself, and handing another to his prisoner.
†b. pl. in the same sense. Obs.
1605Shakes. Lear i. i. 29 My seruices to your Lordship. 1614J. Donne in Kempe Losely MSS. (1836) 345 My errand ys onely to deliver my thanks and services..to yor selfe, and all yr good company. 1723Atterbury Let. to Pope 10 Apr., Give my faithful services to Dr. Arbuthnot, and thanks for what he sent me.
c. at (a person's) service: ready to obey his commands. (Cf. sense 25.) † at your service: used ellipt. as a phrase of politeness. Also † yours to do you service.
1554in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. iii. III. 315 Youres to do yow service, as I am most bounden, duering lief Frauncis Yaxley. 1601Shakes. Twel. N. i. v. 318 What hoa, Maluolio. Mal. Heere Madam, at your seruice. 1600Sir W. Cornwallis Ess. i. xxiv. N 3, At your seruice, hath beene so conuersant, as one asking, what's a Clock? 1712Addison Spect. No. 269 ⁋5 The Knight told me..his Chaplain was very well, and much at my Seruice. 1771Smollett Humph. Cl. 13 July (1815) 230 My name is Matthew Bramble, at your service. 1905R. Bagot Passport xxxv. 408 ‘Ask me anything’, Silvio replied. ‘I am entirely at your service’.
10. The devotion or suit of a lover; professed love. arch. (Cf. 2 c.)
c1374Chaucer Compl. Mars 167, I yaf my trewe seruise and my thoght For evermore..To hir. Ibid. 183 What wonder is then, thogh that I besette My seruise on suche oon. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xliv. 34 All wemen of ws suld haif honoring, Serwice and luve, aboif all vthir thing. 1596Spenser F.Q. vi. x. 38 So well he wood her, and so well he wrought her, With humble seruice, and with daily sute. 1600Shakes. A.Y.L. v. ii. 95 Phe. Good shepheard, tell this youth what 'tis to loue... Sil. It is to be all made of faith and seruice. 1611― Cymb. i. vi. 140 Let me my seruice tender on your lippes. 1859Tennyson Elaine 119 Yourself, Now weary of my service and devoir.
11. The serving the sovereign or the state in an official capacity; the duties or work of public servants. On His (or Her) Majesty's Service: a formula (often abbreviated O.H.M.S.) printed on the cover of a letter to indicate that it is official (and therefore exempt from postage). secret service: see secret a. 4 c.
1389in Eng. Gilds (1870) 30 Yat no man schal ben excusyd of absence at yat messe, but it be for ye kyngges seruise. 1536Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889) 497 One that dyd good and trewe sarvys to owre soveren lord the kyng. 1568in H. Campbell Love Lett. Mary Q. Scot. (1824) App. 27 You, taryying behynd, wold furder us in this her Majesties sarvys. 1617Moryson Itin. ii. 15 The Lords..because they so judged it best for her Majesties service, sent over Sir John Norreys. 1709Swift Project Adv. Relig. Misc. (1711) 226 Men of great Abilities would then endeavour to excel in the Duties of a religious Life, in order to qualify themselves for publick Service. a1713T. Ellwood Hist. Life (1714) 12, [I] seldom went afterwards, upon those publick Services, without a loaded Pistol in my Pocket. 1829Scott Anne of G. xxvii, ‘And I,’ said his father, ‘have no wish to detain him on the service in which he is now employed’. 1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. II. v. v, All Public Service lies slack and waste. 1874G. J. Whyte-Melville Uncle John xiv. II. 89 Three letters..marked ‘On Her Majesty's Service’.
12. a. The duty of a soldier or sailor; the performance of this duty. Often, actual participation in warfare; more fully active service.
piece (or † parcel) of service: a military achievement or exploit. (In Shakes. used ironically.)
1590Sir J. Smythe Disc. Weapons 6 Our trained Low Countrie Captaines..some of them more hungrie after charge, spoyle and gaine, than skilfull to do anie great seruice. 1590Barwick Disc. Weapons 7 And so dooth the matter fall out, if a parcell of seruice should be doon, where 500. [men] should be imployed therunto. 1593Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, v. i. 155 And such a peece of seruice will you do, If [etc.]. 1599― Hen. V, iii. ii. 49. 1599 ― Much Ado i. i. 48 He hath done good seruice Lady in these wars. 1632Massinger Maid of Hon. i. i. B 2 b, Pray you shew vs The difference betweene the city valour And service in the field. 1702Propos. Effectual War in Amer. 9 When they [sc. the Companies] form a Battalion or go upon Service, the Eldest or Senior Officer should command. 1799Times 1 June 3/2 General Moreau..caused the administrations that were unfit for the active service of the war..to be removed back towards France. 1828Sporting Mag. XXII. 248 When I was a soldier we were on service together. 1829W. Irving Granada lxvii. II. 160 It was evident, from the warlike character of El Zagal, that there would be abundance of active service and hard fighting. 1889Gunter That Frenchman i. 10 Then I volunteered for service in Mexico, and fought my way to..a captaincy.
b. A military or naval operation in which a soldier or a regiment serves (often pl.); an expedition or engagement.
1590Barwick Disc. Weapons 7 The Countie of Creance had in the seruice against Charles the 5. the charge of 600. footmen. c1594Capt. Wyatt R. Dudley's Voy. W. Ind. (Hakl. Soc.) 4 Who made us this answear..that they came from the service of Brest, and withall delivered the truth of that honorable, allthough blooddy, service theare accomplished by our Englishmen. 1605Bacon Adv. Learn. i. viii. §1. 41 b, Alexander..when hee receiued Letters out of Greece, of some fights and seruices there. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. vi. §135 Then the King's forces entered the town after a very warm service, the chief officers and many soldiers of the other side being killed. 1748Smollett Rod. Rand. xxxii, The captain..swore he would confine Mackshane as soon as the service should be over. 1760Ann. Reg. 13 The late service..affords very little matter of improvement in the art of reducing or defending strong places. 1834Medwin Angler in Wales II. 55 Nothing could be more harassing than that service. Driven from one stockade, they entrenched themselves behind another. 1844Asiatic Jrnl. Ser. iii. III. 407 The loss of the European Regiment during the foregoing services is stated as having been very severe.
†c. A manner of serving in warfare (e.g. mounted or on foot, with some specified weapon); a branch of the service (= arm n.2 9). Obs.
1610Rich Descr. Irel. 37 The Galloglas succeedeth the Horsman..: his seruice in the field, is neither good against horsmen, nor able to endure an encounter of pikes. 1735Johnson Lobo's Abyssinia, Descr. vii. 84 His force consisting only of Foot, and the Galles entirely of Horse, a Service at which they are very expert.
d. to see service. Of a soldier: To have experience of warfare. Hence (in perfect tense) of a thing, to have been much used or worn.
1601Shakes. All's Well i. ii. 14 Our Gentlemen that meane to see The Tuscan seruice. 1611― Wint. T. iv. iii. 71 If this bee a horsemans Coate, it hath seene very hot seruice. 1778T. Townshend in Jesse Selwyn & Contemp. (1844) III. 304 He has an ardent desire to see service. 1794Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxxiv, There, take it—it has seen service, though it could do little in defending the castle. 1827Scott Chron. Canongate iii, My face has seen service, but there is still a good set of teeth [etc.]. 1838Mill A. de Vigny Diss. & Disc. (1859) I. 298 Fourteen years a soldier without seeing any service. 1891A. H. Craufurd Gen. Craufurd 74 Many soldiers who had seen a good deal of active service.
†e. man of service: a veteran soldier. Obs.
1590Sir J. Smythe Disc. Weapons 6 b, Besides that, by the imployment of such a number of trained Captaines, the regiment..should bee the more full of men of seruice and skill. 1825Carlyle Schiller iii. 202 That rude tumultuous host which Wallenstein presided over... In this ludicrous doggrel..these men of service paint their hopes and doings.
f. pl. (See quot.)
1802C. James Milit. Dict., Services, pecuniary disbursements, or payments which are made for military purposes.
III. In religious uses. (See also 2 b.)
13. The serving (God) by obedience, piety, and good works. Phrase, † to do God's service.
c1175Lamb. Hom. 155 Dauid..deþ us to understonden on hwiche wise þe halie Men hersumden ure drihten ine þisse liue, and hwiche mede heo sculen habben for hore feire seruise. c1275Duty of Christians 35 in O.E. Misc. 142 If we..luuyeþ vre dryhte And doþ his seruyse myd al vre myhte. a1340Hampole Psalter xvii. 22 He..lufid vs in his goednes, noght for oure seruys. c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 6 Þei don not goddis seruyce in hem selfe but drawen oþere men þerfro. 1521Fisher Serm. agst. Luther iv. Wks. (1876) 343 He weneth that in so doyng he pleaseth god & dothe a specyall seruyce vnto god. 1552Abp. Hamilton Catech. (1884) 39 Quharin standis the trew and principal service quhilk we aucht to God. 1563Homilies ii. Almsdeeds iii. 180 Wyll he see vs lacke necessaries when we do hym true seruice? 1614Life & Death Geninges 91 A Virgin who had wholy dedicated her selfe to the seruice of God. 1662Bk. Com. Prayer General Thanksgiving By giving up ourselves to thy service. 1667Milton P.L. v. 529 Our voluntarie service he requires. 1846Ruskin Mod. Paint. II. iii. i. xv. §12 There will come a time when the service of God shall be the beholding of him.
14. Worship; esp. public worship according to form and order. Now rare or Obs. exc. in divine service. † Formerly often, God's service, public service, common service.
c1205Lay. 8071 Þe king bi-gon seruise on ælches cunnes wise æfter þan heðene laȝen. a1300Cursor M. 28251 In kyrk i wroght oft syth vn-ro Quen goddis seruis was to do. a1340Hampole Psalter 4 (Prol.) Þis boke of all haly writ is mast oysed in halykyrke seruys. 1340― Pr. Consc. 3455 When þe lyst slepe and wil noght ryse, And comes overlate tyl Goddes servise. c1386Chaucer 2nd Nun's T. 553 Hir hous the chirche of seinte Cecilie highte..In which, in to this day, in noble wyse Men doon to Crist and to his seinte seruyse. 1534More Comf. agst. Trib. i. Wks. 1146/2 Toward this purpose, are expressely praied many deuout orasons in the comon seruice of our mother holy church. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. xi. §1 Solemne duties of publique seruice to be done vnto God must haue their places set and prepared. Ibid. v. xxix. §1 The attyre which the Minister of God is by order to vse at times of diuine seruice. 1629Milton Hymn Nativ. xxi, A drear and dying sound Affrights the Flamins at their service quaint. 1749Minutes Method. Conf. (1812) 41 Exhort those, who were brought up in the Church, constantly to attend its service.
15. A celebration of public worship.
Often without the article, where a particular occasion is indicated by the context.
c1374Chaucer Troylus i. 315 On other thing his look som-tyme he caste, And eft on hir, whyl that servyse laste. c1440Alphabet of Tales 144 When serves was done, he went vnto þe bysshopp & shrafe hym. 1470–85Malory Arthur i. iii–v. 41 So vpon newe yeresday whan the seruyce was done, the barons rode vnto the feld. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iii. xxi. 110 b, The houre of seruice being come, the Maizins beginne to cry vppon the towres. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. xxviii. §3 So that, according to this forme of theirs, it must stand for a rule, No Sermon, no seruice. 1599Dallam in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.) 23 Sarvis beinge ended, we Departed out of the chapell. 1600Weakest goeth to Wall H 4, Then the Parish is like to haue no seruice to day. 1770Goldsm. Des. Vill. 181 The service past, around the pious man, With steady zeal, each honest rustic ran. 1859Jephson Brittany viii. 121, I looked into the church, where service was going on. 1882Mozley Remin. (ed. 2) I. 55 He preached once at St. Mary's, and occasionally assisted in services.
16. a. A ritual or series of words and ceremonies prescribed for public worship, or for some particular occasion or ministration. Often with defining word, as baptismal service, burial service, communion service, marriage service (none of these are so entitled in the Prayer-book). † altar-service, the Communion. † book of service = service-book (see 38).
Phrases, to read service, say service, sing service.
a1100O.E. Chron. an. 1070 (Parker MS.) Þa ᵹewraðede hine se arcebiscop Landfranc & bebead þam biscopan ðe þar cumene wæran..þa serfise to donde & eallan þan munecan þæt hi scoldan hi unscrydan. c1305Oxf. Student 63 in E.E.P. (1862) 42 Þo come þe maistres..þe seruise for to do. And þo hit was to ende ibrouȝt and þe bodi ibured [etc.]. c1350Will. Palerne 5059 Whan þe seruise was seid as it schold bene, þat fel to a mariage be-maked at cherche. c1386Chaucer Knt.'s T. 2054 To do the office of funeral seruyse. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. x. 227 And vp-on sonedays..godes seruyce to huyre, Boþe matyns and messe. 1396–7XII Concl. Lollards iv. in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1907) XXII. 297 Þe seruise of Corpus Christi imad be frere Thomas. c1400Ywaine & Gaw. 2355 Sir Ywayn to the Kyrk yede, Or he did any other dede; He herd the servise of the day. 1418E.E. Wills 31 To fynde Twey honestes prestes to singe goddys seruice for my soule..be vij ȝere next folwyng after my desese. c1440Promp. Parv. 454/1 Servyce, don for dede menn and women, exequie. c1450Brut 425 The Erchebisshop of Caunturburi..and othir Engelisshe Bisshoppis..diden this solempne seruyce there, and weddid hem togederis. 1543in Rymer Foedera XIV. 766 Thies Bookes of Divine Service, that is to sey, the Masse Booke, the Graill, the Antyphoner, the Himptuall [sic], the Portans, and the Prymer, bothe in Latyn and in Englyshe of Sarum use. 1548–9Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1904) 388 Paide for ij bookes of y⊇ new service, vijs. vjd. 1566Eng. Ch. Furniture (Peacock 1866) 84 A mass booke portas wythe all other bookes of saruys. c1585[R. Browne] Answ. Cartwright 49 The dumbe ministers may be heard reading service. 1602Shakes. Ham. v. i. 259 We should prophane the seruice of the dead, To sing sage Requiem, and such rest to her As to peace⁓parted Soules. 1635Brereton Trav. (Chetham Soc.) 72 Here is only a curate maintained to say service. 1721A. Campbell Doctr. Middle State Pref. 7 Upon this bottom also were the Ten Commandments introduced into the Altar Service, for the first time. 1726–1857 [see burial 5]. 1844Lingard Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858) I. i. 14 The service of their church was performed in the Latin tongue. Ibid. I. ii. 90 This washing of feet formed part of the public service of the day. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 159 A baptismal service in which the sign of the cross might be used or omitted at discretion. 1883J. Gilmour Mongols xxvi. 317 A service consisting of the chanting of prayers and the blowing of trumpets is gone through.
†b. spec. The daily office or hours of the breviary (= office n. 6 a); more fully divine service. Our Lady service, the Little Office of the Virgin Mary. Obs.
a1225Ancr. R. 8 Iðe ereste dole of ower boc, of ower seruise. c1386Chaucer Prol. 122 Ful weel she soong the seruice dyuyne, Entuned in hir nose ful semeely. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. ix. xxix. (1495) 364 In fastyng tyme we reherse ofte the lj psalme in the seruyse of the daye. c1440Alphabet of Tales 166 Sho sufferd all þis becauce þe space of v wekis sho nowder hard dyvyne serves nor mes. Ibid. 250 A yong monk þat was passand devowte in saying of our Ladie serves & hur howres. 1450–1530Myrr. our Ladye 11 How and why goddes seruyce is sayde, eche daye in .vii. howres. 1513Bradshaw St. Werburge i. 2548 Or that her systers came to the oratory To say dyuyne seruyce. 1516Bp. Fox Rule of seynt Benet F j, The .xlvii. chapiter treateth of thappoyntment of the houre of diuine seruice. 1547Injunctions given by Edw. VI xxiv. c j b, People neuerthelesse perswadyng themselfes, sufficiently to honor God on that daie, if thei heare Masse & seruice. 1549Bk. Comm. Prayer Pref., The common prayers in the Churche, commonlye called diuine seruice. 1583in Foley Rec. Eng. Prov. S.J. (1880) VI. 714 He was made prest and beneficed in Queen Mary's time. He saith service with me daily.
†c. common service, the ‘Common Prayer’ of the Prayer-book. Obs.
1561Bp. Parkhurst Injunctions A iv, Whether the parsons, vicare, curate or reader doth reade the common seruice with a lowde, distinct and treatable voyce. 1565Aduertisments 25 Jan. A iii, The booke of Common seruice.
†d. to give (one) service: to have the service of the church performed over a dead man. Obs.
1470–85Malory Arthur xvii. xviii. 716 And on the morne he gaf hym seruyse and putte hym in the erthe afore the hyghe Aulter.
†e. Used transf. of the singing of birds. Obs.
a1366Chaucer Rom. Rose 669 By note made fair serwyse These briddes..; They songe hir song as faire and wel As angels doon espirituel. c1369― Dethe Blaunche 302 [The birds] songen, euerich in his wyse, The moste solempne seruyse By note, that euer man, I trowe, Had herd.
17. A musical setting of those portions of the church-offices which are sung; esp. the music for the canticles at Morning and Evening Prayer.
1691Wood Ath. Oxon. I. 815 Joh. Tomkins..a composer of certain Church Services and Anthems. 1782Mason Collect. Anthems, Ess. Cathedr. Mus. p. xix, The Service which Thomas Tallis composed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Ibid. p. xlii, Those Hymns which Church Musicians call by the technical term of Services, by which they mean the Te Deum, Magnificat, &c. 1789J. Lewis' Mem. Dk. Glocester 83 note, A very ingenious service of his, formerly performed at the King's Chapel. 1883Stainer in Grove's Dict. Mus. III. 471 A Service may be defined as a collection of musical settings of the canticles and other portions of the liturgy which are by usage allowed to be set to free composition.
18. A service-book. Now only, a volume containing the Book of Common Prayer together with the daily lessons; = church-service 3.
a1700Evelyn Diary 31 Aug. 1654, A vast old song book or service. 1860Sala Lady Chesterfield v. 76 Young lasses..with big velvet and gold-clasped Services in their hands.
IV. Help, benefit, advantage, use.
19. a. The action of serving, helping, or benefiting; conduct tending to the welfare or advantage of another. Chiefly in to do, render service (cf. 6).
1582N. Lichefield tr. Castenheda's Conq. E. Ind. ii. 4 b, A man experimented in matters of the Sea, and of Navigation, wherein he had done to this kingdome great service. 1601Hakluyt Galvano's Discov. World 30 Christopher Columbus..who first had offered his seruice for a western discouerie vnto king Iohn of Portugall. 1605Bacon Adv. Learn. i. vi. §15. 31 We see..what notable seruice and reparation they [the Jesuits] haue done to the Romane Sea. 1663S. Patrick Parab. Pilgr. viii. (1687) 39, I intend to do you service by revealing to you my very heart. 1779Mirror No. 35 Professions of friendship and regard will lead to expectations of service that cannot be answered. 1853W. F. Ainsworth W. B. Barker's Lares & Penates Introd. Pref. 3 During the campaign of the French in Syria he also rendered good service to our old ally the Porte. 1883Manch. Guard. 4 Oct. 5/2 The Howard Association is doing good service by its persistent watchfulness in all matters relating to the treatment of crime.
b. An act of helping or benefiting; an instance of beneficial or friendly action; a useful office. Also in phr. for services rendered (orig. Mil.).
a1533Ld. Berners Huon lvi. 189 The grete seruyce that he hathe done to me shall be euen ryght well rewarded. 1603Shakes. Meas. for M. i. ii. 181, I pre'thee (Lucio) doe me this kinde seruice. a1700Evelyn Diary 19 Sept. 1667, If they esteem'd it a service to the University (of which I had been a member). 1770Langhorne Plutarch, Pompey (Rtldg.) 434/1 In the Mithridatic war they [the Pirates] assumed new confidence and courage, on account of some services they had rendered the king. 1817Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. iii. 406 He..mentioned two services by which the co-operation of that Prince might be ensured. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. xxi. IV. 567 While Mary lived, it might well be doubted whether the murder of her husband would really be a service to the Jacobite cause. 1862Maurice Mod. Philos. 604 In so far as Bentham brought these contradictions before the face of those who were committing them we conceive he was doing a service. [1916Times 24 July 9/4 The King has approved the issue of a silver badge to..men..who on account of age or..wounds or sickness caused by military service have..been discharged from the Army... The badge is in the form of a circle... The circle bears the words ‘For King and Empire—Services rendered’, and circumscribes the Imperial cipher.] 1933Radio Times 14 Apr. 75/2 The war was newly over... Everywhere you saw the little silver badge ‘For Services Rendered’. 1938M. Allingham Fashion in Shrouds xx. 378 That's where Mazarini used to pay his thugs for services rendered on the race⁓course. 1976W. H. Canaway Willow-Pattern War xviii. 189 As a quid pro quo for services rendered in another context, the Americans made their information available to Bonn.
c. collect. pl. Friendly or professional assistance.
1832H. Martineau Life in Wilds iii. 40 Seeing that greater strength of finger was what they wanted, he offered his services. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair xiv, I think we shall be able to help each other,..and shall have no need of Mr. Bowls's kind services. 1887Gunter Mr. Barnes xxiv. 192 Edwin said..that he would hand me over to you as his fee for your medical services.
†20. With of or possessive: A person's interest or advantage. Obs.
14..26 Pol. Poems v. 44 Loke how goddis lawe ȝe vse; Whom ȝe refuse, and whiche auaunce, ffor goddis loue, or ȝoure owen seruyce. c1643Ld. Herbert Autobiog. (1824) 227 The Queen of Bohemia, whose service they desired to advance. 1654H. L'Estrange Chas. I (1655) 26 He hath been sedulous in promoving the service and contentment of your house. 1713Johnson Guardian No. 1 ⁋5, I shall find enough to do to give Orders proper for their Service, to whom I am by Will of their Parents Guardian. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) I. 266 If we have..a reasonable prospect of promoting her service in the long run.
21. a. Assistance or benefit afforded by an animal or thing (or by a person as involuntary agent); the work which an animal or thing is made to do. Phr. to do service.
c1470Henry Wallace ix. 1310 Thai..brak the bait, quhen thai war landyt thair; Serwice off it Sotheroun mycht haiff no mayr. 1523Fitzherb. Husb. §146 The churle hempe..is nat so good as the female hempe, but yet it wyll do good seruice. 1598Shakes. Merry W. iv. ii. 218 Ile haue the cudgell hallow'd, and hung ore the Altar, it hath done meritorious seruice. 1604N. F. Fruiterers Secrets 10 If they bee gathered afore, they will shrinke, wither, and eate tough, and doe no seruice. 1715De Foe Fam. Instr. i. i. (1766) I. 13 He..has given them to you for Food and Service. Don't you see that we eat them, ride upon them, and the like. 1749Smollett Gil Blas i. vi. ⁋2 (1782) I. 36, I bore their discourse with patience, because to fret myself would have done me no service. 1816Scott Antiq. i, He certainly would not..have suffered the coachman to proceed while the horse was unfit for service. 1882Froude in Longman's Mag. I. 205, I passed the rod to X―, in whose hands it did better service. 1886C. E. Pascoe Lond. To-day xxxv. (ed. 3) 311 Excursionists..press into service every vehicle which can carry them away from town.
b. Of the limbs: Function, office.
1749Smollett Gil Blas ii. i. (1782) I. 117 Though his hand shook, it did not refuse its service, but went and came with great expedition. Ibid. x. x. IV. 73 After having walked about two hours, my little legs began to refuse their service.
†22.
a. The purpose or use to which a thing is put.
1600J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa ii. 50 They know not what seruice to put their waxe vnto. 16..Spelman (J.), All the vessels of the king's house are not for use of honour, some be common stuff, and for mean services, yet profitable. 1793Smeaton Edystone L. §129 The Neptune..would be..a store-vessel for the service of rebuilding the Lighthouse. 1805Skene Let. in Lockhart Scott (1896) 130 A new kitchen range (as..the grate for that service is technically called).
†b. to stand (a person) in no service: to be of no use to. Obs.
1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 12 b, He refused y⊇ gift whiche should stand hym in no service [orig. munus inutile].
23. Supply of the needs of (persons, occas. of things).
a1325Prose Psalter ciii. 15 Þou art bryngand forþe hay to meres and grasse to seruice of men [Vulg. et herbam servituti hominum]. c1450tr. De Imitatione iii. xi. [x.] 78 Hevene & erþe, þat þou hast made unto mannes seruice [L. in ministerium hominis]. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. vi. 4 b, A great fountain for the common seruice of the house. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. xxxi. III. 214 The baths of Antoninus Caracalla, which were open, at stated hours, for the indiscriminate service of the senators and the people. 1886Stevenson Kidnapped v, On the south shore they have built a pier for the service of the Ferry.
24. a. Serviceableness, utility. Now rare.
1679Penn Addr. Prot. (1692) Pref., It may be objected by some, that much of the Service of it is over. 1691T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. 103 The usefulness and service of the said Lead. 1910Expositor Apr. 371 The system has its service in showing how impossible it is to get rid of Sin as a tragedy in the universe.
b. of service (predicatively): of use or assistance, useful, helpful. Const. to.
1709Felton Diss. Classics (1718) 3 If I am of any Service to Your Lordship. 1729Butler Serm. Wks. 1874 II. 132 Even the bearing of this rule in their thoughts may be of some service. 1756Burke Subl. & B. Pref., In this pursuit, whether we take or whether we lose our game, the chace is certainly of service. 1779Storer in Jesse Selwyn & Contemp. (1844) IV. 295 This paper war will not be of much service to us. 1839T. Mitchell Frogs of Aristoph. Introd. 93 note, The reader who wishes to work this out for himself, will find the following references of service. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. xxii. 152, I found him of some service to me. 1867Baker Nile Tribut. viii. 196 The long tails of the giraffes..would be of little service against..the seroot.
25. at one's service, at one's disposal, ready or available for one to use. Cf. 9 c.
1669Davenant Man's the Master iii. 47 Tod. Lead'em a Dance, I'll have a Dance. D. John. My feet are at your service, Sir. 1683W. Hedges Diary (Hakl. Soc.) I. 132, I told him the last time he was here..I promised him a Persian Horse; I had now one at his Service, which he accepted with some ceremony. 1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. III. ii. ii, My whole strength..is, day and night, at the service of my fellow-Citizens. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 385 My means, which are certainly ample, are at your service.
†26. Permission to use; the loan of a thing for use.
1810Scott Lady of L. ii. xxxvii, Tell Roderick Dhu I owed him naught, Not the poor service of a boat, To waft me to yon mountain-side. 1821― Kenilw. xiii, Wayland, obtaining from the cook the service of a mortar,..mixed, pounded, and amalgamated the drugs which he had bought.
V. Waiting at table, supply of food; hence, supply of commodities, etc.
27. a. The act of waiting at table or dishing up food; the manner in which this is done. Phrase, the service of the table (now arch.).
13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 1401 When alle segges were þer set, þen seruyse bygynnes. c1386Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 58 And eek it nedeth nat for to deuyse At euery cours the ordre of hire seruyse. 1412–20Lydg. Chron. Troy ii. 4187 Þe straunge metis, þe manere of þe seruyse. 1528Roy Rede me ii. (Arb.) 93 Whose prowde service to beholde, In plate of silver and golde, It passeth a mans witt. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xxi. 27 He was..serued with al magnificence..and superfluity of meates.., and this seruice was done..by officers in number. 1588Kyd Househ. Phil. Wks. (1901) 275 Necessary implements, not onely for the vse of the Kitchin but seruice of the Table. 1632Massinger City Madam i. i, You may want, though, A dish or two when the service ends. 1674T. P., etc. Eng. & Fr. Cook 431 Bills of Fare, as well for great Feasts as ordinary Services through the whole year. 1815Scott Guy M. xlix, More pretty things were said on both sides during the service of the tea-table than we have leisure to repeat. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair xlix, He described..the service of the table..enumerated the dishes and wines served. 1887Cassell's Encycl. Dict., Service, waiting at table: as, The service was good or indifferent.
b. That which is served up or placed on the table for a meal; the food set before a person; an allowance or portion of food. Now rare.
a1300Cursor M. 13990 A man þat hight symon leprus, At ete he praid him til his hus... Ful fair seruis symon him dight. 13..Coer de L. 1504 Anon they wer to borde sette, And fayr servyse byfore hem sette. c1400Rule St. Benet (Verse) 1584 Þat euer-ilkon wil of hir laue Þe third part til hir sopper saue, And to þe celerer wil it seme Swilk seruys for to saf & ȝeme. c1430Stans Puer ad Mensam 26 in Meals & Manners 278 And whanne þou seest afore þee þi seruice, be not to hasti upon breed to bite. a1483Liber Niger in Househ. Ord. (1790) 24 The servyce of his table and of his cupborde to be dayly recorded into the King's countyng-house. 1557F. Seager Sch. Vertue 342 Disshes with measure thou oughtest to fyll, Els mayste thou happen thy seruyce to spyll. 1598–9B. Jonson Case Altered i. i, Gods lid man, seruice is ready to go vp man, you must slip on your coate and come in, we lacke waiters pittyfully. 1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts 81 In the Summer let them haue their first meate in the morning, and their second seruice at noone. 1610Heywood Gold. Age ii. i. Stage Direct., A banquet brought in, with the limbes of a Man in the seruice. 1700[E. Ward] Lond. Spy xvii. 14 A Service of Sweet-meats, which every Gossip carry'd away in her Hankerchief. 1839Lane Arab. Nts. I. 86 Services of food were then spread before them. c1880R. H. Stoddard Sqr. Low Degree (Cent.) I'll spread your service by the door, That when you eat you may behold The knights at play where the bowls are rolled.
†c. A division of a meal served up at one time, a course. Also, a particular ‘dish’ or kind of food.
a1536Songs, Carols etc. (E.E.T.S.) 33 The boris hede, I vnderstond, Ys cheff seruyce in all this londe. 1601Holland Pliny xvi. v. I. 458 Even at this day throughout Spaine, the manner is to serve up acorns and mast to the table for a second service. 1607Dekker & Webster Westw. Hoe i. ii, An excellent pickeld Goose, a new seruice. c1643Ld. Herbert Autobiog. (1824) 152 One of the most sumptuous Feasts that ever I saw, being but of nine dishes, in three several services. 1662J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 278 Certain services of Paste and Sugar, according to the German fashion, which were brought to the Table, rather to divert the Eye, than to sharpen the Appetite. 1715Lond. Gaz. No. 5336/2 The Entertainments..consist only of one Service. 1707Curios. in Husb. 47 Fruits..are still the most agreeable Service of Tables. 1765in Priv. Lett. Ld. Malmesbury (1870) I. 137 His dinner—four services.
d. In the restaurant-car of a railway train, on a ship, etc.: the serving of a meal at one of a number of separate sittings, as first service, etc.
1914Kipling in Nash's Mag. July 484/1 Here is a fragment from the restaurant-car... ‘I will give you the number, sar, at the time—for places at the first service.’ 1926E. Hemingway Sun also Rises 86 Leaving the dining-car I asked the conductor for tickets for the first service. 1932G. Greene Stamboul Train iii. ii. 140 Late for the last service Dr. Czinner came down the restaurant⁓car.
28. a. The furniture of the table; esp. a set of dishes and other utensils required for serving a particular meal. Often with defining word, as dinner service, dessert service, breakfast service, tea service.
1669R. Montagu in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 445 A very pretty service of gilt plate. 1710Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) VI. 597 A magnificent service of plate, consisting of many large silver dishes, stands, plates, &c. 1788Ld. Auckland Corr. (1862) III. 67 The service of Sèvres china arrived all safe. 1851Beck's Florist 266 A handsome silver tea and coffee service. 1882Ogilvie, Service, an assortment of table-linen. 1885Law Times LXXIX. 175/1 A service of plate bequeathed by a baronet. 1890‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 345 The damsel..completed the clearing off and washing up of the various articles of the service.
b. Similarly: A set of vessels for the altar, for the toilet, etc.
a1700Evelyn Diary 25 Jan. 1645, The compleate service of the purest chrystal for the altar of the Chapell. 1851Mayhew Lond. Labour I. 368/1 A green and white chamber service all complete, with soap trays and brush trays. 1867C. T. Newton Blacas Coll. Antiq. Brit. Mus. 24 Silver toilet service of a Roman bride.
29. An administration or application (of something).
1632Lithgow Trav. x. 465 From whence carrying a pot full of water..hee did powre it in my bellie..The first and second seruices I gladly receaued, such was the scorching drouth of my tormenting payne. 1700[E. Ward] Lond. Spy xvii. 10 The next piece of Lip-Exercise my Part'ner set me, was to make a Regular Service of Kisses round the Room. 1839Ure Dict. Arts 1143 In France a small quantity of solution of sulphate of iron is added during the boiling of the soap, or rather with the first service of the lyes.
30. a. The supply or laying-on of gas, water, etc., through pipes from a reservoir; the apparatus of pipes, etc., by which this is done. Also applied to other facilities, such as electricity, waste disposal, etc., esp. provided for domestic use. Freq. pl.
1879W. Young Town & Country Mansions 41 From one of the cisterns a separate service of pipes should be carried to the water-closets. 1895Outing XXVII. 254/1 Sinks were constructed, and the city water-service was introduced. 1963Ann. Reg. 1962 450 Both make use of clusters of towers, mostly containing services, to give vertical emphasis and to free interior space. 1963Gloss. Gen. Building Terms (B.S.I.) 24 Services, installations for (1) the introduction into and distribution within a building or structure of water, air, gas, liquid fuel, electricity, heat or other source of energy (2) the disposal of waste from a building or structure or (3) fire-fighting within a building or structure. 1979Nature 1 Feb. p. xiii/2 The overhead service booms may provide such services as gas/electricity/water/vacuum/lighting.
b. attrib., as service-box, service-pipe, etc.
1819T. S. Peckston Gas-Lighting 299 He must prepare to bring the gas into the houses by laying the service-pipes. 1862Catal. Internat. Exhib. II. x. 44 Improved service⁓box for supplying water-closets. Ibid., To be connected either with the service-pipe direct from the main, or with the supply-pipe from the cistern. 1868Chamb. Encycl. X. 103/2 The distributing or service reservoirs should be roofed.
c. = service-pipe (see b).
1865S. Hughes Gas-works (ed. 2) 233 The pipes which convey gas or water through the different streets are called main pipes or mains; and the small pipes which convey the fluid therefrom to the houses are called services. 1877W. Richards Manuf. Coal Gas 271 Services should be of course always laid with a slight incline to the main.
31. a. Provision (of labour, material appliances, etc.) for the carrying out of some work for which there is a constant public demand.
1853Papworth Museums, etc. 15 Regulations as to admission into public museums..the porter not to allow the entrance of any person out of the hours of public service. 1886C. E. Pascoe Lond. To-day (ed. 3) 320 St. Bartholomew's Hospital..has a service of 710 beds. 1892Post Office Notice, The object of the new Post Office Express Service is to secure the immediate delivery of Messages, Letters and Parcels by Special Messenger. 1904G. B. Shaw Common-sense Munic. Trading vi. (1908) 48 There is, however, one very important difference between a telegraph and a telephone service.
b. Expert advice or assistance given by manufacturers and dealers to secure satisfactory results from goods made or supplied by them; spec., the provision of maintenance or repair work to ensure the efficient running of a motor vehicle, etc.; a routine operation of examination and maintenance performed on a motor vehicle, etc.
1919W. H. Berry New Motoring xxiv. 183 The need of a better service system for motorists has often been emphasised... There is ample room for a big development of a scheme for rendering practical car service. 1925Morris Owner's Man. 93 (caption) Whenever you see this hanging sign you know that it denotes an establishment where Morris Service can be obtained. 1930Economist 6 Sept. 454/2 There are obviously wide undeveloped markets, of which Britain should be able to secure at least a proportion..if English manufacturers can compete with those of America in the matter of ‘service’. 1947E. African Ann. 1946–7 24 ‘Service After Sales’ is as much a Ford feature here as it is in other parts of the world. 1960I. Jefferies Dignity & Purity iii. 44 The flat was paid up and the car never needed any service at all. 1974‘J. le Carré’ Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy xx. 168 Take your car in for a service at your local garage. 1977Western Morning News 30 Aug. 10/4 (Advt.), Backed by our largest combine stores and skilled after-sales service.
c. Broadcasting. The supply of programmes by a particular broadcasting station.
1927B.B.C. Handbk. 1928 32 Broadcasting Service. By ‘service’ is meant providing this public..with at least one programme a day. 1933B.B.C. Year-bk. 1934 167 In August last the West Regional, the fourth of the new Regional Stations, began radiating a full programme service. 1949Radio Times 15 July 9/1 Variety Fanfare returns to the air... Bowker Andrews first introduced this show in the North of England Home Service. 1957[see carry v. 40 b]. 1977Church Times 9 Dec. 8/3 Now that the 7.30 half-hour on Radio Four has been taken over for other things, there is a gap from 10.15 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Sunday on this service without a word being said about religion.
d. pl. Econ. The section of the economy that supplies needs of the consumer but produces no tangible goods.
1936Discovery Nov. 355/2 The distinction between capital goods and current goods is, of course, one of the most important in the whole of economics, but the remarkable growth in the number of those engaged in ‘services’, now estimated at 40 per cent. of the working population, is not so generally realised. 1941Economist 22 Feb. 235/1 The British public spent almost {pstlg}900 millions in 1937 on services, excluding entertainments, rent, rates and taxes. The largest constituents of the total were travel, domestic service, public utilities, hotels and restaurants. 1948[see current goods]. 1965McGraw-Hill Dict. Mod. Econ. 466 Services, the component of the gross national product that measures the output of intangible items. Services include such items as telephone service, railway, bus, and air transportation, private education, and radio and television repair. 1972Accountant 17 Aug. 211/2 Manufacturing costs are of diminishing importance in an economy in which services are a major part of the whole.
e. pl. The provision of petrol, refreshments, etc., for motorists in buildings constructed near to or beside a motorway or other major road; the group of buildings themselves.
1967Autocar 28 Dec. 6/2 It was a relief to see the ‘Services 1 mile’ sign. 1968Listener 1 Aug. 134/3 We drove back on Sunday night along the endless M1, punctuated only by almost identical airport-international-style ‘Services’. 1975C. Storr Chinese Egg xxix. 193 She was passing the Heston Services, she'd be at the Henley exit in another quarter of an hour.
32. Accommodation for conveyance or transit afforded by vehicles plying regularly on a route.
1854N. & Q. 1st Ser. IX. 355/1 Service..is of very late importation from the French, within three years, as applied to the lines of steamers, or traffic of railways. 1865Cassell's Handy Guide Sea-side (ed. 2) 103 There is a very fine service of steamboats between Douglas, Ramsey, and Liverpool thrice a week in the winter. 1866Roy. Comm. Railways, Min. Evid. 519/1 The London and North-western Company running a very good service between London and Birmingham. 1870Dickens E. Drood vi, A short squat omnibus..which was then the daily service between Cloisterham and external mankind. 1885Law Times LXXX. 111/1 The right of the railway company to suspend the ordinary service of trains on occasions of great and exceptional pressure. 1904G. B. Shaw Common-sense Munic. Trading v. (1908) 40 London is at present helplessly at the mercy of a cab service which [etc.].
VI. Action of serving, in technical senses.
33. Law.
a. The action or an act of serving (a writ, notice, etc.) upon a person.
to accept service (of a writ): see accept v. 3.
1429Rolls of Parlt. IV. 346/1 Touching the retourne, servise, and all executions of the Writtes, Processe and Juggementz, in and of the saide actions. 1837Dickens Pickw. xxx, ‘Beg your pardon, Mr. Pickwick’, said Mr. Jackson... ‘But personal service, by clerk or agent, in these cases, you know, Mr. Pickwick—eh, Sir?’ 1863Le Fanu Ho. Churchyard III. 7 I'll permit the services of the notices.
b. Scots Law. The procedure for ascertaining and declaring the heir to a person deceased. A general service determines generally who is heir to another; a special service determines who is heir to a special estate.
1597Skene De Verb. Sign. s.v. Breve de morte antecessoris, Be the auld law of this Realme, the Justice-generall and his deputes..was judge competent to the service of this breve. 1693Stair Inst. Law Scot. iii. v. (ed. 2) 467 The general Service is a compleat establishing of the Right in the Person of the Heir. 1815Scott Guy M. lviii, [We have] got our youngster's special service retoured into Chancery. 1847Act 10 & 11 Vict. c. 47 §1 The Practice of issuing Brieves from Chancery for the Service of Heirs shall cease.
34. Tennis (and kindred games). The act of ‘serving’ the ball or starting it in play; a particular player's manner of doing this; the ball served.
1611Cotgr., Grebonde, a seruice at Tennice, wherein the ball runs not along on the house, but bounds on the side thereof. 1797Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 380/2 (Tennis) When the player gives his service at the beginning of a set, his adversary is supposed to return the ball. 1819Examiner 7 Feb. in Hazlitt's Table-talk ix. (1821) 203, 204 His service was tremendous. He once..made seven and twenty aces following by services alone. 1894Times 6 Mar. 7/3 Mr. Young's service and return were very severe in the third game. 1897Encycl. Sport I. 402/1 (Fives) If he fails to return the ‘service’ above the ‘line’ no stroke is counted.
b. attrib., as service-box, service-court, service-line, service-side, service-wall.
1797Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 380/1 (Tennis) Over this long gallery..is a covering, called the pent-house, on which they play the ball from the service-side. 1875‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Sports 690 If the service drops in the wrong court, or beyond the service line, it is a fault. 1878J. Marshall Ann. Tennis 159 Service court, that part of the floor which is contained between the service-line, the pass-line, the grille-wall, and the gallery-wall and battery. Ibid. 160 Service-wall, the wall above the side-pent-house. 1898Encycl. Sport II. 244/2 (Rackets), Service-box, the square (marked out on each side of the floor) from which the service must be delivered. 1898[see half-court s.v. half- II. i]. 1963Times 13 May 3/5 Lawrence's policy of holding the service-side at all costs, often using the side galleries to achieve the change of ends.
35. Naut. Small cord, or the like, wound about a rope to protect it. (Cf. serve v.1 54.)
1729Capt. W. Wriglesworth MS. Log-bk. of the ‘Lyell’ 24 Nov., Veered out the best bower Cable on the Flood, and claped on the moaring Service. 1748Anson's Voy. iii. ii. 318 The cables..armed with the chains..were besides cackled..seven fathom from the service. 1793Smeaton Edystone L. §137 Not only the service and worming were cut, but the cable itself was..injured by the sharpness of the rocks. 1840R. H. Dana Bef. Mast iii, This chafing gear consists of worming,..battens, and service of all kinds. 1899F. T. Bullen Log of Sea-waif 323 We could not..repair the ‘service’ where chafed out aloft.
36. The action of covering a female animal. (Cf. serve v. 52.)
1822M. McSwiney Let. 6 Jan. (1972) II. 348 This debt I understand was due for the service of a bull. 1844H. Stephens Bk. Farm III. 845 He is often so much fatigued when brought to the mare..as to be quite unfit for effective service. 1885Bazaar 30 Mar. 1260/3 With each pup a written guarantee of a service from a pedigree St. Bernard dog will be given. 1911Kingsbridge (Devon) Gaz. 26 Mar. 2/4 For service—a Pedigree Large Black Boar.
VII. attrib. and Comb. (See also 30 b, 34 b.)
37. Simple attrib., passing into adj.a. Belonging to the army, navy, or Air Force; military (opp. civilian); esp., employed on active service, as service ammunition, service bullet, service charge, service company, service rifle, etc. Also in pl.
1828J. M. Spearman Brit. Gunner (ed. 2) 124 The service charges in the above table [required for cartridges]. 1837King's Regul. Army 153 Regiments on Foreign Stations are formed into Six Service Companies and Four Depôt Companies. 1844Queen's Regul. Army 111 All Regiments are to have, in the constant possession of each Man, Ten Rounds of Service Ammunition. 1860All Year Round No. 73. 546 The ordinary unrifled service gun. 1875Bedford Sailor's Pocket Bk. vi. (ed. 2) 236 By service rigs, is to be understood the rig that boats use when on service. 1898Times 28 June 13/6 The new service bullet..fits all the service rifles and machine guns in use by the British Army. 1901Scotsman 4 Mar. 8/2 He wished the members of the service company God-speed. Ibid. 2 Mar. 10/1 Dressed in their service khaki. 1909Col. Egerton in Westm. Gaz. 4 Mar. 3/1 Match-rifle conditions..are directly opposed to service-rifle shooting and training for war. 1917Times 1 Nov. 3/5 The Services Club, 19, Stratford-place, W., have just acquired an adjoining house. 1926E. Hemingway Sun also Rises xvii. 212 Always slept with a loaded service revolver. 1929Star 21 Aug. 9/1 Private and even Service pilots have appeared near to the station at prohibited times. 1933Radio Times 14 Apr. 75/2 The slang of the hour was Service slang. 1937A. Christie Dumb Witness i. 13 Emily Arundell's people..were what is known as ‘all service people’. 1945Manch. Guardian Weekly 21 Dec. 323/3 There was an all-night Services canteen at Victoria station. 1945Tee Emm (Air Ministry) V. 35 The Service scale of Tropical Kit, issued to airmen. 1954Economist 11 Sept. 3/1 A trained test pilot is less likely to come to harm in a new and temperamental machine than an enthusiastic service flyer. 1958Listener 6 Nov. 719/2 In 1947 Montgomery became Chief of the Imperial General Staff... He had to co-operate on equal terms with the Service Chiefs of the other two fighting services. 1973J. Rossiter Manipulators iv. 48, I was so horribly humiliated—my service career finished. 1977R.A.F. News 22 June–5 July 18 (caption) Alan won trophies for both rapid and snap shooting using the service-issue self-loading rifle. 1980C. Smith Cut-Out xiii. 92 Photographs of her husband in service dress and holding a swagger cane.
b. Belonging to household service, the serving of meals, etc.
1864R. Kerr Gentl. Ho. 247 Butler's Service-room, its position, uses, and fittings. 1878F. S. Williams Midl. Railw. 351 The ventilation of the kitchens is conducted up the ‘service’ staircase and shaft. 1885in Willis & Clark Cambridge II. 774 While each man has a small service-room of his own, there are on each staircase two larger gyp-rooms. 1899Daily News 18 Apr. 7/7 The fire originated in the service-lift. 1902A. Bennett Grand Babylon Hotel i. 13 Jules walked to the service-door. 1907Daily Chron. 25 June 3/4 In all the club rooms there are what are called ‘service-hatches’, which will supply food or drink in infinite variety. 1909H. G. Wells Tono-Bungay i. i. 28 One came down the main service stairs..and..one went through a red baize door. 1919Chambers's Jrnl. Jan. 57/2 What is known as the ‘service’ door..is likely to become popular for hotels, if not for private houses, all over the world. 1933Archit. Rev. LXXIII. 24/2 (caption) The service-bay between the kitchen and the restaurant. 1950T. S. Eliot Cocktail Party i. iii. 65, I shall take the precaution Of leaving by the service staircase. 1955W. Gaddis Recognitions ii. viii. 653 A transmitter? Mr. Inononu demanded at the head of the service stairs. 1956H. Kurnitz Invasion of Privacy xiv. 92 She went out the back, through the service entrance. 1961M. W. Barley Eng. Farmhouse & Cottage ii. i. 64 His home consisted of a hall with a chamber over it, a ground floor chamber in which he slept, and four service-rooms, kitchen, buttery, milkhouse and cheese⁓house. 1976H. Nielsen Brink of Murder xii. 106 The manager conceded that there was a service door and..accompanied them upstairs on the service stairway. 1976Washington Post 19 Apr. c20/1 (Advt.), Eat in kitchen with service bar. 1978R. Ludlum Holcroft Covenant xxxix. 452, I could say that someone fitting his description was seen leaving by the service entrance. 1979M. Soames Clementine Churchill xxiv. 395 A service-lift to the floor below.
c. Of or pertaining to services (sense 31 d), as service industry, service occupation, service sector, service trade.
1941Economist 18 Jan. 65/2 The very considerable increase in the standard of living..explains the growth of the ‘service’, as distinct from the ‘productive’ industries since the last war. 1959Times 5 Sept. 10/3 The rapid expansion of service occupations—administration, the professions, retailing, entertainment and numerous health and welfare services. 1966Listener 5 May 642/2 There is to be a selective employments tax to help get workers out of service industries into the factories. 1970S. L. Barraclough in I. L. Horowitz Masses in Lat. Amer. iv. 150 This is reflected in the rapid increase of employment in the ‘service’ sector. 1970G. Jackson Let. 17 Apr. in Soledad Brother (1971) 221 The new slavery..places the victim..in the case of most blacks in support roles inside and around the factory system (service trades), working for a wage. 1979G. Wagner Barnado ii. 18 All the service industries took on extra labour at the beginning of the season.
38. Special combinations: service alley, a road or passage giving access to the back of a row of houses; service area, (a) the area in which broadcast transmissions can be received distinctly; (b) a space adjoining a house for the accommodation of dustbins, etc.; (c) an area providing petrol, refreshments, etc., for motorists; service-book, a book containing one or more forms of divine service (in the 17th c. often applied to the Book of Common Prayer); service car Austral. and N.Z., a small motor-coach for public transport; service ceiling Aeronaut. (see ceiling vbl. n. 6 b); service charge, a charge made (additional to that for the food, etc.) for services rendered, esp. for service in a hotel or restaurant; service club N. Amer., an association of business or professional people which seeks to promote community welfare and goodwill; service contract, a contract of employment; a business agreement between contractor and customer, normally one guaranteeing the maintenance and servicing of equipment; service engineer, an engineer engaged on the maintenance and servicing of equipment; service flat, a flat in which domestic service and other facilities are provided at a charge included in the rent; hence service flatlet; service mark orig. U.S., a name or designation, protected by law, used by a commercial undertaking to distinguish a service offered by it from the services of competitors; service measure, metre, the 14-syllable line which is the equivalent of a couplet of common metre; also used = common metre (see common a. 19 b); service module Astronautics, a separable section of a spacecraft, esp. one in the U.S. Apollo series, containing the main engine and other supporting equipment; service paste, a porcelain-paste prepared to serve for all ordinary work; service plate U.S., a large ornate plate which marks a place at table and on which dining plates, etc., are set during the first courses; service record, the record of service of a soldier, employee, etc.; service reservoir, a (usu. small) reservoir filled from an impounding reservoir at times of low demand to supplement the supply to the local area at time of high demand, so as to reduce the necessary capacity of the conduits from the impounding reservoir; service road, a subsidiary road giving access to houses, shops, etc., away from a main road; † service-room, a music-room or song-school in a religious house; service routine Computers, = utility routine s.v. utility n.; service station, an establishment providing service and maintenance for motor vehicles; more recently, merely = filling-station s.v. filling vbl. n. 4; service-time, † -while, the time of divine service.
1922J. Hergesheimer Bright Shawl 11 The street outside was narrow..once no more than a *service alley for the larger dwellings back of which it ran. 1974P. McCutchan Call for Simon Shard xi. 98 You take the back, Alan. There'll be a service alley.
1927B.B.C. Handbk. 1928 62 Rival schemes can be compared as between those which base themselves upon very high power and believe that *service areas can be over 100 miles radius, and those which cover the country from more centres and with therefore somewhat less power. 1956Good Housek. Home Encyl. (ed. 4) 327/2 The service area behind or at the side of the house. 1958News Chron. 25 Nov. 7/4 The great London—Birmingham Motorway... A road remarkably straight, soaring over 150 specially built bridges; with flyovers, flyunders; with service and eating areas every 12 miles. 1970J. Earl Tuners & Amplifiers iii. 74 If you have in mind trying for more distant stations..outside the normal service area, then you will certainly need a tuner of top sensitivity. 1971M. McCarthy Birds of Amer. 76 The yard in back of their house was all flagged, with..a ‘service area’ containing garbage cans. 1980J. McNeil Spy Game xiv. 141 They careered into the narrow, curving entrance to a service area... He cruised the crowded car park.
1580Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Breviaire, the *seruice booke of priestes of the church of Rome. 1638Laud Diary 29 Apr., The tumults in Scotland, about the Service-Book offered to be brought in. c1680Beveridge Serm. (1729) I. 558 The book of Lamentations seems to have been a kind of service-book or office. 1846W. Maskell Mon. Rit. I. p. lxxxi, The revision of the service-books of the Western Church which followed the council of Trent.
1924R. Rees April's Sowing ii. 19 I'd have gone in the *service car. 1933Bulletin (Sydney) 26 July 20/1 The drivers of service cars Outback. 1948V. Palmer Golconda xxi. 173 He piled his traps into the dusty service-car and climbed up beside the driver. 1965S. T. Ollivier Petticoat Farm xii. 166 The road was open, they knew, because the service cars were running through.
1920Flight XII. 980/2 Principal characteristics of the Martin torpedo 'plane are:—*Service ceiling..12,000 ft. 1944H. F. Browne Aeroplane Flight vi. 97 At the service ceiling the aeroplane can fly only at speeds between 180 m.p.h. and 240 m.p.h. 1978J. D. Anderson Introd. to Flight vi. 237 The service ceiling represents the practical upper limit of steady, level flight.
1929Post Office Guide July 157 Any sum not exceeding {pstlg}10 may be withdrawn by telegraph if the depositor pays the cost of the telegrams and a *service charge of one shilling. 1955R. Chandler Let. 7 Feb. (1981) 382, I paid a service charge on the bill... This service charge is supposed to take the place of tipping. 1977B. Bainbridge Injury Time ii. 23 She looked at the bill and was astonished at the service charge.
1926Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 16 July 2/5 He intended this time to take a party of executive officers of *service clubs. 1978J. L. Hensley Killing in Gold (1979) v. 65 He'd joined..one of the service clubs, Lions, Rotary, or Kiwanis.
1948Rep. Native Laws Commission 1946–48 (Dept. Native Affairs, S. Afr.) 26/1 The *service contract duplicate, which is issued to a Native in urban areas where registration of service contracts in terms of the Natives (Urban Areas) Consolidation Act is in force, is likewise regarded by them as a pass. 1958Listener 20 Nov. 824/1 It would be wrong to abandon altogether the distinction between service contracts and other types of contract. 1975Petroleum Economist Aug. 299/2 In 1968, a service contract was agreed with Elf/ERAP by which the French company would have a share of any production which resulted.
1958Practical Wireless XXXIV. 67/1, I do feel pity for the poor *service engineer. 1980West Lancs. Even. Gaz. 28 Nov. 25 Sweda International..has vacancies for Service Engineers to service and maintain their range of electro-mechanical and electronic machines.
1922W. J. Locke Tale of Triona iv. 38 She found herself the lucky tenant of a little suite in a set of *service flats in Victoria Street. 1973‘E. Ferrars’ Foot in Grave iv. 70 Being solitary in my service flat suits me, and that's how I'm going on.
1960M. Spark Bachelors x. 141 Those who were conducting love affairs in *service flatlets found it convenient that the maids did not come in with their vacuum cleaners on Sundays.
1945Business Week 30 June 86/2 A separate register would be authorized for ‘*service’ marks to identify services rather than merchandise. This register would include ‘names, symbols, titles, designations, slogans, character names, and distinctive features of radio or other advertising used in commerce’. 1949H. Bennett Trade-Marks 130 Under the Lanham act service marks will be registrable for the first time. The new law thus gives great protection to a category of names and designations whose trade importance was not recognized under the old law. 1959Listener 31 Dec. 1147/1 Trade marks, trade names, the so-called ‘service-marks’ of organizations such as transport undertakings and radio stations. 1973S. A. Diamond Trademark Problems & how to avoid Them i. 2 Trademarks are not limited to goods; they may be used for services, like transportation, insurance, entertainments and advertising. Strictly speaking, they are then called ‘service marks’.
1841Latham Eng. Lang. v. 382 Poulterer's Measure.—Alexandrines and *Service Measures alternately... It will be seen that a couplet of Ballad Metre is equivalent to a line of *Service Metre. 1886Meiklejohn Eng. Lang. 182 Iambic Tetrameter with Iambic Trimeter in alternate lines—the second and fourth rhyming—is called Ballad Metre. When used, as it often is, in hymns, it is called Service Metre.
1961Space Technol. Oct. 41 (caption) *Service module. 1962Manned Space Flight Program of N.A.S.A. (U.S. Congress Senate Comm. on Aeronaut. & Space Sci.) 131 The service module..will contain the propulsion used for midcourse guidance corrections, for emergency abort situations, and for lunar takeoff. 1968Times 16 Dec. 7/4 Before reentry, the command module holding the astronauts will separate from what is called the service module, the section of the spacecraft containing the main engine and power supplies. 1974Service module [see retrofire n.].
1839Ure Dict. Arts 1022 The following composition has been adopted for the *service paste of the royal manufactory of Sèvres.
1929Woman's Home Compan. Apr. 67/2 The *service plate has been removed and a..fish plate has taken its place. (The individual place..is never left without a plate before it.) 1934J. B. Priestley Eng. Journey vii. 223 A very queer American custom, that of having what are known as ‘service plates’, which are never loaded with food but are placed before guests between courses, to be looked at and admired... These luxury plates were usually very ornate and would be specially made, here in the Potteries, for each customer. Some Americans liked to have a picture of their college on their plates. 1977H. Fast Immigrants i. 49 A maid placed a plate of crab meat and mayonnaise on his service plate.
1918E. S. Farrow Dict. Mil. Terms s.v., When an enlisted man is detached from his company, his *service record will be forwarded by endorsement to his new commanding officer. 1923J. D. Hackett Labor Terms in Managem. Engin. May, Service Record, a summary of all the facts necessary for appraising the worth of an individual to an employer. 1981J. B. Hilton Playground of Death x. 123 There's his service record... He was a brave man.
1869Bradshaw's Railway Man. XXI. 266 The *service reservoir of the Ashton water⁓works. 1967J. H. Stephens Water & Waste iii. 49 The purpose of the service reservoir, and its close relative, the water tower, is to allow for the peaks in demand.
1921H. Foston At Front 16 Unmetalled portions of the ‘*service’ road. 1935Times 30 Dec. 13/6 There are signs in this neighbourhood that the future development will be the right one of groups of houses set back and approached by service roads. 1976Southern Even. Echo (Southampton) 12 Nov. (Advt. Suppl.) 7/6 In quiet and well screened service road, a most attractive and compact 3-bedroom bungalow.
1669Woodhead St. Teresa ii. 276 The Nuns, then in the *Service-room.
1954Computers & Automation Dec. 21/1 *Service routine,..a routine designed to assist in the actual operation of the computer. 1969P. B. Jordain Condensed Computer Encycl. 451 The most common service routines are the input/output programs... Other service routines perform such services as program loading, common calculations.., tracing, memory dumps, tape dumps, and the like.
1921Sci. Amer. Dec. 135/3 Each..pipe at the *service station is provided with a plug... Each automobile comes into the service station charged with static. 1925Morris Owner's Man. 61 Do not forget that Messrs. Lucas have for your benefit, Service Stations in the following towns. 1935Economist 7 Dec. 1132/2 The tendency..for manufacturing companies to transfer their service stations away from the centre of London..has..lessened the convenience to the..motorist of running his car direct to the maker's service station for minor repairs. 1940R. Chandler Farewell, my Lovely vii. 52 He gassed up there and the service station kid recognized him. 1977Lubricants Business (Shell Internat. Petroleum Co.) 7 Supermarkets are increasingly competing with service stations for motor oil sales.
c1440Alphabet of Tales 144 He..happend þat day..to be assigned be þe bisshopp to be his dekyn in *serves tyme & rede þe pistle. 1582in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford (1880) 420 Uppon the Soundaye..owt of service tyme. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xviii, She had never seen Robertson since his remarkable escape during service-time.
1573Nottingham Rec. IV. 154 Hyr gesse compyng in *sarves wylle. 1673[R. Leigh] Transpr. Reh. 83 A citizens sitting bare⁓headed all service-while.
▸ service flag n. U.S. (a) the official flag of a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces; (b) a flag (typically with a white stripe or rectangle on a red field) which bears one blue star for every family or community member engaged in active military service and one gold star for every family or community member who has been killed while serving; cf. gold star n. 2.
1861N.Y. Times 29 May 1/6 The *service flags were all at half mast from muster to sundown, at Forts Columbus, Hamilton, &c. 1917Middletown (N.Y.) Times-Press 22 June 2/3 The Carson & Towner Co..have brought to Middletown a supply of service flags... The flag..is of a red body, with one white stripe, upon which is placed one star for each member of the family in military service. 1947G. E. Govan & J. W. Livingood Univ. of Chatanooga xvii. 170 On December 7, 1942, Pearl Harbor day, the service flag of the University was presented by the alumni... There were 485 stars on the flag for men in service, while two gold stars already were a token of the sacrifice ahead. 1987Los Angeles Times (Nexis) 1 Oct. v. 1/2 A presentation of service flags by members of the five armed services concluded the program. 2005Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (Nexis) 1 Sept. b5, I am a military mom, aunt, mother-in-law and sister. My service flag that hangs in my front window has four stars for each of my family members who serve.
▸ service break n. Lawn Tennis = break n.1
1933Times 8 July 6/1 (heading) The *service break. 2000Australian 31 May 17/1 Both men started by serving the living daylights out of the balls. There was not a sniff of a service break in the first set until Philippoussis stepped up at 4–5.
▸ service provider n. an organization that (or occas. a person who) supplies a service of some kind; (in later use freq. spec.) a company which offers subscribers access to the Internet, or to a telephone network.
1954Ann. Assoc. Amer. Geographers 44 355 They served as..residences for governors, viceroys, and the ubiquitous cloud of officials and quasi-officials with their ‘*service providers’. 1977National Jrnl. (Nexis) 22 Jan. 147 The conflicting roles Blue Cross plans are being asked, or forced, to play include cost controller and service provider. 1997J. Seabrook Deeper iv. 107 In those days you couldn't get to Usenet from CompuServe, so I had to sign up with another service provider, Delphi, for access to Usenet newsgroups. 2000N.Y. Times Mag. 11 June 88/1 Called i-phones, j-phones, e-phones or Web phones (depending on the maker and service provider), each unit..includes a small viewer screen, a profoundly miniaturized keypad and a toggle switch for flipping through Web pages.
▪ II. service, n.2|ˈsɜːvɪs|
Forms: α. 6 servis(se, serves, servyse, 6–7 cervise, cervice, 6–8 servise, 6– service; β. 6 sarves, 9 U.S. sarvice; γ. 7 sorvise, sorveise, sorvice.
[orig. serves, pl. of serve n.1]
1. A tree, Pyrus (Sorbus L., Cormus Spach) domestica, native in continental Europe and cultivated in the British Isles, bearing small pear-shaped or round fruit edible when in an over-ripe condition; see corm1 1, service-tree, sorb.
1530Palsgr. 265/1 Sarves, tree, alisier. Ibid. 269/2 Servyse, tree, alisier. 1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. (1586) 72 Upon the same stock are graffed..the Medler, and the Servisse. 1601Holland Pliny xv. xiii. I. 437 The fruit Sebesten..beeing graffed vpon Sorvices. 1664Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1679) 38 Catalogue of Fruit-trees... Services or Chequers. 1767Abercrombie Ev. Man his own Gard. (1803) 40 Plant fruit trees..quinces, medlars, mulberries, filberts, services, &c. 1906Westm. Gaz. 27 Sept. 10/1 The service is of slow growth, seldom fruiting until sixty years old.
†2. The fruit of this tree. Obs.
1530Palsgr. 265/1 Sarves, frute, alise. c1532G. Du Wes Introd. Fr. in Palsgr. 1073 Walnuttes, cervyse, medlers, aples. 1542Boorde Dyetary xxi. (1870) 283 Ceruyces be in maner of lyke operacyon. 1594Marlowe & Nashe Dido iv. v. N.'s Wks. (Grosart) VI. 64 Browne Almonds, Seruises, ripe Figs and Dates. 1601Holland Pliny xix. v. II. 18 Divers there be, who after another sort make a confection thereof, namely with Quinces, with Sorvises, or Plums. 1612Peacham Gentl. Exerc. ii. vii. (1634) 126 A basket of Servises, Medlers and Chestnuts. 1682Wheler Journ. Greece vi. 452 A Fruit,..not much bigger than Cervices. 1780Coxe Russ. Discov. 56 They also feed upon several species of roots and berries, namely, cloud-berries,..and services. 1796C. Marshall Garden. xvii. (1813) 287 Service, (sweet) or sorb apple, is rarely cultivated for fruit, as it requires a warmer climate than England to ripen it.
3. wild service: a bush or low tree (Pyrus torminalis) bearing harsh bitter fruit.
1741Compl. Fam.-Piece ii. iii. 374 There are several other Trees and Shrubs which are now in Flower, as..wild Service or Quickbeam. 1852G. W. Johnson Gard. Dict. 758 Pyrus torminalis. Wild-service.
4. attrib., as † service-apple; service-berry, † (a) the fruit of the Service (Pyrus domestica); (b) a N. American tree or shrub of the genus Amelanchier, belonging to the family Rosaceæ and bearing clusters of white flowers followed by small, dark-coloured berries; also, the fruit of this tree or shrub; (c) the fruit of the white-beam, Pyrus Aria (Cent. Dict.).
1820T. Mitchell Aristoph. I. 122 The baskets which held the cheeses, chesnuts, and dried *service-apples.
1578Lyte Dodoens vi. lii. 727 The Sorbe Apples or *Seruice beries. 1807P. Gass Jrnl. 136, I saw service-berry bushes hanging full of fruit. 1784F. Asbury Jrnl. 31 July (1821) I. 370 The child he fed with..sawice berries. 1847G. F. Ruxton Adv. Mexico xxiv. 206 A shrub which produces a fruit called by the mountaineers service-berries. 1894Outing July 306/1 The undergrowth was poplar, sarvice-berry bushes and other shrubs.
▪ III. service, v.|ˈsɜːvɪs|
[f. service n.1]
1. trans. To be of service to; to serve; to provide with a service.
1893R. L. Stevenson Catriona I. xvi. 178 If I am to service ye the way that you propose, I'll lose my lifelihood. 1948J. Steinbeck Russian Jrnl. (1949) 15 Airports are so far from the cities they supposedly service. 1955News of North (Yellowknife, N.W.T.) 18 Nov. 1/5 A new town house, available to water and sewer service, would be assessed at a much higher rate than duplicate property in a part of the town not serviced this way. 1969D. Widgery in Cockburn & Blackburn Student Power 139 It is unlikely that a radical Executive would be able to..service the entirely different attitude of the apolitical small colleges. 1974R. Adams Shardik lviii. 518 How many permanent camps or staging-forts would be needed to service a regular trade-route?
2. To perform routine maintenance or repair work on (a motor vehicle or other piece of equipment). orig. U.S.
1926Amer. Speech II. 112/2 The automobile dealer says: ‘Run the new car five hundred miles at twenty or less an hour, then have it thoroughly serviced with grease and oil.’ 1930Bookman Dec. 398 Probably the greatest cost in Television will be that expended for servicing the equipment. 1935A. P. Herbert in Punch 27 Feb. 236/1, I denounce, Comrades, the foul new verb ‘to service’, an invention, I believe, of someone in the motor-trade. 1949‘G. Orwell’ Nineteen Eighty-Four ii. 131 She enjoyed her work, which consisted chiefly in running and servicing a powerful but tricky electric motor. 1958Listener 23 Oct. 655/2 Vehicles—whether moving, parked, unloading or being serviced—have already taken charge of the present ground level. 1978R. Lewis Uncertain Sound vi. 154 Your car was serviced on the Thursday.
3. To pay interest on (a debt).
1942Sun (Baltimore) 15 Jan. 2/1 Secretary of Interior Ickes announced today that interest payments on outstanding bonds of the Philippine Government would continue to be met and serviced through the United States Treasury. 1952Times 1 Aug. 9/2 Nobody oversea will ever accept the idea that a company which has all the pesetas it could want should be bankrupted in Spain..because the Spanish Government has not allowed it to buy sterling to service a sterling debt. 1975Daily Tel. 21 Oct. 17/7 Unless there is a huge Federal loan guarantee by the end of next month the city will not be able to meet its payroll, let alone service its debts.
4. = serve v.1 52; also of a man, to have sexual intercourse with (a woman).
1961in Webster. 1966[see post coitum s.v. post prep.]. 1973W. H. Canaway Harry doing Good ii. v. 188, I knew a feller that married a twin. Identical. He was getting worn out..till he found out he was servicing both of these twins. 1976T. Heald Let Sleeping Dogs Die iv. 78 One dog could presumably service several bitches in a day.
5. a. To supply (a person) with something. b. To process.
1969Daily Tel. 6 Oct. 9/6 It is a proper function of local theatres to service their audiences with the latest in world taste. 1971Ibid. 27 May 14/8 We'll be able to service the retailer with merchandise much faster than it can possibly be shipped in from overseas. 1971D. Potter Brit. Eliz. Stamps vi. 70 A Post Office First-Day Cover service was available, and no charge was made if the envelope carried sufficient postage. The complete set was serviced for the cost of the envelope and the stamps. 1973Daily Tel. 16 Apr. 2/2 This year building societies have been without funds to service all the mortgages required, and sales are being cancelled.
Hence ˈserviced ppl. a., provided with service or services; maintained.
1938C. Himes Headwaiter in Black on Black (1973) 150 Over by the elevator where the room service was stationed, a waiter lounged indolently by a serviced table. 1968Globe & Mail (Toronto) 13 Feb. 31/6 (Advt.), Serviced industrial land Northwest Metro bargain price. 1978R. V. Jones Most Secret War xliv. 419 Each pilot could draw a serviced aircraft, probably a different one from that which he last flew, for each new operation. |