Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

   6. To perform the duties belonging to, or required in or for;
      hence, to be of use to; as, a curate may serve two
      churches; to serve one's country.

   7. To contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be sufficient
      for; to satisfy; as, to serve one's turn.

            Turn it into some advantage, by observing where it
            can serve another end.                --Jer. Taylor.

   8. To answer or be (in the place of something) to; as, a sofa
      serves one for a seat and a couch.

   9. To treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act
      toward; as, he served me very ill.

   10. To work; to operate; as, to serve the guns.

   11. (Law)
       (a) To bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either
           actually or constructively, in such manner as the law
           requires; as, to serve a summons.
       (b) To make legal service opon (a person named in a writ,
           summons, etc.); as, to serve a witness with a
           subp[oe]na.

   12. To pass or spend, as time, esp. time of punishment; as,
       to serve a term in prison.

   13. To copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; --
       said of the male.

   14. (Tennis) To lead off in delivering (the ball).

   15. (Naut.) To wind spun yarn, or the like, tightly around (a
       rope or cable, etc.) so as to protect it from chafing or
       from the weather. See under {Serving}.

   {To serve an attachment} or {a writ of attachment} (Law), to
      levy it on the person or goods by seizure, or to seize.

   {To serve an execution} (Law), to levy it on a lands, goods,
      or person, by seizure or taking possession.

   {To serve an office}, to discharge a public duty.

   {To serve a process} (Law), in general, to read it, so as to
      give due notice to the party concerned, or to leave an
      attested copy with him or his attorney, or his usual place
      of abode.

   {To serve a warrant}, to read it, and seize the person
      against whom it is issued.

   {To serve a writ} (Law), to read it to the defendant, or to
      leave an attested copy at his usual place of abode.

   {To serve one out}, to retaliate upon; to requite. ``I'll
      serve you out for this.'' --C. Kingsley.

   {To serve one right}, to treat, or cause to befall one,
      according to his deserts; -- used commonly of ill deserts;
      as, it serves the scoundrel right.

   {To serve one's self of}, to avail one's self of; to make use
      of. [A Gallicism]

            I will serve myself of this concession.
                                                  --Chillingworth.

   {To serve out}, to distribute; as, to serve out rations.

   {To serve the time} or {the hour}, to regulate one's actions
      by the requirements of the time instead of by one's duty;
      to be a timeserver. [Obs.]

            They think herein we serve the time, because thereby
            we either hold or seek preferment.    --Hooker.

   Syn: To obey; minister to; subserve; promote; aid; help;
        assist; benefit; succor.