Ser"vi*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Servia, a kingdom of Southern
Europe. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Servia.
{ Serv"ice (?), n., or Serv"ice (?) }. [Properly, the tree which bears
serve, OE. serves, pl., service berries, AS. syrfe service tree; akin
to L. sorbus.] (Bot.) A name given to several trees and shrubs of the
genus Pyrus, as Pyrus domestica and P. torminalis of Europe, the
various species of mountain ash or rowan tree, and the American shad
bush (see Shad bush, under Shad). They have clusters of small, edible,
applelike berries.
Service berry (Bot.), the fruit of any kind of service tree. In British
America the name is especially applied to that of the several species
or varieties of the shad bush (Amelanchier.)
Serv"ice, n. [OE. servise, OF. servise, service, F. service, from L.
servitium. See Serve.] 1. The act of serving; the occupation of a
servant; the performance of labor for the benefit of another, or at
another's command; attendance of an inferior, hired helper, slave,
etc., on a superior, employer, master, or the like; also, spiritual
obedience and love. "O God . . . whose service is perfect freedom." Bk.
of Com. Prayer.
Madam, I entreat true peace of you, Which I will purchase with my
duteous service.
Shak.
God requires no man's service upon hard and unreasonable terms.
Tillotson.
2. The deed of one who serves; labor performed for another; duty done
or required; office.
I have served him from the hour of my nativity, . . . and have
nothing at his hands for my service but blows.
Shak.
This poem was the last piece of service I did for my master, King
Charles.
Dryden.
To go on the forlorn hope is a service of peril; who will
understake it if it be not also a service of honor?
Macaulay.
3. Office of devotion; official religious duty performed; religious
rites appropriate to any event or ceremonial; as, a burial service.
The outward service of ancient religion, the rites, ceremonies, and
ceremonial vestments of the old law.
Coleridge.