SERRADILLA, ser-a-dil'a, _n._ a Port. bird's-foot clover.
SERRANUS, ser-r[=a]'nus, _n._ the genus containing sea-perches or
sea-bass.--_n.pl._ SERRAN'IDÆ, the family of fishes containing among its
genera Sea-bass, Rockfish, &c. [L. _serra_, a saw.]
SERRASALMO, ser-a-sal'mo, _n._ a genus of characinoid fishes, with
compressed belly fringed with projecting scales. [L. _serra_, a saw,
_salmo_, a salmon.]
SERRATE, -D, ser'r[=a]t, -ed, _adj._ notched or cut like a saw: (_bot._)
having small sharp teeth along the margin.--_n._ SERR[=A]'TION, state of
being serrated.--_adj._ SERRATIROS'TRAL, saw-billed, as a bird.--_ns._
SER'R[=A]TURE, a notching like that between the teeth of a saw;
SERR[=A]'TUS, one of several muscles of the thorax.--_adj._ SER'RICORN,
having separate antennæ.--_n.pl._ SERRIF'ERA, a group of insects, including
the sawflies and horntails.--_adjs._ SERRIF'EROUS, having a serra or
serrate organ; SER'RIFORM, toothed like a saw; SER'RIPED, having the feet
serrate; SERRIROS'TRATE, having the bill serrated with tooth-like
processes.--_n._ SER'RO-M[=O]'TOR, a steam reversing-gear, in marine
engines.--_adj._ SER'ROUS, like the teeth of a saw: rough.--_n._ SER'RULA,
one of the serrated appendages of the throat of the mudfish:--_pl._
SER'RULÆ.--_adjs._ SER'RULATE, -D, finely serrate.--_ns._ SERRUL[=A]'TION,
the state of being serrulate; SERRURERIE', ornamental wrought-metal work.
[L. _serratus_--_serra_, a saw.]
SERRIED, ser'rid, _adj._ crowded: pressed together.--_v.t._ SER'RY, to
crowd. [Fr. _serrer_, to crowd--L. _sera_, a door-bar.]
SERTULARIA, ser-t[=u]-l[=a]'ri-a, _n._ a common genus of Hydroids in which
the branched horny investment of the plant-like colony forms a sessile cup
around each polyp.--_adj._ SERTUL[=A]'RIAN. [L. _ser[)e]re_, _sertum_, to
plait.]
SERUM, s[=e]'rum, _n._ the watery part of curdled milk, whey: the thin
fluid which separates from the blood when it coagulates. [L.]
SERVAL, s[.e]r'val, _n._ a South African animal of the cat tribe, yellowish
with black spots, valued for its fur--the _Bush-cat_, _Tiger-cat_. [Ger.]
SERVANT, s[.e]r'vant, _n._ one who is in the service of another: a
labourer: a domestic: one dedicated to God: (_B._) a slave: one of low
condition or spirit: a professed lover: a word of mere civility, as in
'your humble' or 'obedient servant' in letters, petitions, &c.--_v.t._ to
subject.--_ns._ SER'VANT-GIRL, SER'VANT-MAID, a female domestic servant;
SER'VANT-MAN, a male servant; SER'VANTRY, servants collectively;
SER'VANTSHIP, position or relation of a servant.--SERVANT OUT OF LIVERY, a
servant of a higher grade, as a major-domo or butler; SERVANTS' CALL, a
whistle to call attendants; SERVANTS' HALL, the room in a house where the
servants eat together. [Fr., pr.p. of _servir_, to serve--L. _serv[=i]re_,
to serve.]
SERVATORY, s[.e]r'va-tor-i, _n. (obs.)_ that which preserves.
SERVE, s[.e]rv, _v.t._ to be a servant to, to work for and obey: to attend
or wait upon: to work for: to obey: to be subservient or subordinate to: to
wait upon at table, &c.: to do duty for: to treat, behave towards: to
render worship to: to aid by good offices: to minister to a priest at mass:
to comply with: to requite: to handle, manipulate: to furnish: (_naut._) to
bind with small cord: (_law_) to deliver or present formally: to furnish:
to cover, of stallions, &c.: to deliver the ball in tennis.--_v.i._ to be
employed as a servant, to discharge any regular duty: to be in subjection:
to suffice, to avail, to be suitable or favourable.--_n._ in tennis, the
act of the first player in striking the ball, or the style in which this is
done.--_ns._ SER'VAGE (_obs._), servitude: the service of a lover; SER'VER,
one who serves: an attendant on the priest at the celebration of the
Eucharist: the player who strikes the tennis-ball first: a salver, any
utensil for distributing or helping at table.--SERVE AN OFFICE, to
discharge the duties of an office; SERVE A PROCESS or WRIT, to formally
communicate a process or writ to the person to whom it is addressed; SERVE
AN ATTACHMENT, to levy such a writ on the person or goods by seizure; SERVE
AN EXECUTION, to levy an execution on the person or goods by seizure; SERVE
A SENTENCE, to undergo the punishment prescribed by a judicial sentence;
SERVE ONE A TRICK, to play a trick on one; SERVE ONE OUT, to take revenge
on some one; SERVE ONE RIGHT, to treat one as he deserves; SERVE ONE'S
TIME, to complete one's apprenticeship; SERVE OUT, to deal or distribute;
SERVE THE PURPOSE OF, to answer adequately an end for which something else
is designed; SERVE THE TURN, to suffice for one's immediate purpose or
need; SERVE TIME, to undergo a period of imprisonment, &c.; SERVE UP, to
bring to table. [Fr. _servir_--L. _serv[=i]re_, to serve.]
SERVIAN, ser'vi-an, _n._ a native of _Servia_: the language of Servia,
belonging to the southern division of the Slav tongues, its nearest
congeners Bulgarian, Slovenian, and Russian.
SERVICE, s[.e]r'vis, _n._ condition or occupation of a servant: a working
for another: duty required in any office: military or naval duty: any
liturgical form or office, public religious worship, religious ceremonial:
a musical composition for devotional purposes: labour, assistance, or
kindness to another: benefit: profession of respect: order of dishes at
table, or a set of them: official function, use, employment: that which is
furnished: a tree of rarely more than 30 feet high, with leaves and flowers
like the Rowan-tree, but the former downy beneath--also _Sorb_.--_ns._
SERVICEABIL'ITY, SER'VICEABLENESS.--_adj._ SER'VICEABLE, able or willing to
serve: advantageous: useful: capable of rendering long service,
durable.--_adv._ SER'VICEABLY.--_ns._ SER'VICE-BERR'Y, a berry of the
service-tree: (_Scot._) the fruit of the white beam: a North American
shrub, the shadbush; SER'VICE-BOOK, a book of forms of religious service: a
prayer-book; SER'VICE-BOX, a form of expansion joint, used in street-mains
of steam-heating systems; SER'VICE-CLEAN'ER, a portable air-compressing
pump and receiver for service-pipes; SER'VICE-LINE, one of two lines drawn
across the court twenty-one feet from the net, in lawn-tennis;
SER'VICE-MAG'AZINE, a magazine for storing ammunition for immediate use;
SER'VICE-PIPE, a smaller pipe from a main-pipe to a dwelling;
SER'VICE-TREE, a tree of the pear family, with close-grained wood and an
edible fruit; SER'VING-MALL'ET, a piece of wood having a groove on one side
to fit the convexity of a rope; DIN'NER-SER'VICE, a full set of dishes for
dinner; T[=A]'BLE-SER'VICE, a set of utensils for the table;
WILD'-SER'VICE, a small species of service-tree, cultivated in England for
its fruit and wood.--SERVICE OF AN HEIR (_Scots law_), a proceeding before
a jury to determine the heir of a person deceased.--ACTIVE SERVICE, service
of a soldier, &c., in the field, against an enemy; AT YOUR SERVICE, a
phrase of civility; HAVE SEEN SERVICE, to have been in active military
service: to have been put to hard use; PLAIN SERVICE, in Anglican usage, an
office which is simply read. [Fr.,--L. _servitium_.]
SERVIENT, ser'vi-ent, _adj._ subordinate.