subserve

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: sub=serve

CIDE DICTIONARY

subserve, v. t. [L. subservire; sub under + servire to serve. See Serve.].

 To serve in subordination or instrumentally; to be subservient to; to help forward; to promote.  [1913 Webster]
"It is a great credit to know the ways of captivating Nature, and making her subserve our purposes, than to have learned all the intrigues of policy."  [1913 Webster]

subserve, v. i. 

 To be subservient or subordinate; to serve in an inferior capacity.  [1913 Webster]
"Not made to rule,
But to subserve where wisdom bears command."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

subserve, v.tr. serve as a means in furthering (a purpose, action, etc.).

Etymology

L subservire (as SUB-, SERVE)

THESAURUS

subserve

act for, advance, assist, be found wanting, be inferior, be instrumental, come short, conduce to, contribute to, decide, determine, facilitate, fail, fall short, follow, forward, go between, have nothing on, influence, lead to, mediate, minister to, not approach, not come near, not compare, not hack it, not make it, not measure up, play second fiddle, promote, rank under, redound to, serve, turn the scale, want

ROGET THESAURUS

subserve

Instrumentality

VB subserve, minister, mediate, intervene, be instrumental, pander to, officiate, tend.

Utility

VB be useful, avail, serve, subserve, conduce, answer, serve one's turn, answer a purpose, serve a purpose, act a part, perform a function, discharge a function, render a service, render good service, render yeoman's service, bestead, stand one in good stead be the making of, help, bear fruit, bring grist to the mill, profit, remunerate, benefit, find one's account in, find one's advantage in, reap the benefit of, render useful.

Aid

VB aid, assist, help, succor, lend one's aid, come to the aid, of, contribute, subscribe to, bring aid, give aid, furnish aid, afford aid, supply aid, give a helping hand, stretch a hand, lend a helping hand, lend a hand, bear a helping hand, hold out a hand, hold out a helping hand, give one a life, give one a cast, give one a turn, take by the hand, take in tow, help a lame dog over a stile, lend wings to, relieve, rescue, set up, set agoing, set on one's legs, bear through, pull through, give new life to, be the making of, reinforce, reenforce, recruit, set forward, put forward, push forward, give a lift, give a shove, give an impulse to, promote, further, forward, advance expedite, speed, quicken, hasten, support, sustain, uphold, prop, hold up, bolster, cradle, nourish, nurture, nurse, dry nurse, suckle, put out to nurse, manure, cultivate, force, foster, cherish, foment, feed the flame, fan the flame, serve, do service to, tender to, pander to, administer to, subminister to, minister to, tend, attend, wait on, take care of, entertain, smooth the bed of death, oblige, accommodate, consult the wishes of, humor, cheer, encourage, second, stand by, back, back up, pay the piper, abet, work for, make interest for, stick up for, take up the cudgels for, take up the cause of, espouse the cause of, adopt the cause of, advocate, beat up for recruits, press into the service, squire, give moral support to, keep in countenance, countenance, patronize, lend oneself to, lend one's countenance to, smile upon, shine upon, favor, befriend, take in hand, enlist under the banners of, side with, be of use to, subserve, benefit, render a service, conduce.