v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Subserved p. pr. & vb. n. Subserving. ] [ 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. Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. The quality or state of being subservient; instrumental fitness or use; hence, willingness to serve another's purposes; in a derogatory sense, servility. [ 1913 Webster ]

The body wherein appears much fitness, use, and subserviency to infinite functions. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a regular subordination and subserviency among all the parts to beneficial ends. Cheyne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. subserviens, -entis, p. pr. See Subserve. ] Fitted or disposed to subserve; useful in an inferior capacity; serving to promote some end; subordinate; hence, servile, truckling. [ 1913 Webster ]

Scarce ever reading anything which he did not make subservient in one kind or other. Bp. Fell. [ 1913 Webster ]

These ranks of creatures are subservient one to another. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their temporal ambition was wholly subservient to their proselytizing spirit. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a subservient manner. [ 1913 Webster ]