subserve

UK: /səbˈsɜːv/ US: (səb sûrv′)

Inflections of 'subserve' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

subserves

v 3rd person singular

subserving

v pres p

subserved

v past

subserved

v past p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sub•serve  (səb sûrv′), v.t., -served, -serv•ing. 

1. to be useful or instrumental in promoting (a purpose, action, etc.):
   Light exercise subserves digestion.
2. [Obs.] to serve as a subordinate.

• Latin subservīre, equivalent. to sub- sub- + servīre to serve
• 1610–20

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

subserve / səbˈsɜːv/ verb (transitive)

1. to be helpful or useful to

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin subservīre to be subject to, from sub- + servīre to serve