*servan*

n. Conservation, as from injury, defilement, or irregular use. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ An act was ] passed in 1866, for vesting in the Conservators of the River Thames the conservancy of the Thames and Isis. Mozley & W. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. conservans, p. pr. ] Having the power or quality of conservation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A servant who attends faithfully to his duty only when watched. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. inobservantia : cf. F. inobservance. ] Lack or neglect of observance. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. inobservans. See In- not, and Observant. ] Not observant; regardless; heedless. Bp. Hurd.

-- In`ob*serv"ant*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. A female servant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A male servant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Neglect or failure to observe or fulfill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. observance, L. observantia. See Observant. ] 1. The act or practice of observing or noticing with attention; a heeding or keeping with care; performance; -- usually with a sense of strictness and fidelity; as, the observance of the Sabbath is general; the strict observance of duties. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is a custom
More honored in the breach than the observance. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An act, ceremony, or rite, as of worship or respect; especially, a customary act or service of attention; a form; a practice; a rite; a custom. [ 1913 Webster ]

At dances
These young folk kept their observances. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Use all the observance of civility. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some represent to themselves the whole of religion as consisting in a few easy observances. Rogers. [ 1913 Webster ]

O I that wasted time to tend upon her,
To compass her with sweet observances! Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Servile attention; sycophancy. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Salads and flesh, such as their haste could get,
Served with observance. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

This is not atheism,
But court observance. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Observance, Observation. These words are discriminated by the two distinct senses of observe. To observe means (1) to keep strictly; as, to observe a fast day, and hence, observance denotes the keeping or heeding with strictness; (2) to consider attentively, or to remark; and hence, observation denotes either the act of observing, or some remark made as the result thereof. We do not say the observation of Sunday, though the word was formerly so used. The Pharisees were curious in external observances; the astronomers are curious in celestial observations. [ 1913 Webster ]

Love rigid honesty,
And strict observance of impartial laws. Roscommon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Observance. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Observanda [ L. ] A thing to be observed. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. observans, -anits, p. pr. of observare: cf. F. observant. See Observe. ] 1. Taking notice; viewing or noticing attentively; watchful; carefully attentive; as, an observant spectator; observant habits. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wandering from clime to clime observant stray'd. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Submissively attentive; obediently watchful; regardful; mindful; obedient (to); -- with of, as, to be observant of rules. [ 1913 Webster ]

We are told how observant Alexander was of his master Aristotle. Sir K. Digby. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who observes forms and rules. [ Obs. ] Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A sycophantic servant. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Silly ducking observants,
That stretch their duties nicely. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (R. C. Ch.) An Observantine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Fr. observantin. ] (R. C. Ch.) One of a branch of the Order of Franciscans, who profess to adhere more strictly than the Conventuals to the intention of the founder, especially as to poverty; -- called also Observants. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an observant manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Reservation. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. servant, servaunt, F. servant, a & p. pr. of servir to serve, L. servire. See Serve, and cf. Sergeant. ] 1. One who serves, or does services, voluntarily or on compulsion; a person who is employed by another for menial offices, or for other labor, and is subject to his command; a person who labors or exerts himself for the benefit of another, his master or employer; a subordinate helper. “A yearly hired servant.” Lev. xxv. 53. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men in office have begun to think themselves mere agents and servants of the appointing power, and not agents of the government or the country. D. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In a legal sense, stewards, factors, bailiffs, and other agents, are servants for the time they are employed in such character, as they act in subordination to others. So any person may be legally the servant of another, in whose business, and under whose order, direction, and control, he is acting for the time being. Chitty. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One in a state of subjection or bondage. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt. Deut. v. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A professed lover or suitor; a gallant. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

In my time a servant was I one. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Servant of servants, one debased to the lowest condition of servitude. --
Your humble servant, or
Your obedient servant, phrases of civility formerly often used in closing a letter, now archaic; -- at one time such phrases were exaggerated to include Your most humble, most obedient servant. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Our betters tell us they are our humble servants, but understand us to be their slaves. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To subject. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A maidservant. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A body of servants; servants, collectively. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An inferior servant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Want or neglect of observance; inobservance. Whitlock. [ 1913 Webster ]