Where does “listserve” come from?
listserve (English) comes from English LISTSERV, from English listserver, from English server, from English serve, from French servir, from German servieren, from Italian servire, from Spanish servir — to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together.
listserve (English): An electronic mailing list using the medium of...
Definitions
- An electronic mailing list using the medium of...
Ancestry of “listserve”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | LISTSERV | — |
| 2 | English | listserver | A server that distributes messages to members of... |
| 3 | English | server | A program that provides services to other... |
| 4 | English | serve | An act of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play... |
| 5 | French | servir | to serve; to be used for; to be useful for... |
| 6 | German | servieren | To serve ; to wait |
| 7 | Italian | servire | to serve; to need; to plate |
| 8 | Spanish | servir | to serve; to be of use, to be good for; to help... |
| 9 | Latin | serviō | — |
| 10 | Latin | servus | a servant; a serf; a slave |
| 11 | Proto-Italic | serwos | guardian |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | ser-wo-s | guardian |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | ser- | to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together |