Where does “self-serving” come from?
self-serving (English) comes from English serving, from English serve, from French servir, from German servieren, from Italian servire, from Spanish servir, from Latin serviō, from Latin servus — to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together.
self-serving (English): Showing interest only in oneself
Definitions
- Showing interest only in oneself
Ancestry of “self-serving”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | serving | That or who serves or serve; The action of the... |
| 2 | English | serve | An act of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play... |
| 3 | French | servir | to serve; to be used for; to be useful for... |
| 4 | German | servieren | To serve ; to wait |
| 5 | Italian | servire | to serve; to need; to plate |
| 6 | Spanish | servir | to serve; to be of use, to be good for; to help... |
| 7 | Latin | serviō | — |
| 8 | Latin | servus | a servant; a serf; a slave |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | serwos | guardian |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ser-wo-s | guardian |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | ser- | to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together |