Where does “server” come from?
Server comes from Middle English servere, though its ultimate origin and meaning remain unclear from available etymological evidence.
server (English): A program that provides services to other...
Definitions
- A program that provides services to other...
Ancestry of “server”, step by step
server traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English serve
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | serve | An act of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play... |
| 2 | French | servir | to serve; to be used for; to be useful for... |
| 3 | German | servieren | to serve (food); to wait (at table) |
| 4 | Italian | servire | to serve; to need; to plate |
| 5 | Spanish | servir | to serve; to be of use, to be good for; to help... |
| 6 | Latin | serviō | to be a slave to; to serve |
| 7 | Latin | servus | a servant; a serf; a slave |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | serwos | guardian |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ser-wo-s | guardian |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ser- | to flow; to guard; to bind, to tie together |
via Middle English servere
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | servere | — |