servo

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsɜː.vəʊ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈsɝ.voʊ/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)vəʊ

Etymology 1

Clipping of servomotor.

Noun

servo (plural servos)

2. A servomechanism.
   • 2003, Roger Williams, How to Improve Triumph TR5, 250 and 6, page 45:

     A Lockheed Type 6 remote servo adds a 1.9 multiplier to the pedal pressures and, at about £140, is rather cheaper than all the Girling single line remote servos I′ve seen advertised.

   • 2004, Myke Predko, 123 Robotics Experiments for the Evil Genius, page 300:

     If you are using Futaba servos with the application, make sure that you change the data values accordingly.

   • 2008, Mark L. Latash, Neurophysiological Basis of Movement, page 95:

     The servo is an autonomic element of a control system: Setting a desired value of an output parameter makes a servo do its job independently of other factors as long as the specified value remains constant.

   2. A servomotor.

Derived terms

• servo drive
• servocontrol
• servocontroller
• servo-driven
• servosystem

Verb

servo (third-person singular simple present servos, present participle servoing, simple past and past participle servoed)

1. To control by means of servocontrol

Etymology 2

Clipping of service station +‎ -o.

Noun

servo (plural servos)

2. (Australia, New Zealand) A service station, being a place to buy petrol for cars etc., as well as various convenience items, with or without actual car service facilities.
   • 2002, Alex Miller, Journey to the Stone Country, Allen & Unwin, published 2003, page 83:

     Two hours later Susan pulled the Pajero off the road onto the floodlit apron of the servo at the end of the Bowen bypass.

   • 2008, Roz Hopkins, Pumped, page 12:

     Crude oil is purchased in US dollars, so the price of the petrol at your local servo is heavily influenced by the rate of exchange between the greenback and the Aussie dollar.

   • 2011 July 16, “Beechboro servo bandit escapes with cash”, in The West Australian:
   • 2011 July 17, “Teen arrested over servo robbery”, in Illawarra Mercury:

Anagrams

• Vores, overs, roves, verso, vores

Esperanto

Etymology

From servi (“to serve”) + -o.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈservo/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ervo
• Syllabification: ser‧vo

Noun

servo (accusative singular servon, plural servoj, accusative plural servojn)

1. service

Derived terms

• Diservo
• militservo

Further reading

• “servo”, in Plena Ilustrita Vortaro de Esperanto [Complete Illustrated Dictionary of Esperanto], 2020, →ISBN
• “servo”, in Reta Vortaro [Online Dictionary] (in Esperanto), 1997-2026

Finnish

Etymology

From English servo.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈserʋo/, [ˈs̠e̞rʋo̞]
• Rhymes: -erʋo
• Syllabification^(key): ser‧vo
• Hyphenation^(key): ser‧vo

Noun

servo

1. servo

Declension

Inflection of servo (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
nominative		servo	servot
genitive		servon	servojen
partitive		servoa	servoja
illative		servoon	servoihin
		singular	plural
nominative		servo	servot
accusative	nom.	servo	servot
	gen.	servon
genitive		servon	servojen
partitive		servoa	servoja
inessive		servossa	servoissa
elative		servosta	servoista
illative		servoon	servoihin
adessive		servolla	servoilla
ablative		servolta	servoilta
allative		servolle	servoille
essive		servona	servoina
translative		servoksi	servoiksi
abessive		servotta	servoitta
instructive		—	servoin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of servo (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative servoni servoni accusative nom. servoni servoni gen. servoni genitive servoni servojeni partitive servoani servojani inessive servossani servoissani elative servostani servoistani illative servooni servoihini adessive servollani servoillani ablative servoltani servoiltani allative servolleni servoilleni essive servonani servoinani translative servokseni servoikseni abessive servottani servoittani instructive — — comitative — servoineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative servosi servosi accusative nom. servosi servosi gen. servosi genitive servosi servojesi partitive servoasi servojasi inessive servossasi servoissasi elative servostasi servoistasi illative servoosi servoihisi adessive servollasi servoillasi ablative servoltasi servoiltasi allative servollesi servoillesi essive servonasi servoinasi translative servoksesi servoiksesi abessive servottasi servoittasi instructive — — comitative — servoinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative servomme servomme accusative nom. servomme servomme gen. servomme genitive servomme servojemme partitive servoamme servojamme inessive servossamme servoissamme elative servostamme servoistamme illative servoomme servoihimme adessive servollamme servoillamme ablative servoltamme servoiltamme allative servollemme servoillemme essive servonamme servoinamme translative servoksemme servoiksemme abessive servottamme servoittamme instructive — — comitative — servoinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative servonne servonne accusative nom. servonne servonne gen. servonne genitive servonne servojenne partitive servoanne servojanne inessive servossanne servoissanne elative servostanne servoistanne illative servoonne servoihinne adessive servollanne servoillanne ablative servoltanne servoiltanne allative servollenne servoillenne essive servonanne servoinanne translative servoksenne servoiksenne abessive servottanne servoittanne instructive — — comitative — servoinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative servonsa servonsa accusative nom. servonsa servonsa gen. servonsa genitive servonsa servojensa partitive servoaan servoansa servojaan servojansa inessive servossaan servossansa servoissaan servoissansa elative servostaan servostansa servoistaan servoistansa illative servoonsa servoihinsa adessive servollaan servollansa servoillaan servoillansa ablative servoltaan servoltansa servoiltaan servoiltansa allative servolleen servollensa servoilleen servoillensa essive servonaan servonansa servoinaan servoinansa translative servokseen servoksensa servoikseen servoiksensa abessive servottaan servottansa servoittaan servoittansa instructive — — comitative — servoineen servoinensa

Derived terms

compounds

• servomoottori
• servotekniikka

Further reading

• “servo”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[1] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 3 July 2023

Anagrams

• verso

Galician

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese servo (13th century, Cantigas de Santa Maria), from Latin servus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɛɾbo/ [ˈs̺ɛɾ.β̞ʊ]
• Rhymes: -ɛɾbo

Noun

servo m (plural servos, feminine serva, feminine plural servas)

1. serf

   Antonyms: amo, señor

2. servant

References

• Seoane, Ernesto Xosé González; Granja, María Álvarez de la; Agrelo, Ana Isabel Boullón (2006–2022), “servo”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval [Dictionary of dictionaries of Medieval Galician] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Barreiro, Xavier Varela; Guinovart, Xavier Gómez (2006–2018), “servo”, in Corpus Xelmírez: corpus lingüístico da Galicia medieval [Corpus Xelmírez: linguistic corpus of Medieval Galicia] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “servo”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “servo”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “servo”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN

Italian

Etymology 1

From Latin servus, from Proto-Indo-European *ser-wo- (“guardian”), or perhaps of Etruscan origin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɛr.vo/
• Rhymes: -ɛrvo
• Hyphenation: sèr‧vo

Adjective

servo (feminine serva, masculine plural servi, feminine plural serve)

1. (literary) servile (of or pertaining to a slave)
   • 1310s, Dante Alighieri, “Canto VI”, in Purgatorio [Purgatory], lines 76–78; republished as Giorgio Petrocchi, editor, La Commedia secondo l'antica vulgata [The Commedia according to the ancient vulgate], 2^nd revised edition, Florence: publ. Le Lettere, 1994:

     Ahi serva Italia, di dolore ostello,
     nave sanza nocchiere in gran tempesta,
     non donna di provincie, ma bordello!

     Ah! servile Italy, grief's hostelry! A ship without a pilot in great tempest! No Lady thou of Provinces, but brothel!

   • 1763, Giuseppe Parini, “Il mattino [Morning]”, in Opere dell'abate Giuseppe Parini - Volume primo [Works of abbot Giuseppe Parini - Volume one]‎^[2], Venice: Giacomo Storti, published 1803, page 126:

     […] le serve braccia
     Fornien di leve onnipotenti, ond’alto
     Salisser poi piramidi, obelischi

     They endowed the servile arms with all-powerful levers, so that pyramids and obelisks could then rise

   • 1821, Alessandro Manzoni, Il cinque maggio [The Fifth of May]‎^[3], collected in Opere varie di Alessandro Manzoni, Fratelli Rechiedei, published 1881, page 690, lines 17–20:

     Di mille voci al sonito
     Mista la sua non ha:
     Vergin di servo encomio
     E di codardo oltraggio

     With the thousand resounding voices his one does not mix, free from all taint of servile praise and cowardly insult

Noun

servo m (plural servi, feminine serva)

1. (literary) slave

   Synonym: schiavo

2. servant

   Synonyms: servitore, domestico

Related terms

• servigio
• servile
• servire
• servitù
• servizio
• servo-

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

servo

1. first-person singular present indicative of servire

Anagrams

• sevro, verso, versò

Latin

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *ser-der.?

Proto-Italic *serwos

Latin servus

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂

Proto-Indo-European *-yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu.

Proto-Italic *-ājō

Proto-Italic *-āō

Latin -ō

Latin servo

By surface analysis, servus +‎ -ō. According to Rix, the term may have originated as a denominative to an older noun *serwā or *serwom, both of which may have meant something akin to "observation, heedance." Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ser-.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈsɛr.woː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈsɛr.vo]

Verb

servō (present infinitive servāre, perfect active servāvī, supine servātum); first conjugation

1. to maintain, keep

   Synonyms: teneo, obtineō, retineo, capio, contineō, comprehendo, obsideo, sustineo

   • 165 BCE, Publius Terentius Afer, Hecyra 3.3.42:

     Pollicitus sum et servāre in eō certumst quod dīxī fidem.

     I’ve made a promise and it’s certain that I shall keep what I said.

   • 23 BCE – 13 BCE, Horatius, Carmina 2.3.1–2:

     Aequam mementō rēbus in arduīs
     servāre mentem […]

     Remember to maintain a level mind in
     difficult situations […]

2. to protect, save, keep, guard, safeguard, watch over

   Synonyms: salvō, tūtor, vindicō, cū̆stōdiō, sospitō, teneō, adimō, prōtegō, tegō, adsum, sustineō, dēfendō, tueor, prohibeō, arceō, mūniō, ēripiō

   Antonyms: immineō, īnstō, obiectō

   • c. 37 BCE – 30 BCE, Vergilius, Georgicon 4.109–111:

     Invitent croceis [apes] halantes floribus horti
     Et custos furum atque avium cum falce saligna
     Hellespontiaci servet tutela Priapi.

     May gardens bright, fragrant with flower, lure them [the bees] and Hellespontian Priap with his willow scythe the robbing bee and the birds keep away.

   • 29 BCE – 19 BCE, Vergilius, Aeneis 1.546–548:

     “Quem sī Fāta virum servant, sī vēscitur aurā
     aetheriā, neque adhūc crūdēlibus occubat umbrīs,
     nōn metus [...].”

     “If the Fates protect this man, if he breathes in the upper air, and neither still has he fallen among the cruel shades, [have] no fear [...].”
     (Ilioneus, speaking of Aeneas, assures Queen Dido regarding the Trojan presence in Carthage.)

3. to give heed to, pay attention to; watch, observe any thing

   Synonyms: observō, conspiciō, cōnspicor, cū̆stōdiō, animadvertō, caveō, intueor

4. to save, to deliver, rescue [with (Classical Latin) ex (+ ablative) or (Late Latin) ab (+ ablative) ‘from’]

   Synonyms: līberō, eximō, absolvō, vindicō, excipiō

   Antonyms: refrēnō, coërceō, saepiō, officiō, obstō, comprimō, impediō, arceō, supprimō

   • 54 BCE – 51 BCE, Cicero, De re publica 1.3.5:

     Hinc enim illa et apud Graecōs exempla, Miltiadem, victōrem domitōremque Persārum, nōndum sānātīs volneribus iīs, quae corpore adversō in clārissima victōriā accēpisset, vītam ex hostium tēlīs servātam in cīvium vinclīs prōfūdisse, et Themistoclem patriā, quam līberāvisset, pulsum atque prōterritum non in Graeciae portūs per sē servātōs, sed in barbariae sinūs cōnfūgisse, quam adflīxerat.

     Hence these examples among the Greeks as well: Miltiades, victor and conqueror of the Persians, to have spilt his life, preserved from enemies’ weapons, in the chains of his citizens, with the wounds received on the front of his body in the course of the most glorious victory not yet healed; and Themistocles, banished and driven away from the country he had freed, to have fled not to the harbours of Greece, saved by himself, but to the gulfs of a foreign country, which he had oppressed.

   • 77 CE – 79 CE, Plinius Maior, Naturalis Historia 7.29.103:

     Super omnia Capitōlium summamque rem in eō sōlus ā Gallīs servāverat, sī nōn regnō suō servasset.

     Above all [‌Lucius Siccius Dentatus] had singlehandedly saved the Capitol and the state treasure therein from the Gauls—had he only not saved it for his own reign.

5. to preserve, store, keep, reserve
   • 29 BCE – 19 BCE, Vergilius, Aeneis 1.207:

     Dūrāte, et vōsmet rēbus servāte secundīs.

     Endure, and preserve yourselves for favourable things.

6. (figurative) to permit, allow

Conjugation

   Conjugation of servō (first conjugation)

indicative		singular						plural
		first		second		third		first		second		third
active	present	servō		servās		servat		servāmus		servātis		servant
	imperfect	servābam		servābās		servābat		servābāmus		servābātis		servābant
	future	servābō		servābis		servābit		servābimus		servābitis		servābunt
	perfect	servāvī		servāvistī, servāstī2		servāvit, servāt2		servāvimus, servāmus2		servāvistis, servāstis2		servāvērunt, servārunt, servāvēre2
	pluperfect	servāveram, servāram2		servāverās, servārās2		servāverat, servārat2		servāverāmus, servārāmus2		servāverātis, servārātis2		servāverant, servārant2
	future perfect	servāverō, servārō2		servāveris, servāris2		servāverit, servārit2		servāverimus, servārimus2		servāveritis, servāritis2		servāverint, servārint2
	sigmatic future1	servāssō		servāssis		servāssit		servāssimus		servāssitis		servāssint
passive	present	servor		servāris, servāre		servātur		servāmur		servāminī		servantur
	imperfect	servābar		servābāris, servābāre		servābātur		servābāmur		servābāminī		servābantur
	future	servābor		servāberis, servābere		servābitur		servābimur		servābiminī		servābuntur
	perfect	servātus + present active indicative of sum
	pluperfect	servātus + imperfect active indicative of sum
	future perfect	servātus + future active indicative of sum
subjunctive		singular						plural
		first		second		third		first		second		third
active	present	servem		servēs		servet		servēmus		servētis		servent
	imperfect	servārem		servārēs		servāret		servārēmus		servārētis		servārent
	perfect	servāverim, servārim2		servāverīs, servārīs2		servāverit, servārit2		servāverīmus, servārīmus2		servāverītis, servārītis2		servāverint, servārint2
	pluperfect	servāvissem, servāssem2		servāvissēs, servāssēs2		servāvisset, servāsset2		servāvissēmus, servāssēmus2		servāvissētis, servāssētis2		servāvissent, servāssent2
	sigmatic aorist1	servāssim		servāssīs		servāssīt		servāssīmus		servāssītis		servāssint
passive	present	server		servēris, servēre		servētur		servēmur		servēminī		serventur
	imperfect	servārer		servārēris, servārēre		servārētur		servārēmur		servārēminī		servārentur
	perfect	servātus + present active subjunctive of sum
	pluperfect	servātus + imperfect active subjunctive of sum
imperative		singular						plural
		first		second		third		first		second		third
active	present	—		servā		—		—		servāte		—
	future	—		servātō		servātō		—		servātōte		servantō
passive	present	—		servāre		—		—		servāminī		—
	future	—		servātor		servātor		—		—		servantor
non-finite forms		infinitive						participle
		active			passive			active			passive
present		servāre			servārī			servāns			—
future		servātūrum esse			servātum īrī			servātūrus			servandus
perfect		servāvisse, servāsse2			servātum esse			—			servātus
future perfect		—			servātum fore			—			—
perfect potential		servātūrum fuisse			—			—			—
verbal nouns		gerund								supine
		genitive		dative		accusative		ablative		accusative		ablative
		servandī		servandō		servandum		servandō		servātum		servātū

¹At least one use of the Old Latin "sigmatic future" and "sigmatic aorist" tenses is attested, which are used by Old Latin writers; most notably Plautus and Terence. The sigmatic future is generally ascribed a future or future perfect meaning, while the sigmatic aorist expresses a possible desire ("might want to").
²At least one rare poetic syncopated perfect form is attested.

Derived terms

• asservō
• cōnservō
• inservō
• observō
• perservō
• praeservō
• reservō
• servābilis
• servātor

Descendants

• Aromanian: sãrbedz, sãrbari
• Italian: servare, serbare
• Occitan: servar
• Romanian: serba, serbare
• Sicilian: sarbari
• Spanish: servar

See also

• serviō

Noun

servō

1. dative/ablative singular of servus

References

• “servo”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “servo”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “servo”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• Carl Meißner; Henry William Auden (1894), Latin Phrase-Book‎^[4], London: Macmillan and Co.
  • to rescue from peril: aliquem ex periculo eripere, servare
    
  • to show an affectionate regard for a person's memory: memoriam alicuius pie inviolateque servare
    
  • to observe the chronological order of events: temporum ordinem servare
    
  • to observe the chronological order of events: servare et notare tempora
    
  • to be calm, self-possessed: constantiam servare
    
  • to preserve one's loyalty: fidem colere, servare
    
  • to keep one's word (not tenere): fidem servare (opp. fallere)
    
  • to do one's duty: officium suum facere, servare, colere, tueri, exsequi, praestare
    
  • to observe moderation, be moderate: modum tenere, retinere, servare, adhibere
    
  • to keep one's oath: iusiurandum (religionem) servare, conservare
    
  • to observe the sky (i.e. the flight of birds, lightning, thunder, etc.: de caelo servare (Att. 4. 3. 3)
    
  • to fast: ieiunium servare
    
  • to keep up a usage: consuetudinem suam tenere, retinere,[TR1] servare
    
  • to keep the ranks: ordines servare (B. G. 4. 26)
    
  • (ambiguous) to narrate events in the order of their occurrence: res temporum ordine servato narrare
    
• servo in Enrico Olivetti, editor (2003-2026), Dizionario Latino, Olivetti Media Communication
• Pokorny, Julius (1959), Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch [Indo-European Etymological Dictionary] (in German), volume 3, Bern, München: Francke Verlag, page 910
• De Vaan, Michiel (2008), “servus”, in Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 559

Portuguese

Etymology

From Latin servus, from Proto-Indo-European *ser-wo- (“guardian”), or perhaps of Etruscan origin.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Brazil (Caipira)):

  (file)

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛʁ.vu/ [ˈsɛɦ.vu]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛʁ.vu/ [ˈsɛɦ.vu]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛɾ.vu/
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛʁ.vu/
  • (Caipira) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛɻ.vu/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛʁ.vo/ [ˈsɛɦ.vo]

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛɾ.vu/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛɾ.vu/
  • (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛɾ.bu/ [ˈsɛɾ.βu]

• Hyphenation: ser‧vo

Noun

servo m (plural servos, feminine serva, feminine plural servas)

1. servant
2. serf

Related terms

• servir
• serviço
• serviçal
• servente

See also

• criado
• escravo

Further reading

• “servo”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “servo”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈseɾbo/ [ˈseɾ.β̞o]
• Rhymes: -eɾbo
• Syllabification: ser‧vo

Noun

servo m (plural servos)

1. abbreviation of servomecanismo
2. abbreviation of servomotor

Further reading

• “servo”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025

Swedish

Noun

servo c

1. servo

Declension

Declension of servo

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	servo	servos
	definite	servon	servons
plural	indefinite	—	—
	definite	—	—

Derived terms

• bromsservo
• servomotor
• servostyrning
• servosystem

References

• “servo”, in Svensk ordbok [Dictionary of Swedish] (in Swedish)
• “servo”, in Svenska Akademiens ordlista [Wordlist of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)
• “servo”, in Svenska Akademiens ordbok [Dictionary of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)