Main Entry:

¹re·serve

Pronunciation:

\ri-ˈzərv\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

re·served; re·serv·ing

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French reserver, from Latin reservare, literally, to keep back, from re- + servare to keep — more at conserve

Date:

14th century

1 a: to hold in reserve : keep back <reserve grain for seed> b: to set aside (part of the consecrated elements) at the Eucharist for future use c: to retain or hold over to a future time or place : defer <reserve one's judgment on a plan> d: to make legal reservation of2: to set or have set aside or apart <reserve a hotel room>

synonyms see keep

— re·serv·able \-ˈzər-və-bəl\ adjective