subs. (venery).—1.  A lover en parade; and (2) a STALLION (q.v.): cf. MISTRESS. Hence, SERVICE = copulation; TO SERVE = subagitare.

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  1369.  CHAUCER, Troilus and Criseyde, v. 1345.

        If any SERVAUNT durst or oghte aryght
Upon his lady pitously compleyne.
    Ibid. (c. 1387), Queen Annelida, 293.
He was SERVAUNT unto her ladyship … she had him at her oune will.

2

  1595.  SHAKESPEARE, Two Gentlemen of Verona, ii. 4. Too low a mistress for so high a SERVANT. Ibid. (1605), King Lear, iii. 4, 87. A SERVING man … that … SERVED the lust of my mistress’s heart, and did the act of darkness with her.

3

  1609.  BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Scornful Lady, v. 1. Was I not once your mistress, and you my SERVANT?

4

  1609.  JONSON, Epicœne, or the Silent Woman, ii. 2. Where the first question is—if her present SERVANT love her? next, if she shall have a new SERVANT? and how many.

5

  1611.  CHAPMAN, May-Day, v. 2. A woman of good parts … helps maids to SERVICES, restores maidenheads, brings women to bed, and men to their bedsides. Ibid. (1612), The Widow’s Tears, ii. 4. Tharsalio. Madam, I am still the same creature … not pressing to your bed, but your pleasure shall be first known, if you will command me any SERVICE.

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  c. 1619.  FIELD and MASSINGER, The Fatal Dowry, ii. 2. The only distinction betwixt a husband and a SERVANT is, the first will lie with you when he pleases; the last shall lie with you when you please.

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  1635.  DAVENANT, News from Plymouth, ii. 1.

        He loves and honours ladies; for whose SERVICE
He’s still a ready champion.

8

  1685.  CROWNE, Sir Courtly Nice, ii. 1. You may proclaime at Mercat-cross, how great an Adorer you are of such a Woman’s Charms? how much you desire to be admitted into her SERVICE; that is, how lusty a Centaur you are.

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  1692.  DRYDEN, Juvenal, x.

        In form of law, a common hackney-jade
Sole heir for secret SERVICES is made.

10

  1720.  D’URFEY, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy, v. 227.

        To shew he could a Lady SERVE,
  As well as the Hollander.

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  1772.  BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 302.

        And all the virgins in the town
Expect they shall be ravished soon …
At any time they’ll let you SERVE ’em.

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