Pre*serve" , n.
1. That which is preserved; fruit, etc., seasoned and kept by suitable preparation;
esp., fruit cooked with sugar; -- commonly in the plural.
2. A place in which game, fish, etc., are preserved for purposes of sport, or for
food.
Pre*serve" , v. i. 1. To
make preserves. Shak.
2. To protect game for purposes of sport.
Pre*serve" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preserved (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Preserving.]
[F. préserver, from L. prae before +
servare to save, preserve; cf. L.
praeservare to observe
beforehand. See Serve.] 1. To keep or save from injury or destruction; to guard or defend from evil, harm, danger, etc.; to protect.
O Lord, thou
preserved man and beast.
Ps. xxxvi. 6.
Now, good angels
preserve the king.
Shak.
2. To save from decay by the
use of some
preservative substance, as sugar, salt, etc.; to season and
prepare for remaining in a good state, as fruits, meat, etc.; as, to preserve peaches or grapes.
You can not
preserve it from tainting.
Shak.
3. To maintain throughout; to keep intact; as, to
preserve appearances; to preserve silence.
To preserve game, to protect it
from extermination.
Syn. -- To keep; save; secure; uphold; sustain; defend; spare; protect; guard; shield. See Keep.
Hear it pronounced