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.
Pre*serve", v. i. 1.
To make preserves. Shak.
2. To protect game for purposes of
sport.
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.
