Conservare

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To keep safe or maintain in an unchanged or protected state ; to preserve from loss, damage, or decay ; to uphold or retain a certain condition or quality
2. To guard or shield something from harm or alteration ; to continue or prolong its existence without deterioration ; to ensure the persistence of an attribute or resource
3. To protect and maintain intact, preventing destruction or waste ; to sustain or conserve in proper condition ; to save or keep intact through careful management or stewardship

Etymology: "Conservare" is the Latin verb from which English "conserve" and "conservation" descend, and its core is simple: "con-" (intensive "together" or "thoroughly") plus "servare," meaning "to keep, guard, watch over, preserve." The same "servare" root lies behind "observe," "reserve," and "preserve," so the word belongs to a family built around keeping things safe and intact. The sense of guarding against harm sits at the heart of the Latin verb, and that is why it could extend so naturally from protecting a person or a city to keeping food from spoiling or a resource from running out. "Servare" itself is related to "servus," the word for a slave or servant, which hints at an older idea of watching over and attending to something on another's behalf.

Synonyms: preserve, conserve, maintain, keep, save

Antonyms: destroy, waste, neglect, lose, abandon