## Meanings
1. To use something carefully so that it is not wasted or used up.
2. To protect a natural environment or historic place from harm.
3. A jam or thick sweet preserve made from fruit.

## Examples
- We should all try to conserve water during the dry season.
- The trust works to conserve ancient woodlands across the country.
- She spread homemade strawberry conserve on her toast.

## Derived Forms
- conservancy
- conservative
- conservatory
- conserveness
- hyperconserve
- nonconserving
- reconserve
- unconserving

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ser- (guard)
- Root: conserven
- Root: conserver
- Root: conservare

## Etymology
From Middle English conserven, from Old French conserver, from Latin conservare (“to keep, preserve”), from com- (intensive prefix) + servo (“keep watch, maintain”). See also observe.

## AI Etymology
Conserve is from Middle English conserven, from Old French conserver, from Latin conservare (“to keep, preserve”), from com- (intensive prefix) + servo (“keep watch, maintain”). See also observe. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern verbal form is built from the named base and affix. In present-day use, it can mean to use something carefully so that it is not wasted or used up, or to protect a natural environment or historic place from harm. Derived formations include conservancy, conservative, conservatory, conserveness, hyperconserve.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction
- Environment & Ecology

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