short-serving
|short-serv-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈʃɔrtˌsɝvɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈʃɔːtˌsɜːvɪŋ/
brief duration
Etymology
'short-serving' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'short' and 'serving'. 'Short' comes from Old English 'sceort' meaning 'short', and 'serve/serving' derives ultimately from Latin 'servire' ('to serve') via Old French 'servir'.
'short' developed from Old English 'sceort'; 'serve' entered English through Old French 'servir' from Latin 'servire'. In Modern English compounding (as in 'short-lived') became productive, allowing formations like 'short-serving' to arise as descriptive compounds.
Initially the components meant 'short' and 'serving' literally; over time the compound came to be used idiomatically to describe something that lasts only a short time (especially a brief term in office) or a small portion.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a brief term of service or a small/brief portion (used to refer to a short period in office or a small serving).
He had a short-serving as minister before resigning.
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Adjective 1
lasting or remaining in effect for only a short period; brief.
The administration was short-serving and lasted less than a year.
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Last updated: 2025/09/24 02:16