listserv
UK[ˈlɪstsɜːv]US[ˈlɪstsɜːrv]
n
A type of electronic mailing list software that automatically manages the distribution of email messages to a group of subscribers.
n
An email discussion group or list itself, managed by such software.
Morpheme Breakdown
list
serv
list
serv
Etymology
The term 'listserv' is a modern portmanteau, originating in the mid-1980s with the creation of the LISTSERV software by Eric Thomas. It is a straightforward compounding of two English words: 'list', referring to the mailing list of subscribers, and 'serv', a clipped form of 'server' or 'serve', indicating the automated service function. Unlike classical compounds, its formation is entirely functional and technological, designed to describe a specific piece of email list management software. The name later became a genericized trademark, often used to refer to any similar electronic mailing list system or the discussion group it manages.
Analysis
Structure: list + serv
- list: From Old English liste (border, strip, list), via Germanic. In this compound, it refers to a roster or catalog of names (the mailing list).
- serv: From the English word 'serve', ultimately from Latin servire (to be a slave, to serve). In this compound, it indicates the function of the software: to serve or manage the list.
Examples
I subscribed to the medieval history listserv to receive updates and participate in discussions.
The system administrator uses listserv software to manage over a hundred departmental mailing lists.
You can usually join a listserv by sending a subscription command to a specific email address.