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reserve (v.)

mid-14c., from Old French reserver "set aside, withhold" (12c.) and directly from Latin reservare "keep back, save up; retain, preserve," from re- "back" (see re-) + servare "to keep, save, preserve, protect" (from PIE root *ser- (1) "to protect"). Meaning "to book" is from 1935. Related: Reserved; reserving.

reserve (n.)

"something stored up," 1610s, from reserve (v.) or from French réserve, a Middle French back-formation from reserver "set aside, withhold," from Latin reservare "keep back, save up; retain, preserve," from re- "back" (see re-) + servare "to keep, save, preserve, protect" (from PIE root *ser- (1) "to protect"). Meaning "self-imposed restraint on freedom of words or actions; habit of keeping back the feelings" is from 1650s.

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Definitions of reserve from WordNet
1
reserve (n.)
formality and propriety of manner;
Synonyms: modesty
reserve (n.)
something kept back or saved for future use or a special purpose;
Synonyms: backlog / stockpile
reserve (n.)
an athlete who plays only when a starter on the team is replaced;
Synonyms: substitute / second-stringer
reserve (n.)
(medicine) potential capacity to respond in order to maintain vital functions;
reserve (n.)
a district that is reserved for particular purpose;
Synonyms: reservation
reserve (n.)
armed forces that are not on active duty but can be called in an emergency;
Synonyms: military reserve
reserve (n.)
the trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering anything more than necessary;
Synonyms: reticence / taciturnity
2
reserve (v.)
hold back or set aside, especially for future use or contingency;
reserve (v.)
give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause;
Synonyms: allow / appropriate / earmark / set aside
reserve (v.)
obtain or arrange (for oneself) in advance;
We managed to reserve a table at Maxim's
reserve (v.)
arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance;
reserve me a seat on a flight
Synonyms: hold / book
From wordnet.princeton.edu