Serve ends?

[sky753]

Hello Everyone,

What does "serve ends" mean in the following paragraph?

...Variety in the color and texture of the dishes serve aesthetic ends, while the ritual of sharing the food from the same dish plates is conductive to family togetherness and friendship...

Regards

Sky

[RedMtl]

Originally Posted by sky753

Hello Everyone,

What does "serve ends" mean in the following paragraph?

...Variety in the color and texture of the dishes serve aesthetic ends, while the ritual of sharing the food from the same dish plates is conductive to family togetherness and friendship...

Regards

Sky

Slightly re-written:

"Variety in the colour and texture of the dishes serves aesthetic ends, while the ritual of sharing the food from the same plates is conducive to family togetherness and friendship . . . "

First, note that the verb "to serve" refers back to "variety" which is singular, not plural.

"Serves aesthetic ends" means that the presentation of the food is attractive, and generally looks nice.

[lanlethi2603]

'serve ends' here something like 'meet the demand/the criteria/...'

I think it is something like" I could earn a little money from this job that helps me to meet the ends'.

[susiedqq]

"Variety in the colour and texture of the dishes (results in a pleasing eating environment), while the ritual of sharing the food from the same plates is conducive to family togetherness and friendship . . . "

[David L.]

'serve' in this context means "be of use in achieving (something)"
'ends' here means a goal or a result that one seeks to achieve :
"He's only dating the boss's daughter to further his own ambitious ends."
"...saw the need for much greater literacy among the lower working classes. To this end, schools were set up for peasant women and their children...".

different textures and colours help to achieve the goal of making a meal aesthetically pleasing to the eye

different textures and colours serve the purpose of making a meal look pleasing to the eye

variety in the colour and texture of food serves aesthetic ends, while...