godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb
Archaic or literary verb for attending a superior or serving in a deferential capacity. In modern Japanese, this usage is largely replaced by verbs like 仕える (つかえる) or お世話をする.
昔の武士は主君にはべっていた。
Samurai of old waited upon their lords.
古典文学では、女房が貴人にはべる場面がよく出てくる。
In classical literature, scenes of court ladies attending nobles appear frequently.