placing a meal before someone; serving a meal
Refers to the act of setting a meal in front of someone, often implying attentive service. Commonly used in the phrase 上げ膳据え膳 (あげぜんすえぜん), meaning having everything done for one, especially meals served without lifting a finger.
At the inn, they waited on us hand and foot, serving meals right to our table.
If you get used to a life where everything is done for you, you'll end up unable to do anything yourself.
Standard kanji spelling.
Kana-mixed spelling sometimes seen.
Compound of 上げ (age, 'raising' or 'presenting') + 膳 (zen, 'tray' or 'meal'), literally 'raising a tray' to serve someone.