Beginner question: Conservate me ; servate me

[Cleo]

Warning, this is a beginner question...

Chapter 1, Sententiae 7, Conservate me!
The answer key published here says protect me.
Yet, in the optional exercices, #20 is also Conservate me, with the answer in Wheelock as save me.

Another example is Apollo me saepe servat, translated here as Appollo often saves me.

So what would be the difference between conservate me, and servate me? I assume it's some sort of nuance that I am not catching. From my first reading of the chapter, I understood "servare" as protect, and "conservare" as save, but first readings are often wrong. I am now looking for guidance.

Oh, and Happy New year! Bonne année.

[klewlis]

they are relatively interchangeable (and as far as wheelock is concerned, they are completely interchangeable). the difference appears to be slight, so I guess it would depend on context. According to my dictionary, servo seems to have an added meaning of "look after", in addition to "saving" and such.

[Cleo]

Thanks for answering this quickly!

It bugs me that they are interchangeable. One would be "look after me before I am in actual trouble", and the other ought to be "take care of me now because I am in trouble now!!"

Anyway, it may be my 21st century mind that doesnt grasp the concept. Or maybe context is needed. Sentences rarely stand alone.

Thanks.

[Episcopus]

The con verbal prefix is very often intensive, for example: facere - to make, do. conficere (con+facere) - to accomplish, complete, finish.

[benissimus]

As Episcopus said, the con- prefix intensifies the verb. So, Wheelock has supplied the word "protect" as a more intensive choice for "save", but as long as you understand that one is a bit more emphatic than the other, you can translate with whatever meaning you wish.