I don't know that I agree with that, but I take your point

BA are probably now referred to as Dreadlords just as they were in the Trolloc Wars ... perhaps another clue that the meaning of "servant" has changed from the AoL to the 3rd Age...

It seems far more likely to me that the concept of "serving the light/pattern" probably came about only after the DO was released. Prior to that it would be kind of unnecessary since there wasn't anything but the light!



I don't know about this. AS certainly had more opportunity to earn the 3rd name, if only due to much longer lifespan and the inherent advantage of Channeling, but anyone in the AoL could earn the 3rd name. And there is nothing in the text to support that only AS served society at large. High Councilors and the Rods of Dominion would have served society at large. And we have nothing in the text to lead us to believe that only AS could hold such posts.

In fact it seems doubtful from what the BWB tells us about AoL governance:

According to all sources, the Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends had a very loose sort of organization. To what extent that organization was part of the world government is not known; clearly the Aes Sedai were highly influential, with considerable power, at least at times, but equally clearly they were not the entire government and did not necessarily dominate it.

Or

The Age’s system of government was both strong and responsive. Unfortunately, very few details of this government or how it interacted with the population at large and the Aes Sedai are available. The sparse fragmented documents that have been preserved mention a worldwide parliament, or “council,” of democratically elected officials. They also mention that within the government the ability to channel earned respect, but did not guarantee prominence. From this we can deduce that Aes Sedai were often elected to the council, and were influential, but were not necessarily in charge.


Obligation also fits with the BWB:

The people afforded the most status, though they still had to earn their third name through great individual works, were those whose gifts made them capable of the greatest service: those who could effectively channel the One Power. These men and women were called Aes Sedai, which meant ‘servant of all’ in the Old Tongue. They were dedicated to using the full extent of their gift for the betterment of their world. (emphasis mine)

I also find this quote very interesting:

The testing was not mandatory, though few passed up the opportunity, and it required no special preparation or study.

Note that there were in fact people who passed up testing altogether... and later in the BWB it goes on to say that even more gave up after failing once or twice, despite the fact that the ability could manifest over the period of 10 years! Perhaps these people simply didn't want the burden of obligation that came with being AS?



I'd go so far as to say it MUST have a connotation, but I agree, we don't really know what that connotation is since it's never been spelled out for us, unless the above quote from the BWB counts. Personally I think it's likely very different in the 3rd Age than it was in the AoL in any case.