SERRA, Angel (sair'-rah), Mexican linguist, born in Zitacuaro, Michoacan, about 1640; died in Queretaro about 1700. He entered the Franciscan order in Mexico, and became guardian of the Convent of San Pedro y San Pablo, where he studied the Tarasco language, in which he soon became the recognized authority in Mexico. Wishing to utilize his knowledge, he was sent to the Sierra Gorda as missionary to the Indians, and was appointed parish priest of Charapan, and afterward of Queretaro. He wrote "Manual Trilingiie, Latino, Castellano y Tarasco, para administrar los Sacramentos g los Espanoles y g los Indios" (Mexico, 1697); "El Catecismo del P. Bartolome Castafio, troducido al' Tarasco" (Queretaro, 1699); and "Arte, Dictionario y Confesionario en Tarasco," which was ready for publication at the author's death.