DESERVE

deserve, merit

(verb) be worthy or deserving; “You deserve a promotion after all the hard work you have done”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

deserve (third-person singular simple present deserves, present participle deserving, simple past and past participle deserved)

(transitive) To be entitled to, as a result of past actions; to be worthy to have.

(obsolete) To earn, win.

(obsolete) To reward, to give in return for service.

(obsolete) To serve; to treat; to benefit.

Usage notes

• This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See English catenative verbs

• This is generally a stative verb that rarely takes the continuous inflection. See

Synonyms

• merit

• See also deserve

Anagrams

• Veeders, severed

Source: Wiktionary

De*serve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deserved; p. pr. & vb. n. Deserving.] Etym: [OF. deservir, desservir, to merit, L. deservire to serve zealously, be devoted to; de- + servire to serve. See Serve.]

1. To earn by service; to be worthy of (something due, either good or evil); to merit; to be entitled to; as, the laborer deserves his wages; a work of value deserves praise. God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. Job xi. 6. John Gay deserved to be a favorite. Thackeray. Encouragement is not held out to things that deserve reprehension. Burke.

2. To serve; to treat; to benefit. [Obs.] A man that hath So well deserved me. Massinger.

De*serve", v. i.

Definition: To be worthy of recompense; -- usually with ill or with well. One man may merit or deserve of another. South.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition