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