deserve

Verb
Synonyms: merit

WordNet 3.0

Verb (1)

  1. be worthy or deserving“You deserve a promotion after all the hard work you have done”Synonyms: merit
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

deserve \de*serve"\ (d[-e]*z[~e]rv"), v. i. To be worthy of recompense; -- usually with ill or with well. [1913 Webster]

One man may merit or deserve of another. --South. [1913 Webster]

Deserve \De*serve"\ (d[-e]*z[~e]rv"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deserved; p. pr. & vb. n. Deserving.] [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. [1913 Webster]

God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.— Job xi. 6.[1913 Webster]
John Gay deserved to be a favorite.— Thackeray.[1913 Webster]
Encouragement is not held out to things that deserve reprehension.— Burke.[1913 Webster]

2.To serve; to treat; to benefit. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

A man that hath So well deserved me.— Massinger.[1913 Webster]
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