deserving

Adjective
Synonyms: worth(p)

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (1)

  1. worthy of being treated in a particular way“an idea worth considering”“the deserving poor" (often used ironically)”Synonyms: worth(p)
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Deserving \De*serv"ing\, n. Desert; merit. [1913 Webster]

A person of great deservings from the republic. --Swift. [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]
Deserving \De*serv"ing\, a. Meritorious; worthy; as, a deserving person or act. -- De*serv"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]
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