deserve
verbcommon in dialogue
- United States//dɪˈzɝv//
- United States//dəˈzɝv//
- Australia//dɪˈzɜːv//
- //dɪˈzɑːv//
To be entitled to, as a result of past actions; to be worthy to have.
verb
- 1
To be entitled to, as a result of past actions; to be worthy to have.
After playing so well, the team really deserved their win.
After what he did, he deserved to go to prison.
We don't think your article deserves reading.
God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
- 2
obsoleteTo earn, win.
That gentle Lady, whom I loue and serue, / After long suit and weary seruicis, / Did aske me, how I could her loue deserue, / And how she might be sure, that I would neuer swerue.
- 3
obsoleteTo reward, to give in return for service.
Gramercy saide the kynge / & I lyue sir Lambegus I shal deserue hit / And thenne sir Lambegus armed hym / and rode after as fast as he myghte
Pray you, lead on. At every house I'll call; / I may command at most. Get weapons, ho! / And raise some special officers of night. / On, good Roderigo: I'll deserve your pains.
- 4
obsoleteTo serve; to treat; to benefit.
c. 1619–22, Philip Massinger and John Fletcher, A Very Woman A man that hath / So well deserved me.
Etymology
From Middle English deserven, from Old French deservir, from Latin dēserviō, from dē- + serviō.
Forms
- past tense
- deserved
- past participle
- deserved
- present participle
- deserving
- third person singular
- deserves
deserve · To be entitled to, as a result of past actions; to be worthy to have.
deserved · Fair; merited.deserving · Worthy of reward or praise; meritorious.design · A specification of an object or process, referring to…