deserve
verbAU, UK /dɪˈzɜːv/ · US /dɪˈzɝv/
Etymology From Middle English deserven, from Old French deservir, from Latin dēserviō, from dē- + serviō.
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.
4 more examples
- We don't think your article deserves reading.
- God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 11:6:
- John Gay deserved to be a favourite.1853, William Makepeace Thackeray, The English Humorists of the Eighteenth Century:
- the grantees named in the questioned deed executed by their father richly deserved receiving the family home.1967, The Pacific Reporter, page 510:
2
Obsolete To 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.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
3
Obsolete To 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 myghte1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter XXX, in Le Morte Darthur, book VIII:
- 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.c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
4
Obsolete To serve; to treat; to benefit.
- c. 1619–22, Philip Massinger and John Fletcher, A Very Woman A man that hath / So well deserved me.
- Antonyms
- undeserve
- Derived terms
- deservant, deserveless, deserver, good boys deserve fudge always, undeserve, undeserver, well-deserved
- Related terms
- desert, serve someone right, receive