deserve

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
11
Words With Friends
12
Letters
7
Pronunciation
/dɪˈzɜːv/
See all 4 pronunciations
/dɪˈzɜːv/ · /dɪˈzɝv/ · /dəˈzɝv/ · /dɪˈzɑːv/

Definition of deserve

4 senses · 1 part of speech · etymology included

verb

  1. (transitive)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.”
    “John Gay deserved to be a favourite.”
See all 4 definitions

verb

  1. (transitive)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.”
    “John Gay deserved to be a favourite.”
  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.”
  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 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. (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.”

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

From Middle English deserven, from Old French deservir, from Latin dēserviō, from dē- + serviō.

Hooks

3 extensions · 3 back

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