WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : De*serve"
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [OF. deservir, desservir, to merit, L. deservire to serve zealously, be devoted to; de- + servire to serve. See Serve.]
Definition : 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. God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. Job xi. 6. John Gay deserved to be a favorite. Thackeray. Encouragement is not held out to things that deserve reprehension. Burke.

2. To serve; to treat; to benefit. [Obs.] A man that hath So well deserved me. Massinger.

t. [imp. & p. p. Deserved; p. pr. & vb. n. Deserving.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : De*serve"
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : Defn: To be worthy of recompense; -- usually with ill or with well. One man may merit or deserve of another. South.

i.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913