deserve

present singular third person deserves · participle present deserving · participle past deserved · past deserved

1. transitiveTo be entitled to, as a result of past actions; to be worthy to have.

   We don't think your article deserves reading.

   5 more examples

   After playing so well, the team really deserved their win.

   After what he did, he deserved to go to prison.

   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. 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.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

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

   1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter XXX, in Le Morte Darthur, book VIII

   1 more example

   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. 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.