deserved
[dih-zurvd]
- justly or rightly earned; merited: a deserved increase in salary.
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Origin of deserved
deserve
[dih-zurv]
- to merit, be qualified for, or have a claim to (reward, assistance, punishment, etc.) because of actions, qualities, or situation: to deserve exile; to deserve charity; a theory that deserves consideration.
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- to be worthy of, qualified for, or have a claim to reward, punishment, recompense, etc.: to reward him as he deserves; an idea deserving of study.
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Origin of deserve
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for deserved
Contemporary Examples
But this was the year when criticism of said women finally got the harsh words it deserved.
He wrote that he deserved to die and alluded to a ominous plan that he had backed out of twice already.
This much-vaunted turnout operation turns out not to have deserved much vaunt.
We loved Zellweger as Bridget Jones for owning her weight, finding love, and never settling for less than she deserved.
But in this case a very non-wiki-like dispute erupted over who deserved the most credit.
Historical Examples
You have never been put to a test till now, that deserved to be called a test.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
Well had he deserved his native name of Bwana Nyele--the master with the mane.
The Leopard WomanStewart Edward White
In their hearts they knew that I deserved all these epithets.
In the ValleyHarold Frederic
The remainder of his life was a series of deserved afflictions.
The Life of Horatio Lord NelsonRobert Southey
He had only given me back the hand I had not deserved he should touch.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
deserve
- (tr) to be entitled to or worthy of; merit
- (intr foll by of) obsolete to be worthy
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French deservir, from Latin dēservīre to serve devotedly, from de- + servīre to serve
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for deserved
deserve
v.
early 13c., from Old French deservir (Modern French desservir) "deserve, be worthy of, earn, merit," from Latin deservire "serve well," from de- "completely" (see de-) + servire "to serve" (see serve). From "be entitled to because of good service" (a sense found in Late Latin), meaning generalized c.1300 to "be worthy of." Related: Deserved; deserving.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with deserved
deserve
see one good turn deserves another.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.