deserved

[dih-zurvd]

adjective

justly or rightly earned; merited: a deserved increase in salary.

Origin of deserved

First recorded in 1545–55; deserve + -ed²

Related formsde·serv·ed·ness

[dih-zur-vid-nis] /dɪˈzɜr vɪd nɪs/, nounhalf-de·served, adjectivehalf-de·serv·ed·ness, nounun·de·served, adjectivewell-de·served, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018