v.
Pronunciation: di- ' z ə rv
Function: verb
Inflected Form: de · served ; de · serv · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French deservir, from Latin deservire to devote oneself to, from de- + servire to serve
Date: 13th century
transitive verb : to be worthy of : MERIT < deserve s another chance>
intransitive verb : to be worthy, fit, or suitable for some reward or requital <have become recognized as they deserve ― T. S. Eliot>
– de · serv · er noun