Deserving; worthy (of either good or bad)

emphatic form of deserved (when used as an adjective); richly deserved, well and truly earnt.

undeserved, unwarranted

(dated) Poor people who are incapable of providing for themselves and thus seen as legitimate recipients of charity.

One act of kindness should be paid back by another act of kindness.

(music, mnemonic) A mnemonic phrase to help remember the order of the five lines on a musical treble stave in order from the bottom to the top: E G B D F.

One act of malice should be paid back by another act of malice.

(degree, manner) In a way or to a degree that is deserved or merited.

The state or quality of being deserved.

(archaic) third-person singular simple present indicative form of deserve