With various constructions. Deserving of something positive; of sufficient merit or excellence to… With of or †for, as worthy of praise. Cf. well w…

In a positive sense. Of sufficient merit; worthy, deserving. With infinitive as complement, specifying what one is deserving of. Obsolete.

Thoroughly worthy (in various senses). Chiefly in predicative use, esp. with of, or to and infinitive; cf. well, adv. 16b, worthy, adj. 1a.

Meriting good treatment; worthy of reward.

That deserves (good, ill, etc.); used contextually with either sense implied; but esp. in a good sense, meritorious, worthy. Esp. in deserving poor.

Of great desert; meritorious, deserving. Const. of.

Meritorious, worthy.

That has deserved [Latin meritus]; meritorious, worthy; = deserving, adj. Obsolete. rare.

Of a person: that has fully earned something; worthy. Cf. deserved, adj. 2.