de·serve (dĭ-zûrvʹ)v. de·served, de·serv·ing, de·servesv. tr. To be worthy of; merit. See Synonyms at earn1.v. intr. To be worthy or deserving. [Middle English deserven, from Old French deservir, from Latin dēservīre, to serve zealously : dē-, intensive pref.; see de- + servīre, to serve; see serve.]