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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Deserve, v. Also: deserwe, desserve, disserve, di-, desarve. [ME. deserve (c 1300), des-, disserve, OF. deservir, L. dēservīre.]

1. tr. To deserve or merit. c1420 Wynt. viii. 2947.
For he wald usurp na fame langare … Than he deserwyd Ib. 2952.
Noucht mare to desyre off mede, Than he deserwyd in till dede 1456 Hay I. 291/28.
He may nocht gudely na lefully be callit be twa namys, bot he deserve thame Ib. II. 85/37.
To geve [giftis] to thame that wele have deservit it 1492 Myll Spect. 285/5.
He maid … this evill ald woman to be brynt as scho had weill disservit c1515 Asl. MS. I. 309/6.
He deseruit his faderis maledictioun c1500-c1512 Dunb. xv. 11.
Sum askis mair than he deservis Ib. xxxiii. 23.
Dreid he had gottin that he desarvit He fled away gud speid c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6228.
O Lorde, … Quhilk knew … Quha wald to thé be inobedient, And so disarue for to be reprobatt 1568 Pref. Lyndesay 10.
Quhilk in respect of thir greit hurtis, deseruis na small punischement a1578 Pitsc. I. 85/22.
Ane wnhappie man … quho had deserwit ane thowsand deidis Ib. 94/15.
Deservand forfalltour 1585 Maitl. F. clxxxi. 12.
So diet he auld deseruing worthie fame

2. To serve, do service to. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. Prol. 93.
How lang sall I thus foruay Quhilk ȝow and Venus in this garth deseruis?