noun
the quality of being deserving (e.g., deserving assistance)
-
there were many children whose deservingness he recognized and rewarded
• Syn: ↑merit, ↑meritoriousness
• Derivationally related forms: ↑meritorious (for: ↑meritoriousness), ↑meritorious (for: ↑merit), ↑merit (for: ↑merit), ↑deserving
• Hypernyms: ↑worthiness
Useful english dictionary. 2012.