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