| meritoriousness 
 
 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
 
 
 |  |