The term BE DESERVING OF can be broken down into three crossword solutions: RATE, MERIT, and EARN. To be deserving of something means to be worthy of it, or to have earned it. To RATE something is to evaluate it according to a set of criteria. MERIT is the quality of being deserving of reward or recognition. To EARN something is to gain it through effort or work. Therefore, to be deserving of something is to have evaluated it according to a set of criteria, to have the quality of being worthy of reward or recognition, and to have gained it through effort or work.