érdemelt

érdemelt is a Hungarian adjective and the past participle of the verb érdemel, meaning to deserve. It describes something that has been earned by merit and is therefore deserved. The term is most often used before nouns to indicate merit-based entitlement, for example érdemelt díj (a well-deserved prize) or érdemelt elismerés (deserved recognition). It can also appear in attributive phrases such as érdemelt jutalom. In formal or literary contexts, érdemelt emphasizes merit rather than luck or circumstance.

Etymology-wise, érdemelt derives from érdem, meaning merit or worth, together with the verbal suffix -el; érdemel means to deserve, and érdemelt is its past participle form used as an adjective.

Usage notes and nuance are helpful for distinguishing it from related terms. Megérdemelt is a widely used synonym that often appears in everyday language; érdemelt, while interchangeable in many cases, can carry a slightly more formal or literary tone. Both forms express that the subject has earned praise, reward, or recognition due to merit rather than external factors.

Common collocations include érdemelt díj, érdemelt elismerés, and érdemelt jutalom, all of which convey the idea of deserved merit rather than mere entitlement. The choice between érdemelt and megérdemelt can depend on register, with megérdemelt sometimes preferred in colloquial speech and érdemelt in more formal or literary writing.