De‐serve″ (dē̍‐zẽrv″), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Deserved (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Deserving.] [OF. deservir, desservir, to merit, L. deservire to serve zealously, be devoted to; de- + servire to serve. See Serve.] 1. To earn by service; to be worthy of (something due, either good or evil); to merit; to be entitled to; as, the laborer deserves his wages; a work of value deserves praise.
God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. Job xi. 6.
John Gay deserved to be a favorite. Thackeray.
Encouragement is not held out to things that deserve reprehension. Burke.
2. To serve; to treat; to benefit.
A man that hath
So well deserved me. Massinger.