De*serve" (?), 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.
[Obs.]
A man that hath
So well deserved me.
Massinger.
© Webster 1913.
De*serve" (?), v. i.
To be worthy of recompense; -- usually with ill or with well.
One man may merit or deserve of another.
South.
© Webster 1913.