DESERVE, v.t. [L. To serve.]
1. To merit; to be worthy of; applied to good or evil.
2. To merit by labor or services; to have a just claim to an equivalent for good conferred. The laborer deserves his wages; he deserves the value of his services.
3. To merit by good actions or qualities in general; to be worthy of, on account of excellence. The virtuous man deserves esteem and commendation. A work of value deserves praise.
4. To be worthy of, in a bad sense; to merit by an evil act; as, to deserve blame or punishment.
God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. Job 11.
DESERVE, v.i. To merit; to be worthy of or deserving; as, he deserves well or ill of his neighbor.
