\De*serve"\ (d[-e]*z[~e]rv"), 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.

\De*serve"\ (d[-e]*z[~e]rv"), v. i.
To be worthy of recompense; -- usually with ill or with well.
      One man may merit or deserve of another. --South.