Definition for DE-SERVE'

DE-SERVE', v.t. [deserv'; L. deservio; de and servio, to serve. The Fr. deservir is not used.]

  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 xi.

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