society > morality > dueness or propriety > [verb (transitive)] > deserve (well or ill) > by merit (6)
To have acquired, and thus to have, a rightful claim to; to be entitled to, in return for services or meritorious actions, or sometimes for ill…
To obtain by merit, to earn (favour, love, etc.). Obsolete.
transitive. To deserve, merit. rare.
Subcategories:
— deserve good treatment from (1)
— make or hold worthy of (1)
— represent as meritorious (1)