Defn: A deserted condition. [R.] "The desertness of the country."
Udall.
DESERTRIX; DESERTRICE
De*sert"rix, De*sert"rice, n. Etym: [L. desertrix.]
Defn: A feminine deserter. Milton.
DESERVE
De*serve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deserved; p. pr. & vb. n. Deserving.]
Etym: [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.
DESERVE
De*serve", v. i.
Defn: To be worthy of recompense; — usually with ill or with well.
One man may merit or deserve of another. South.
DESERVEDLY
De*serv"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: According to desert (whether good or evil); justly.