Part 202

South.

De*sert"less (?), a. Without desert. [R.]

De*sert"less*ly, adv. Undeservedly. [R.] Beau. & Fl.

Des"ert*ness (?), n. A deserted condition. [R.] "The desertness of the country." Udall.

{ De*sert"rix (?), De*sert"rice (?), } n. [L. desertrix.] A feminine deserter. Milton.

De*serve" (d*zrv"), 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*zrv"), v. i. To be worthy of recompense; -- usually with ill or with well.

One man may merit or deserve of another.

South.

De*serv"ed*ly (-zrv"d*l>ycr/), adv. According to desert (whether good or evil); justly.

De*serv"ed*ness, n. Meritoriousness.

De*serv"er (?), n. One who deserves.

De*serv"ing, n. Desert; merit.

A person of great deservings from the republic.

Swift.

De*serv"ing, a. Meritorious; worthy; as, a deserving person or act. -- De*serv"ing*ly, adv.

Des`ha*bille (?), n. [F. déshabillé, fr. déshabiller to undress; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + habiller to dress. See Habiliment, and cf. Dishabille.] An undress; a careless toilet.

De*sic"cant (?), a. [L. desiccans, p. pr. of desiccare. See Desiccate.] Drying; desiccative. -- n. (Med.) A medicine or application for drying up a sore. Wiseman.

Des"ic*cate (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desiccated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desiccating.] [L. desiccatus, p. p. of desiccare to dry up; de- + siccare to dry, siccus dry. See Sack wine.] To dry up; to deprive or exhaust of moisture; to preserve by drying; as, to desiccate fish or fruit.