Baretti: A dictionary of the English and Italian languages
Meritá-re, v. a.
1. to reward, to recompense, to acknowledge, to make amends, to requite. Non so come — i vostri favori, I don't know how to make you amends for so many favours; 2. to deserve, to merit, to be worthy. — d'uno, to deserve well of one, to oblige him, to serve him a good turn, to pay interest upon money lent;s. m. Meritá-tóre, f. Meritá-tríce; adj. Meritá-nte.
Florio: a worlde of wordes, or most copious, dictionarie in Italian and English
meritare: to merit, to earne, to deserue. Also to reward, to guerdon or recompence. Also to make worthy of.