'deserve' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for earn that I've seen before
include
"Attain"
,
"Receive in return for"
,
"Gain through labour or work"
,
"Gain (money, reputation, etc)"
,
"Acquire money by labour"
.)
I've seen this clue in The Independent, The Telegraph, The New York Times, the Evening Standard, the Universal, The Star Tribune, the Sydney Morning Herald, The Mirror, the Penny Press, The Guardian and the King Feature Syndicate.
'deserve' is the definition.
(synonyms)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for merit that I've seen before
include
"Worth; deserve"
,
"of a high order?"
,
"distinction"
,
"Goodness"
,
"Deserve or warrant"
.)
I've seen this clue in The Independent, The Wall Street Journal, The Telegraph, The New York Times, the USA Today, the Evening Standard, the Newsday, the LA Times, The Star Tribune, The Washington Post, The Times, The Mirror, the Penny Press, The Sun, The Guardian and the King Feature Syndicate.