Was worthy of (6)
'was worthy of' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for earned that I've seen before include "'Deserved, merited (6)'" , "Merited through behavior" , "Merited through work" , "Received money for work" , "Neared (anag.)" .)
'was worthy of' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for merited that I've seen before include "Deresved" , "Was worthy" , "Properly earned or deserved" , "appropriate" .)