_bene, praeclare (melius, optime) mereri_[1] _de aliquo_—to deserve
well at some one's hands; to do a service to...
_male mereri de aliquo_—to deserve ill of a person; to treat badly.
_meritum alicuius in_ or _erga aliquem_—what a man merits at another's
hands.
_nullo meo merito_—I had not deserved it.
_ex, pro merito_—according to a man's deserts.
_multum (aliquid) alicui rei tribuere_—to consider of importance; to
set much (some) store by a thing.
_multum alicui tribuere_—to value, esteem a person.
_praemiis (amplissimis, maximis) aliquem afficere_[2]—to remunerate
(handsomely).
_meritum praemium alicui persolvere_—to reward a man according to his
deserts.
_praemium exponere_ or _proponere_—(to encourage) by offering a reward.
_praemium ponere_—to offer a prize (for the winner).
_palmam deferre, dare alicui_—to award the prize to...
_palmam ferre, auferre_—to win the prize.
_pacta merces alicuius rei_—the stipulated reward for anything.
_mercede conductum esse_—to be hired, suborned.
[1] _mereri_ is a middle verb, and consequently always has an adverb
with it.
[2] Notice the numerous phrases of which _afficere_ is a part—e.g.
_afficere aliquem admiratione, beneficio, exilio, honore, iniuria,
laude, poena, supplicio_. Especially important is its passive use—e.g.
_affici admiratione_, to admire; _gaudio, voluptate_, to rejoice, be
pleased; _dolore_, to be pained, vexed; _poena_, to suffer punishment.