The term 'ILL-DESERT' is a combination of two words, 'ILL' and 'DESERT, ' which together mean 'unjust punishment.' It is used to describe a situation in which someone is punished for something they did not do or for something that was not their fault. The crossword solution for this term is 'DEMERIT, ' which means 'a mark against someone's character or record, especially for misbehavior.' In other words, a DEMERIT is a form of punishment, which can be seen as an example of ILL-DESERT.