Merit Definition
mĕrĭt
merited, merits
noun
merits
The state, fact, or quality of deserving well or, sometimes, ill; desert.
Webster's New World
Worth; value; excellence.
Webster's New World
Something deserving reward, praise, or gratitude.
Webster's New World
Demonstrated ability or achievement.
Promotions based on merit alone.
American Heritage
An aspect of character or behavior deserving approval or disapproval.
Judging people according to their merits.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
verb
merited, merits
To earn; deserve.
American Heritage
To deserve; be worthy of.
Webster's New World
Origin of Merit
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From Middle English merite, from Old French merite, from Latin meritum (“that which one deserves, just deserts; service, kindness, benefit, fault, blame, demerit, grounds, reason, worth, value, importance"), neuter of meritus, past participle of mereō (“I deserve, earn, gain, get, acquire"), akin to Ancient Greek μέρος (meros, “a part, lot, fate, destiny").
From Wiktionary
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Middle English from Old French merite reward or punishment from Latin meritum from neuter past participle of merēre to deserve (s)mer-2 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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