merit
[mer-it]
- claim to respect and praise; excellence; worth.
- something that deserves or justifies a reward or commendation; a commendable quality, act, etc.: The book's only merit is its sincerity.
- merits, the inherent rights and wrongs of a matter, as a lawsuit, unobscured by procedural details, technicalities, personal feelings, etc.: The case will be decided on its merits alone.
- Often merits. the state or fact of deserving; desert: to treat people according to their merits.
- Roman Catholic Church. worthiness of spiritual reward, acquired by righteous acts made under the influence of grace.
- Obsolete. something that is deserved, whether good or bad.
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- to be worthy of; deserve.
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- Chiefly Theology. to acquire merit.
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- based on merit: a merit raise of $25 a week.
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Origin of merit
1175–1225; Middle English < Latin meritum act worthy of praise (or blame), noun use of neuter of meritus, past participle of merēre to earn
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comSynonym study
1. See desert3.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
dignitytalentintegrityvaluebenefitexcellencevirtuestaturequalityworthinessdeservewarrantjustifyaretecaliberdesertworthcreditgoodassetExamples from the Web for merit
Contemporary Examples
This is likely a lowball number but it has the merit to illustrate the tradeoff that raising the minimum wage requires.
In Europe, he explained, the circus is considered a high form of art, known for its merit of talents and skilled performers.
This point has merit, but quickly begins to strain after the application of any sort of pressure.
But merit aside, you can indict a ham sandwich if it's Republican in the most liberal hotbed of Texas: Travis County.
There is no merit badge yet for Dragon Boat racing, although there is one for canoeing.
Historical Examples
But give up an inclination, and there is some merit in that.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
Does he believe, that the disgrace which I supper on his account, will give him a merit with me?
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
But the recognition of his merit came sooner than could have been expected.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
I vindicated the good Mrs. Norton with a warmth that was due to her merit.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
What merit was there in being what it would be contemptible not to be?
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
merit
- worth or superior quality; excellencework of great merit
- (often plural) a deserving or commendable quality or actjudge him on his merits
- Christianity spiritual credit granted or received for good works
- the fact or state of deserving; desert
- an obsolete word for reward
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- (tr) to be worthy of; deservehe merits promotion
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See also merits
Word Origin
C13: via Old French from Latin meritum reward, desert, from merēre to deserve
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for merit
n.
c.1200, "spiritual credit" (for good works, etc.); c.1300, "spiritual reward," from Old French merite "wages, pay, reward; thanks; merit, moral worth, that which assures divine pity," and directly from Latin meritum "a merit, service, kindness, benefit, favor; worth, value, importance," neuter of meritus, past participle of merere, meriri "to earn, deserve, acquire, gain," from PIE root *(s)mer- "to allot, assign" (cf. Greek meros "part, lot," moira "share, fate," moros "fate, destiny, doom," Hittite mark "to divide" a sacrifice).
Sense of "worthiness, excellence" is from early 14c.; from late 14c. as "condition or conduct that deserves either reward or punishment;" also "a reward, benefit." Related: Merits. Merit system attested from 1880. Merit-monger was in common use 16c.-17c. in a sense roughly of "do-gooder."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with merit
merit
see on its merits.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.