Words nearby merit
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
OTHER WORDS FROM merit
synonym study for merit
1. See desert3.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for merits
British Dictionary definitions for merits (1 of 2)
merits
/ (ˈmɛrɪts) /
pl n
the actual and intrinsic rights and wrongs of an issue, esp in a law case, as distinct from extraneous matters and technicalities
on its merits on the intrinsic qualities or virtues
British Dictionary definitions for merits (2 of 2)
merit
/ (ˈmɛrɪt) /
noun
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
verb -its, -iting or -ited
(tr) to be worthy of; deservehe merits promotion
See also merits
Derived forms of merit
merited, adjectivemeritless, adjectiveWord Origin for merit
C13: via Old French from Latin meritum reward, desert, from merēre to deserve
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Idioms and Phrases with merits
merit
see on its merits.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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