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
synonym study for merit
1. See
desert3.
OTHER WORDS FROM merit
Words nearby merit
Example sentences 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; excellence
work of great merit
(often plural)
a deserving or commendable quality or act
judge 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; deserve
he merits promotion
See also
merits
Derived forms of merit
merited, adjective meritless, adjectiveWord Origin for merit
C13: via Old French from Latin
meritum reward, desert, from
merēre to deserve
Idioms and Phrases with merits
merit
see on its merits.