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

merionethshire, merisis, meristem, meristematic, meristic, merit, merit badge, merit pay, merit system, meritocracy, meritocrat

Words related to unmerited

biased, partisan, inequitable, unfair, unjustified, wrongful, wrong, one-sided, prejudiced, baseless, unjust, unforgivable, groundless, inexcusable, unconscionable, unfounded, indefensible, ineligible, inappropriate, unsuitable

Example sentences from the Web for unmerited

British Dictionary definitions for unmerited (1 of 2)

unmerited
/ (ʌnˈmɛrɪtɪd) /

adjective

not merited or deserved

British Dictionary definitions for unmerited (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, adjective

Word Origin for merit

C13: via Old French from Latin meritum reward, desert, from merēre to deserve

Idioms and Phrases with unmerited

merit

see on its merits.