Merit — Defs

01 n. The quality or state of deserving well or ill; desert.

1.
The quality or state of deserving well or ill; desert.
“Here may men see how sin hath his merit.” — Chaucer.

“Be it known, that we, the greatest, are misthought For things that others do; and when we fall, We answer other's merits in our name.” — Shak.
2.
The quality or state of deserving well; worth; excellence.
“Reputation is . . . oft got without merit, and lost without deserving.” — Shak.

“To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known, And every author's merit, but his own.” — Pope.
3.
Reward deserved; any mark or token of excellence or approbation; as, his teacher gave him ten merits.
“Those laurel groves, the merits of thy youth.” — Prior.

02 v. t. To earn by service or performance; to have a right to claim as reward; to deserve; sometimes, to deserve in a bad sense; as, to merit punishment.

imp. & p. p. Merited; p. pr. & vb. n. Meriting

1.
To earn by service or performance; to have a right to claim as reward; to deserve; sometimes, to deserve in a bad sense; as, to merit punishment.
2.
To reward.[R. & Obs.]

03 v. i. To acquire desert; to gain value; to receive benefit; to profit.

1.
To acquire desert; to gain value; to receive benefit; to profit.[Obs.]