MERIT

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French ~e, from Latin ~um, from neuter of ~us, past participle of merēre to deserve, earn; akin to Greek meiresthai to receive as one's portion, meros part Date: 14th century 1. reward or punishment due, the qualities or actions that constitute the basis of one's deserts, a praiseworthy quality ; virtue , character or conduct deserving reward, honor, or esteem, spiritual credit held to be earned by performance of righteous acts and to ensure future benefits, 3. the substance of a legal case apart from matters of jurisdiction, procedure, or form, individual significance or justification, ~less adjective II. verb Date: 1526 transitive verb to be worthy of or entitled or liable to ; earn , intransitive verb to be entitled to reward or honor, deserve