Mer"it (?), n. [F.
mérite, L. meritum, fr. merere,
mereri, to deserve, merit; prob. originally, to get a share;
akin to Gr. &?; part, &?; fate, doom, &?; to receive as one's
portion. Cf. Market, Merchant, Mercer,
Mercy.] 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. Esp. in a good sense: 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.
Mer"it, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Merited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Meriting.] [F. mériter, L. meritare, v.
intens. fr. merere. See Merit, n.]
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. "This kindness
merits thanks." Shak.
2. To reward. [R. & Obs.]
Chapman.
Mer"it, v. i. To acquire desert;
to gain value; to receive benefit; to profit. [Obs.] Beau.
& Fl.
