Your ShelfYour Projects
Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Demerit

De-mĕr'it, n.

noun

n. [Fr. démérite, from dé and mérite, merit, Lat. meritum, from merere, to deserve. The Latin demerere is used in a good sense, for it means to deserve well. See MERIT.]

Sense 1. That which one deserves or merits, either of good or ill; desert. [Obs.]

Hers be the blame for her demerit. Chaucer.

By many benefits and demerits whereby they obliged their adherents, [they] acquired this reputation. Holland.

Sense 2. That which deserves blame; that which detracts from merit; fault; crime; vice.

They see no merit or demerit in any man or any action. Burke.

Sense 3. The state of one who deserves ill.

De-mĕr'it, v. t.

verbtransitive

[Fr. démériter. See supra.] To deserve;—said in reference to both praise and blame. [Obs.] “If I have demerited any love or thanks.” Udal. “Executed as a traitor . . . as he well demerited.” State Trials.

De-mĕr'it, v. i.

verbintransitive

To deserve praise or blame.