Merit

[Fr. mérite, Pr. mérit, Sp., Pg., & It. merito, Lat. meritum, from merere, mereri, to deserve, merit.] 1. The quality or relation of deserving well or ill; desert.

Had they no ground for hope but merit, that is, could they look for nothing more than what they should strictly deserve. Paley.

2Sense 2. The quality or relation of deserving well.

Reputation is often got without merit, and lost without deserving. Shak.

Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul. Pope.

3Sense 3. That excellence or goodness which entitles to honor or reward; worth; worthiness.

To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known, And every author's merits but his own. Pope.

4Sense 4. Reward deserved; that which is earned or merited. “Those laurel groves, the merits of thy youth.” Prior.

[imp. & p. p. MERITED; p. pr. & vb. n. MERITING.] [Fr. mériter, Sp. meritar, It. meritare, Lat. meritare, verb intens. from merere.]

1Sense 1. To earn by active service, or by any valuable performance; to have a right to claim as reward; to be entitled to; to deserve; sometimes, to deserve in a bad sense, to incur.

This kindness merits thanks. Shak.

A man at best is incapable of meriting any thing from God. South.

2Sense 2. To reward. [Obs. and rare.] Chapman.

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

And if in my poor death fair France may merit, Give me a thousand blows. Beau. & Fl.