merit
pronunciation
How to pronounce merit in British English:
UK [ˈmerɪt]
How to pronounce merit in American English:
US [ˈmerɪt]
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- Noun:
- any admirable quality or attribute
- the quality of being deserving (e.g., deserving assistance)
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- Verb:
- be worthy or deserving
Word Origin
- merit (n.)
- c. 1200, "spiritual credit" (for good works, etc.); c. 1300, "spiritual reward," from Old French merite "wages, pay, reward; thanks; merit, moral worth, that which assures divine pity," and directly from Latin meritum "a merit, service, kindness, benefit, favor; worth, value, importance," neuter of meritus, past participle of merere, meriri "to earn, deserve, acquire, gain," from PIE root *(s)mer- (2) "to allot, assign" (cognates: Greek meros "part, lot," moira "share, fate," moros "fate, destiny, doom," Hittite mark "to divide" a sacrifice). Sense of "worthiness, excellence" is from early 14c.; from late 14c. as "condition or conduct that deserves either reward or punishment;" also "a reward, benefit." Related: Merits. Merit system attested from 1880. Merit-monger was in common use 16c.-17c. in a sense roughly of "do-gooder."
- merit (v.)
- late 15c., "to be entitled to," from Middle French meriter (Modern French mériter), from merite (n.), or directly from Latin meritare "to earn, yield," frequentative of mereri "to earn (money);" also "to serve as a soldier" (see merit (n.)). Related: Merited; meriting.
Example
- 1. Wyndham responded that the case was without merit .
- 2. But does it still merit this attention ?
- 3. But the economic merit of many is dubious .
- 4. I think that film has merit , too .
- 5. Beauty is unfair : the attractive enjoy privileges and powers gained without merit .