Sekirov Dictionary

merit

/ˈmɛɹɪt/

noun 6
verb 3
forms 5

noun6

•
A claim to commendation or a reward.
- [R]eputation is an idle and most false imposition , oft got without merit and lost without deseruing. — 1603
•
Something deserving or worthy of positive recognition or reward.
- His reward for his merit was a check for $50.
•
Usually in the plural form the merits: the substantive rightness or wrongness of a legal argument, a lawsuit, etc., as opposed to technical matters such as the admissibility of evidence or points of legal procedure; (by extension) the overall good or bad quality, or rightness or wrongness, of some other thing.
- Even though the plaintiff was ordered by the judge to pay some costs for not having followed the correct procedure, she won the case on the merits.
•
A mark or token of approbation or to recognize excellence.
- For her good performance in the examination, her teacher gave her ten merits.
•
The sum of all the good deeds that a person does which determines the quality of the person's next state of existence and contributes to the person's growth towards enlightenment.
- At funerals, acts of sharing religious merit are central and relatives of the deceased make merit in order to ensure that the departed family member will have a favourable rebirth. — 2015
•
(no longer used) The quality or state of deserving retribution, whether reward or punishment.
- Be it known, that we the greatest are mis-thoght / For things that others do : and when we fall, / We answer others merits, in our name / Are therefore to be pittied. — 1606

verb3

•
To deserve, to earn.
- Her performance merited wild applause.
•
To be deserving or worthy.
- They were punished as they merited.
(no longer used, rare) To reward.

forms

merited · meriting · meriteth · merits · meritest

This dictionary works without the internet: on your phone · in Chrome