Merit \Mer"it\, v. i. To acquire desert; to gain value; to receive benefit; to profit. [Obs.]

--Beau. & Fl.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Merit \Mer"it\, n. [F. m['e]rite, 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Merit \Mer"it\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Merited; p. pr. & vb. n. Meriting.]

[F. m['e]riter, 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)