n. [ F. démérite demerit (in sense 2), OF. demerite demerit (in sense 1), fr. L. demerere to deserve well, LL., to deserve well or ill; de- + merere to deserve. See De-, and Merit. ] 1. That which one merits or deserves, either of good or ill; desert. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

By many benefits and demerits whereby they obliged their adherents, [ they ] acquired this reputation. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which deserves blame; ill desert; a fault; a vice; misconduct; -- the opposite of merit. [ 1913 Webster ]

They see no merit or demerit in any man or any action. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Secure, unless forfeited by any demerit or offense. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The state of one who deserves ill. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. F. démériter to deserve ill. See Demerit, n. ] 1. To deserve; -- said in reference to both praise and blame. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If I have demerited any love or thanks. Udall. [ 1913 Webster ]

Executed as a traitor . . . as he well demerited. State Trials (1645). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To depreciate or cry down. [ R. ] Bp. Woolton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To deserve praise or blame. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Emeritus. ] Considered as having done sufficient public service, and therefore honorably discharged. [ Obs. ] Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. [ L., having served out his time, p. p. of emerere, emereri, to obtain by service, serve out one's term; e out + merere, mereri, to merit, earn, serve. ] Honorably discharged from the performance of public duty on account of age, infirmity, or long and faithful services; -- said of an officer of a college or pastor of a church. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ n.; pl. Emeriti [ L. ] A veteran who has honorably completed his service.

n. Lack of worth; demerit. [ R. ] Suckling. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Unmerited. [ Obs. ] Charles I. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. immeritus; pref. im- not + meritus, p. p. of merere, mereri, to deserve. ] Undeserving. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. mérite, L. meritum, fr. merere, mereri, to deserve, merit; prob. originally, to get a share; akin to Gr. &unr_; part, &unr_; fate, doom, &unr_; to receive as one's portion. Cf. Market, Merchant, Mercer, Mercy. ] 1. The quality or state of deserving well or ill; desert. [ 1913 Webster ]

Here may men see how sin hath his merit. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Esp. in a good sense: The quality or state of deserving well; worth; excellence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Reputation is . . . oft got without merit, and lost without deserving. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known,
And every author's merit, but his own. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Reward deserved; any mark or token of excellence or approbation; as, his teacher gave him ten merits. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those laurel groves, the merits of thy youth. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Merited; p. pr. & vb. n. Meriting. ] [ F. mériter, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To reward. [ R. & Obs. ] Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To acquire desert; to gain value; to receive benefit; to profit. [ Obs. ] Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Deserving of reward. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By merit; deservedly. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ } n. [ NL. merithallus, fr. Gr. &unr_;, or &unr_;, a part + &unr_; a young shoot. ] (Bot.) Same as Internode. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who depends on merit for salvation. [ Obs. ] Milner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A form of social system in which power goes to those with superior intellects. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. The belief that rulers should be chosen for their superior abilities and not because of their wealth or birth. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. Of or pertaining to meritocracy; as, meritocratic society. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. meritorius that brings in money. ] Possessing merit; deserving of reward or honor; worthy of recompense; valuable. [ 1913 Webster ]

And meritorious shall that hand be called,
Canonized, and worshiped as a saint. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Mer`i*to"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Mer`i*to"ri*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Meritorious. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A play of children, in swinging on ropes, or the like, till they are dizzy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Excessive merit. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To merit or deserve beforehand. [ Obs. ] Eikon Basi&unr_;&unr_;ke. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. promeritus, p. p. of promerere to deserve; pro before + merere to merit. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To oblige; to confer a favor on. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To deserve; to procure by merit. [ Obs. ] Davenant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Proto- + -mere + -ite. ] (Zool.) The second segment of one of the Gregarinæ. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. temeritas, from temere by chance, rashly; perhaps akin to Skr. tamas darkness: cf. F. témérité. ] Unreasonable contempt of danger; extreme venturesomeness; rashness; as, the temerity of a commander in war. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Rashness; precipitancy; heedlessness; venturesomeness. -- Temerity, Rashness. These words are closely allied in sense, but have a slight difference in their use and application. Temerity is Latin, and rashness is Anglo-Saxon. As in many such cases, the Latin term is more select and dignified; the Anglo-Saxon more familiar and energetic. We show temerity in hasty decisions, and the conduct to which they lead. We show rashness in particular actions, as dictated by sudden impulse. It is an exhibition of temerity to approach the verge of a precipice; it is an act of rashness to jump into a river without being able to swim. Temerity, then, is an unreasonable contempt of danger; rashness is a rushing into danger from thoughtlessness or excited feeling. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is notorious temerity to pass sentence upon grounds uncapable of evidence. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Her rush hand in evil hour
Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

See high.
See honorable.
See hopeful.
See hostile.
See hurt.
See hhurtful.
See hygienic.
See ideal.
See idle.
See illusory.
See imaginable.
See imaginative.
See immortal.
See implicit.
See important.
See impressible. See >Unimpressible.
See impressionable.
See improvable.
See impugnable.
See incidental.
See increasable.
See indifferent.
See indulgent.
See industrious.
See inflammable.
See influential.
See ingenious.
See ingenuous.
See inhabitable.
See injurious.
See inquisitive.
See instructive.
See intelligent.
See intelligible.
See intentional.
See interesting.
See interpretable.
See inventive.
See investigable.
See jealous.
See joyful.
See joyous.
See justifiable.
See kingly.
See knightly.
See knotty.
See knowable.
See laborious.
See ladylike.
See level.
See libidinous.
See lightsome.
See limber.
See lineal.
See logical.
See lordly.
See losable.
See lovable.
See lucent.
See luminous.
See lustrous.
See lusty.
See maidenly.
See makable.
See malleable.
See manageable.
See manful.
See manlike.
See manly.
See marketable.
See marriable.
See marriageable.
See marvelous.
See masculine.
See matchable.
See matronlike.
See meek.
See meet.
See melodious.
See mendable.
See mentionable.
See mercenary.
See merciable.
See meritable.
See merry.
See metaphorical.
See mighty.
See mild.
See military.
See mindful.
See mingleable.
See miraculous.
See miry.
See mitigable.
See modifiable.
See modish.
See moist.
See monkish.
See motherly.
See muscular.
See musical.
See mysterious.
See namable.
See native.
See navigable.
See needful.
See negotiable.
See niggard.
See noble.
See objectionable.
[ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

See accommodating.
See aching.
See ailing.
See aiming.
See alarming.
See altering.
See appreciating.
See approving.
See aspiring.
See assisting.
See attempting.
See attending.
See bearing.
See befitting.
See beginning.
See believing.
See bleaching.
See bleeding.
See blemishing.
See blenching.
See blossoming.
See blushing.
See boding.
See branching.
See breathing.
See burning.
See calculating.
See ceasing.
See changing.
See charming.
See communicating.
See complaining.
See complying.
See conceiving.
See conducing.
See confessing.
See conniving.
See consenting.
See considering.
See conspiring.
See consulting.
See consuming.
See contending.
See contriving.
See conversing.
See convincing.
See dawning.
See decaying.
See delaying.
See depending.
See derogating.
See deserving.
See desiring.
See despairing.
See detesting.
See deviating.
See differencing.
See discerning.
See discording.
See discriminating.
See disobliging.
See dispensing.
See dissembling.
See dissolving.
See distinguishing.
See distracting.
See disturbing.
See doubting.
See dreading.
See drooping.
See ebbing.
See echoing.
See edifying.
See ending.
See enduring.
See engaging.
See enjoying.
See entering.
See enterprising.
See entertaining.
See envying.
See existing.
See fadging.
See fading.
See fainting.
See faltering.
See fearing.
See feigning.
See fighting.
See fitting.
See flagging.
See flattering.
See flinching.
See folding.
See forbearing.
See foreboding.
See foreseeing.
See forgiving.
See giving.
See grudging.
See harming.
See heeding.
See hesitating.
See hoping.
See hurting.
See importing.
See imposing.
See improving.
See interesting.
See intermitting.
See intoxicating.
See inviting.
See jarring.
See laboring.
See lingering.
See listening.
See loving.
See meddling.
See meriting.
See mistrusting.
See moving.
See murmuring.
See obliging.
See observing.
See offending.
See opening.
See pardoning.
See paying.
See perceiving.
See performing.
See perishing.
See pitying.
See pleasing.
See possessing.
See preaching.
See prepossessing.
See presuming.
See pretending.
See prevailing.
See prevaricating.
See profiting.
See promising.
See proving.
See quailing.
See questioning.
See reasoning.
See recalling.
See reclining.
See recurring.
See referring.
See reflecting.
See refunding.
See refusing.
See rejoicing.
See relaxing.
See relishing.
See remembering.
See repenting.
See repining.
See reproving.
See repulsing.
See resisting.
See resolving.
See resting.
See returning.
See rewarding.
See sanctifying.
See satisfying.
See searching.
See seeing.
See setting.
See shrinking.
See sinking.
See sleeping.
See slipping.
See slumbering.
See speaking.
See stinting.
See stirring.
See stooping.
See submitting.
See sufficing.
See suiting.
See surging.
See suspecting.
See sweating.
See swerving.
See sympathizing.
See tasting.
See thriving.
See tiring.
See toiling.
See trading.
See trembling.
See trespassing.
See trifling.
See vacillating.
See varying.
See walking.
See wandering.
See waning.
See wasting.
See wavering.
See weeping.
See winking.
See winning.
See withdrawing.
See withering.
See wondering.
See working.
See writing.
See yielding.
----- and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The above classes of words are unlimited in extent, and such compounds may be formed by any writer or speaker at will from almost all the adjectives or participles in the language, excepting those which have a recognized and usual negative correspondent with the prefix -in. No attempt will be made, therefore, to define them all in this Dictionary; many will be omitted from its Vocabulary which are negations of the simple word, and are readily explained by prefixing a not to the latter. Derivatives of these words in -ly and -ness will also, for the most part, be omitted for the same or similar reasons. [ 1913 Webster ]

There will be inserted as separate articles with definitions, the following: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Those which have acquired an opposed or contrary, instead of a merely negative, meaning; as, unfriendly, ungraceful, unpalatable, unquiet, and the like; or else an intensive sense more than a prefixed not would express; as, unending, unparalleled, undisciplined, undoubted, unsafe, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Those which have the value of independent words, inasmuch as the simple words are either not used at all, or are rarely, or at least much less frequently, used; as, unavoidable, unconscionable, undeniable, unspeakable, unprecedented, unruly, and the like; or inasmuch as they are used in a different sense from the usual meaning of the primitive, or especially in one of the significations of the latter; as, unaccountable, unalloyed, unbelieving, unpretending, unreserved, and the like; or inasmuch as they are so frequently and familiarly used that they are hardly felt to be of negative origin; as, uncertain, uneven, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Those which are anomalous, provincial, or, for some other reason, not desirable to be used, and are so indicated; as, unpure for impure, unsatisfaction for dissatisfaction, unexpressible for inexpressible, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

II. Un- is prefixed to nouns to express the absence of, or the contrary of, that which the noun signifies; as, unbelief, unfaith, unhealth, unrest, untruth, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Compounds of this last class are given in full in their proper order in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]