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 ]