*merit*

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 ]