c. 1200, "spiritual credit" (for good works, etc.); c. 1300, "spiritual reward," from Old French merite "wages, pay, reward; thanks; merit, moral worth, that which assures divine pity," and directly from Latin meritum "a merit, service, kindness, benefit, favor; worth, value, importance," neuter of meritus, past participle of merere, meriri "to earn, deserve, acquire, gain," from PIE root *(s)mer- (2) "to allot, assign" (cognates: Greek meros "part, lot," moira "share, fate," moros "fate, destiny, doom," Hittite mark "to divide" a sacrifice).
Sense of "worthiness, excellence" is from early 14c.; from late 14c. as "condition or conduct that deserves either reward or punishment;" also "a reward, benefit." Related: Merits. Merit system attested from 1880. Merit-monger was in common use 16c.-17c. in a sense roughly of "do-gooder."
merit (v.)
late 15c., "to be entitled to," from Middle French meriter (Modern French mériter), from merite (n.), or directly from Latin meritare "to earn, yield," frequentative of mereri "to earn (money);" also "to serve as a soldier" (see merit (n.)). Related: Merited; meriting.
双语例句
1. Surely such weighty matters merit a higher level of debate?
这样重大的事件谅必应进行更高级别的讨论吧？
来自柯林斯例句
2. For his dedication the Mayor awarded him a medal of merit.
为表彰他的奉献精神，市长授予他荣誉奖章。
来自柯林斯例句
3. "It's of no great literary merit," he said, almost apologetically.
“它没多大的文学价值，”他近乎愧疚地说道。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Your feature has the merit of simply stating what has been achieved.
