merit
Synonyms:
(noun) cardinal virtue, credit, distinction, excellence, excellency, grace, value, virtue.
(verb) deserve, earn, rate.
Related Words:
arete, asset, benefit, caliber, desert, deserve, dignity, excellence, good, integrity, justify, quality, stature, talent, value, warrant, worth, worthiness.
Antonyms:
deficiency, demerit, disvalue.
Synonym Study:
Desert, merit, and worth refer to the quality in a person, action, or thing that entitles recognition, especially favorable recognition.
Desert is the quality that entitles one to a just reward:
according to her deserts.
Merit is usually the excellence that entitles to praise:
a person of great merit.
Worth is always used in a favorable sense and signifies inherent value or goodness:
The worth of your contribution is incalculable.
Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English < Latin meritum act worthy of praise (or blame), noun use of neuter of meritus, past participle of merēre to earn. C13: via Old French from Latin meritum reward, desert, from merēre to deserve. —Dictionary.com. // First Known Use: Noun: 14th century. Verb: 1526. History and Etymology: Noun and Verb: Middle English, from Anglo-French merite, from Latin meritum, from neuter of meritus, past participle of merēre to deserve, earn; akin to Greek meiresthai to receive as one's portion, meros part. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.
Updated: 3 July 2020 {10:21 PM}
(noun) cardinal virtue, credit, distinction, excellence, excellency, grace, value, virtue.
(verb) deserve, earn, rate.
Related Words:
arete, asset, benefit, caliber, desert, deserve, dignity, excellence, good, integrity, justify, quality, stature, talent, value, warrant, worth, worthiness.
Antonyms:
deficiency, demerit, disvalue.
Synonym Study:
Desert, merit, and worth refer to the quality in a person, action, or thing that entitles recognition, especially favorable recognition.
Desert is the quality that entitles one to a just reward:
according to her deserts.
Merit is usually the excellence that entitles to praise:
a person of great merit.
Worth is always used in a favorable sense and signifies inherent value or goodness:
The worth of your contribution is incalculable.
Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English < Latin meritum act worthy of praise (or blame), noun use of neuter of meritus, past participle of merēre to earn. C13: via Old French from Latin meritum reward, desert, from merēre to deserve. —Dictionary.com. // First Known Use: Noun: 14th century. Verb: 1526. History and Etymology: Noun and Verb: Middle English, from Anglo-French merite, from Latin meritum, from neuter of meritus, past participle of merēre to deserve, earn; akin to Greek meiresthai to receive as one's portion, meros part. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.
Updated: 3 July 2020 {10:21 PM}