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.
雙語例句
1. Surely such weighty matters merit a higher level of debate?
這樣重大的事件諒必應進行更高級別的討論吧？
來自柯林斯例句
2. For his dedication the Mayor awarded him a medal of merit.
為表彰他的奉獻精神，市長授予他榮譽獎章。
來自柯林斯例句
3. "It's of no great literary merit," he said, almost apologetically.
“它沒多大的文學價值，”他近乎愧疚地說道。
來自柯林斯例句
4. Your feature has the merit of simply stating what has been achieved.