“merit” – English explanatory dictionary

noun the quality of being good or excellent ○ There is some merit in what he says, but I can’t agree with all of it. ○ This picture has no artistic merit whatsoever. □ to go into the merits of to examine the good and bad points of ○ The committee spent hours going into the merits of the various development plans. ■ verb to be worthy of or to deserve something ○ The plan merits further discussion. ○ Her essay only merited a ‘B+’.

n. [F. merite, L. meritum, fr. merere, mereri, to deserve, merit; prob. originally, to get a share; akin to Gr. part, fate, doom, to receive as one’s portion. Cf. Market, Merchant, Mercer, Mercy.]
1. The quality or state of deserving well or ill; desert. “Here may men see how sin hath his merit.” Chaucer. “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.
2. Esp. in a good sense: The quality or state of deserving well; worth; excellence. “Reputation is … oft got without merit, and lost without deserving.” Shak. “To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known,
And every author’s merit, but his own.” Pope.
3. Reward deserved; any mark or token of excellence or approbation; as his teacher gave him ten merits. “Those laurel groves, the merits of thy youth.” Prior.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. Merited; p. pr. & vb. n. Meriting.] [F. meriter, 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.
2. To reward. [R. & Obs.] Chapman.

v. i. To acquire desert; to gain value; to receive benefit; to profit. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.