Merit

mer′it, n. excellence that deserves honour or reward: worth: value: that which one has earned.— v.t. to earn: to have a right to claim as a reward: to deserve: ( pl. , in law ) the right or wrong of a case, apart from questions of procedure.— adj. Meritō′rio us , po e ing merit or desert: deserving of reward, honour, or praise.— adv. Meritō′riously .— n. Meritō′riousne .— Order for merit , a Pru ian order, the military cla founded by Frederick the Great in 1740—the civil cla , by Frederick William IV. in 1842 for eminence in science and art; Order of merit , place in a cla or list in which the best is placed first, the next best second, and so on. [Fr.,—L. meritum — merēre , -ĭtum , to obtain as a lot, to deserve.]