merit

n 1: any admirable quality or attribute; "work of great merit"

[syn: {virtue}] [ant: {demerit}]

2: the quality of being deserving (e.g., deserving assistance);

"there were many children whose deservingness he

recognized and rewarded" [syn: {deservingness}, {meritoriousness}]

v : be worthy of or have a certain rating [syn: {rate}, {deserve}]