Meaning

noun any admirable quality or attribute

noun the quality of being deserving (e.g., deserving assistance)

verb be worthy or deserving

originFrom Middle English merit, merite (“quality of person’s character or conduct deserving of reward or punishment; such reward or punishment; excellence, worthiness; benefit; right to be rewarded for spiritual service; retribution at doomsday; virtue through which Jesus Christ brings about salvation; virtue possessed by a holy person; power of a pagan deity”), from Anglo-Norman merit, merite, Old…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0