n.
  - excellence; worth. ▸an examination grade denoting above-average performance. 
- 
(usu. merits)
 a good point or feature. ▸
(merits)
 chiefly Law  the intrinsic rights and wrongs of a case. ▸
(merits)
 Theology  good deeds entitling someone to a future reward. 
v.
 (merits, meriting, merited)
 deserve or be worthy of.
Etymology
  ME: via OFr. from L. meritum ‘due reward’, from mereri ‘earn, deserve’.