merit

来自古法语merite,工资，奖励，神的赐予，来自拉丁语merere,挣得，赚取，应得，来自PIE*smer,分配，划分，部分，词源同polymer,emeritus.字面意思即赚取自己应得的部分，引申词义奖品，精神奖励，神的礼物，并抽象化为功绩，才能，优点等。

merit (n.)

c. 1200, "spiritual credit" (for good works, etc.); c. 1300, "spiritual reward," from Old French merite "wages, pay, reward; thanks; merit, moral worth, that which assures divine pity," and directly from Latin meritum "a merit, service, kindness, benefit, favor; worth, value, importance," neuter of meritus, past participle of merere, meriri "to earn, deserve, acquire, gain," from PIE root *(s)mer- (2) "to allot, assign" (cognates: Greek meros "part, lot," moira "share, fate," moros "fate, destiny, doom," Hittite mark "to divide" a sacrifice).

Sense of "worthiness, excellence" is from early 14c.; from late 14c. as "condition or conduct that deserves either reward or punishment;" also "a reward, benefit." Related: Merits. Merit system attested from 1880. Merit-monger was in common use 16c.-17c. in a sense roughly of "do-gooder."

merit (v.)

late 15c., "to be entitled to," from Middle French meriter (Modern French mériter), from merite (n.), or directly from Latin meritare "to earn, yield," frequentative of mereri "to earn (money);" also "to serve as a soldier" (see merit (n.)). Related: Merited; meriting.

1. Surely such weighty matters merit a higher level of debate?

这样重大的事件谅必应进行更高级别的讨论吧？

2. For his dedication the Mayor awarded him a medal of merit.

为表彰他的奉献精神，市长授予他荣誉奖章。

3. "It's of no great literary merit," he said, almost apologetically.

“它没多大的文学价值，”他近乎愧疚地说道。

4. Your feature has the merit of simply stating what has been achieved.

你这篇专题文章的可取之处是简明扼要地道出了取得的成就。

5. Everybody is selected on merit.

每个人都是凭个人才能入选的。