merit

merit

英 ['merɪt]
　　美 ['mɛrɪt]

n. 優點，價值；功績；功過
　　vt. 值得
　　vi. 應受報答

merit作名詞統指“優點”，屬於抽象名詞；merit也可以表示一個具體的優點，且有復數形式merits。

This book has not much merit.
This book has many merits.

中文詞源：

merit 功績，才能，優點

來自古法語merite,工資，獎勵，神的賜予，來自拉丁語merere,掙得，賺取，應得，來自PIE*smer,分配，劃分，部分，詞源同polymer,emeritus.字面意思即賺取自己應得的部分，引申詞義獎品，精神獎勵，神的禮物，並抽象化為功績，才能，優點等。

例句：

1. Surely such weighty matters merit a higher level of debate?
這樣重大的事件諒必應進行更高級別的討論吧？

2. For his dedication the Mayor awarded him a medal of merit.
為表彰他的奉獻精神，市長授予他榮譽獎章。

3. "It's of no great literary merit," he said, almost apologetically.
“它沒多大的文學價值，”他近乎愧疚地說道。

4. Your feature has the merit of simply stating what has been achieved.
你這篇專題文章的可取之處是簡明扼要地道出瞭取得的成就。

5. Everybody is selected on merit.
每個人都是憑個人才能入選的。