mass noun
1- the quality of being particularly good or worthy, especially so as to deserve praise or reward优秀品质, 优点; 价值：
composers of outstanding merit.
杰出的作曲家。
1.1
- count noun a feature or fact that deserves praise or reward长处, 优点：
the relative merits of both approaches have to be considered.
两种方法的相对优势都得考虑。
1.2
- count noun a pass grade in an examination denoting above-average performance良（成绩等级）：
if you expect to pass, why not go for a merit or a distinction?
假如你想能通过, 为什么不争取良或是优呢？比较DISTINCTION.
1.3
- (merits) chiefly Law the intrinsic rights and wrongs of a case, outside of any other considerations【主律】事实真相; 是非曲直。
1.4
merits
Theology good deeds regarded as entitling someone to a future reward from God【神学】善行, 善事。
merited, meriting
with obj. deserve or be worthy of (something, especially reward, punishment, or attention)值得（某物, 尤指奖赏、惩罚、注意）, 应受：the results have been encouraging enough to merit further investigation.
结果令人鼓舞, 值得作进一步调查研究。
短语
judge（或consider）something on its merits
- assess something solely with regard to its intrinsic quality rather than other external factors根据内在品质判断（或考虑）。
词源
Middle English （originally in the sense 'deserved reward or punishment'）： via Old French from Latin meritum 'due reward'， from mereri 'earn, deserve'.