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Webster 1913 Edition

Demerit

De-mer′it

,
Noun.
[F.
démérite
demerit (in sense 2), OF.
demerite
demerit (in sense 1), fr. L.
demerere
to deserve well, LL., to deserve well or ill;
de-
+
merere
to deserve. See
De
-, and
Merit
.]
1.
That which one merits or deserves, either of good or ill; desert.
[Obs.]
By many benefits and
demerits
whereby they obliged their adherents, [they] acquired this reputation.
Holland.
2.
That which deserves blame; ill desert; a fault; a vice; misconduct; – the opposite of
merit
.
They see no merit or
demerit
in any man or any action.
Burke.
Secure, unless forfeited by any
demerit
or offense.
Sir W. Temple.
3.
The state of one who deserves ill.

De-mer′it

,
Verb.
T.
[Cf. F.
démériter
to deserve ill. See
Demerit
,
Noun.
]
1.
To deserve; – said in reference to both praise and blame.
[Obs.]
If I have
demerited
any love or thanks.
Udall.
Executed as a traitor . . . as he well
demerited
.
State Trials (1645).
2.
To depreciate or cry down.
[R.]
Bp. Woolton.

De-mer′it

,
Verb.
I.
To deserve praise or blame.

Webster 1828 Edition

Demerit

DEMERIT

,
Noun.
[ L. To earn or deserve.]
1.
That which deserves punishment, the opposite of merit; an ill-deserving; that which is blamable or punishable in moral conduct; vice or crime.
2.
Anciently, merit; desert; in a good sense.

DEMERIT

,
Verb.
T.
To deserve blame or punishment.

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