plural of merit / Intrinsic advantages, as opposed to political or procedural advantages. / (law) Substance, distinguished from form or procedure.

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of merit

(chiefly US, law) Referring to a judgment, decision, or ruling of a court whose decision rests upon the law as it applies to the particular evidence and facts presented in the case.

(countable) A claim to commendation or a reward. / (countable) A mark or token of approbation or to recognize excellence.

(transitive) To deserve, to earn. / (intransitive) To be deserving or worthy. / (transitive, obsolete, rare) To reward.

deserved

simple past tense and past participle of merit

present participle of merit

Someone or something that merits.

Deserving of reward.