11 definitions found for demerit

Demerit DEMERIT, n. [ 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, v.t. To deserve blame or punishment.

demerit n 1: a mark against a person for misconduct or failure; usually given in school or armed forces; "ten demerits and he loses his privileges" 2: the quality of being inadequate or falling short of perfection; "they discussed the merits and demerits of her novel"; "he knew his own faults much better than she did" [syn: demerit, fault] [ant: merit, virtue]

demerit dimeter merited mitered

demerit noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French demerite, from Medieval Latin demeritum, from neuter of demeritus, past participle of demerēre to be undeserving of, from Latin, to earn, from de- + merēre to merit Date: 15th century 1. obsolete offense 2. a. a quality that deserves blame or lacks merit ; fault, defect b. lack of merit 3. a mark usually entailing a loss of privilege given to an offender

demerit
n.
1 a quality or action deserving blame; a fault.
2 US a mark given to an offender.
Derivatives:
demeritorious adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF de(s)merite or L demeritum neut. past part. of demereri deserve

demerit (demerits) The demerits of something or someone are their faults or disadvantages. (FORMAL) ...articles debating the merits and demerits of the three candidates. ≠ merit N-COUNT: usu pl, usu with poss

demerit di:ˈmerɪt n. 1 a quality or action deserving blame; a fault. 2 US a mark given to an offender. øødemeritorious adj. [ME f. OF de(s)merite or L demeritum neut. past part. of demereri deserve]

Demerit De*mer"it, n. [F. d['e]m['e]rite 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.

Demerit De*mer"it, v. t. [Cf. F. d['e]m['e]riter to deserve ill. See Demerit, n.] 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.

Demerit De*mer"it, v. i. To deserve praise or blame.

demerit n. Fault, delinquency, ill-desert.