merit in WordNet English dictionary

1. be worthy or deserving
   "You deserve a promotion after all the hard work you have done"
   deserve  merit 
   

1. the quality of being deserving (e.g., deserving assistance)
   "there were many children whose deservingness he recognized and rewarded"
   deservingness  merit  meritoriousness 
   
2. any admirable quality or attribute
   "work of great merit"
   merit  virtue