demerit

views updated Jun 11 2018

de·mer·it / diˈmerit/ • n. 1. a feature or fact deserving censure: the merits and demerits of these proposals.2. a mark awarded against someone for a fault or offense.DERIVATIVES: de·mer·i·to·ri·ous / -ˌmeriˈtôrēəs/ adj.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

demerit

views updated May 14 2018

demerit †desert, merit XIV; †sin, offence XV; ill-desert, want of merit XVI. — OF. de(s)merite or L. dēmeritum, f. pp. stem of dēmerērī merit, deserve, f. DE- 3 + merērī MERIT; in Rom. the prefix was taken in a pejorative or negative sense.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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