An award or recognition given to a person or thing who does not make it to a higher standing but whose performance or entry was noteworthy.
A claim to commendation or a reward.
Usually in the plural form the merits: the substantive rightness or wrongness of a legal argument, a lawsuit, etc., as opposed to technical matters such as the admissibility of evidence or points of legal procedure; (by extension) the overall good or bad quality, or rightness or wrongness, of some other thing.
A mark or token of approbation or to recognize excellence.
Something deserving or worthy of positive recognition or reward.
The sum of all the good deeds that a person does which determines the quality of the person's next state of existence and contributes to the person's growth towards enlightenment.
To be deserving or worthy.
To deserve, to earn.