to provide (someone) with an advantage, to give an edge to
to do something for one's own benefit; to take advantage of
Superiority of state, or that which gives it; benefit; gain; profit
The continuation of the game after a foul against the attacking team, because the attacking team are in an advantageous position.
Any condition, circumstance, opportunity or means, particularly favorable or chance to success, or to any desired end.
The score where one player wins a point after deuce but needs the next to carry the game.
Interest of money; increase; overplus (as the thirteenth in the baker's dozen).
To be deserving or worthy.
To deserve, to earn.
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 claim to commendation or a reward.
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.