mérite, n.m., merit, worth; desert, talent, attainments. Il sera traité selon ses —s; he shall be dealt with according to his deserts. Se donner le — de quelque chose; to assume the merit of anything. Se faire un — de; to make a merit of. Remplir son —; to act up to one’s reputation.
mériter, v.a. and n., to deserve, to merit; to earn; to procure, to gain; to need, to require. Il mérite d’être récompensé; he deserves to be rewarded. Cette nouvelle mérite confirmation; that news requires confirmation. Cela ne mérite pas qu’on en parle; that is not worth mentioning.
mérithalle, n.m., (bot.) internode.
méritoire, adj., meritorious.
méritoirement (-toâr-mān), adv., meritoriously.
merlan, n.m., (ich.) whiting; (b.s.) journeyman hair-dresser.
merle, n.m., (orni.) blackbird. — aquatique; water-ouzel. C’est un fin —; he is a cunning blade or fellow. Dénicheur de —s; person not to be trusted. On ne prend pas les vieux —s à la pipée; old birds are not to be caught with chaff.
merlette, n.f., (her.) martlet, hen blackbird.
merlin, n.m., (nav.) marline; cudgel; cleaver, chopper, pole-ax (tool).
merlon, n.m., (fort.) merlon.