Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Demerit

Demerit , noun

[French démérite demerit (in sense 2), Old French demerite demerit (in sense 1), from Latin demerere to deserve well, Late Latin, to deserve well or ill; de- + merere to deserve. See De-, and Merit.]

1.
That which one merits or deserves, either of good or ill; desert. [Obsolete]
By many benefits and demerits whereby they obliged their adherents, [they] acquired this reputation. — Holland
2.
That which deserves blame; ill desert; a fault; a vice; misconduct; -- the opposite of merit.
They see no merit or demerit in any man or any action. — Burke
Secure, unless forfeited by any demerit or offense. — Sir W. Temple
3.
The state of one who deserves ill.

Demerit , transitive verb

[Compare French démériter to deserve ill. See Demerit, n.]

1.
To deserve; -- said in reference to both praise and blame. [Obsolete]
If I have demerited any love or thanks. — Udall
Executed as a traitor... as he well demerited. — State Trials (1645)
2.
To depreciate or cry down. [Rare] — Bp. Woolton

Demerit , intransitive verb

To deserve praise or blame.