meritorious, a.
(mɛrɪˈtɔərɪəs)
[f. L. meritōri-us pertaining to the earning of money, earning or serving to earn money (f. merēre, -ērī to earn, deserve: see merit n. and -ory2) + -ous.]
1. Of actions: Serving to earn reward; esp. in Theology, said of good works, penance, etc., as entitling to reward from God; productive of merit († const. to the agent).
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) IV. 405 The pilgrimage made to thapostles was more meritorius to the sawle than the faste of ij. yere. Ibid. VII. 169 Noble men of the realme purchasede of the pope that iourney to be prohibite, and to be chaungede into oþer meritorious dedes. a 1539 in Archæologia XLVII. 56 Charyte..without whiche..noo vertue can..be acceptable to almighty god, nor merytoryous to the doer. 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 84 'Twixt Baroch and Amadavad is intombed Polly-Medina a Mahometan Saint, highly reputed by the people; who in a way of meretorious Pilgrimage repair thither. 1681–6 J. Scott Chr. Life (1747) III. 176 In the precious Blood of this our meritorious and accepted Sacrifice we openly behold the Mercy of God. 1851 Pusey Let. Bp. London 130/1 That our due sufferings might be sanctified by His, the Atoning and Meritorious Sufferings. 1856 P. E. Dove Logic Chr. Faith vi. §5. 363 Man could not observe the law in any sense of meritorious observance. |
† 2. Of an action or agent: That earns or deserves some specified good or evil. Const.
of.
Obs.| 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. 1. Pref., Workes meritorious of eternall saluation. 1567 Fenton Trag. Disc. 1 b, If he..seame justly meritorious of reproche, we maye worthely imparte treble prayse to a barbarous Turke. 1641 H. L'Estrange God's Sabbath 136 Which abuse..is I think condignly meritorious of severe punishment. 1641 J. Shute Sarah & Hagar (1649) 140 Shall we think the doing of our duty to be meritorious of that which God hath promised? 1679 T. Puller Moder. Ch. Eng. xi. 318 The Penances in the Church of Rome, which..are counted Deletory of Sin, and Meritorious of Pardon, our Church doth account no otherwise than Superstitious. 1682 2nd Plea Nonconf. 63 He must really be persuaded..that all ways of Worship..different..from the Church of England, is meritorious of personal Ruine. 1709 Mrs. Manley Secret Mem. (1736) III. 181 Cataline..would do something meritorious of his Promotion. a 1716 South Serm. (1717) V. 130 These Practices were satisfactory for Sin, and meritorious of Heaven. a 1758 Edwards Hist. Redemption iii. ii. (1793) 322 [He] made it meritorious of salvation to fight for Him. |
b. meritorious cause: an action or agent that causes by meriting (some good or evil result).
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 136 b, God is the werker of y⊇ sycknes & payne,..though man of hymselfe or woman be the cause merytoryous. 1688 Bunyan Jerus. Sinner Saved (1700) 138 His Blood..is the meritorious cause of mans redemption. a 1703 Burkitt On N.T. Luke v. 26 Sin is the meritorious cause of sickness. 1828 Bp. A. Jolly Observ. Sund. Serv. (1848) 178 The death which He endured was the meritorious cause of our life. |
3. Deserving of reward or gratitude. Also (now usually) in vaguer use: Well-deserving; meriting commendation; having merit.
In recent literary criticism the word tends to be a term of limited praise, applied,
e.g., to work that is recognized as painstaking and useful, but does not call forth any special warmth of commendation.
| 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. 482 Good and merytoryous dedys shulde be holden in memorye. 1596 Spenser State Irel. (Globe) 612/2 Insteede of so great and meritorious a service as they bost they performed to the King,..they did great hurt unto his title. 1625 B. Jonson Staple of N. ii. iv, My meritorious Captaine..Merit will keepe no house nor pay no house rent. 1651 Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxvii. 153 What Marius makes a Crime, Sylla shall make meritorious. 1773 Parl. Deb. 21 May, Mr. Solicitor General then moved, That Robert Lord Clive did, at the same time, render great and meritorious services to this country. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. xxxviii. (1869) II. 399 Revenge was always honourable, and often meritorious. 1817 Brougham in Parl. Deb. 1799 The more this transaction was sifted, the more blameless..would the conduct of that meritorious individual appear. 1832 H. Martineau Ella of Gar. vi. 67 His patience had been most meritorious. 1905 Athenæum 24 June 774/2 In regard to historical accuracy..the volume is on the whole meritorious. |
| absol. 1682 Dryden & Lee Duke of Guise ii. ii. (1683) 18, I will have strict Examination made Betwixt the Meritorious and the Base. a 1704 T. Brown Praise of Wealth Wks. 1730 I. 84 None but the meritorious shall be fortunate. |
| Comb. 1821 Lamb Elia Ser. I. All Fools' Day, A pair of so goodly-propertied and meritorious-equal damsels. |
† 4. Bestowed in accordance with merit; merited.
| 1597 Middleton Wisd. Solomon i. 9 God's heavy wrath and meritorious blame. 1632 Lithgow Trav. x. 456 The Heauens have reducted me to this meritorious reward, and truely deserued. |
† 5. In the sense of L.
meritorius: That earns money (by prostitution).
Obs. rare—1.
| 1636 B. Jonson Discov., Mali Choragi fuere, Some love any Strumpet (be shee never so shop-like or meritorious) in good clothes. |