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meritorious

 - 4 dictionary results

mer⋅i⋅to⋅ri⋅ous

[mer-i-tawr-ee-uhs, -tohr-]
–adjective
deserving praise, reward, esteem, etc.; praiseworthy: to receive a gift for meritorious service.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < L meritōrius on hire. See merit, -tory 1 , -ous


mer⋅i⋅to⋅ri⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
mer⋅i⋅to⋅ri⋅ous⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To meritorious
mer·i·to·ri·ous   (měr'ĭ-tôr'ē-əs, -tōr'-)   
adj.  Deserving reward or praise; having merit.

[Middle English, from Latin meritōrius, earning money, from meritus, past participle of merēre, to earn; see merit.]
mer'i·to'ri·ous·ly adv., mer'i·to'ri·ous·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

meritorious 
1432, from L. meritorius "that for which money is paid, that by which money is earned," from meritus, pp. of merere (see merit (n.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: mer·i·to·ri·ous
Pronunciation: "mer-&-'tOr-E-&s
Function: adjective
1 : deserving of honor or esteem
2 : having merit meritorious claim>
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