English edit

Etymology edit

merit +‎ -ious

Adjective edit

meritious (not comparable)

  1. Having merit.
    • 1644, Elias Arnold, translation of David Pareus, A Commentary Upon the Divine Revelation of the Apostle and Evangelist John, p. 146:
      Yet God forbid, we should with Ribera attribute this reward, to any meritorious worke: seeing a far other meritious cause thereof is noted unto us ver. 14. & 17.

Usage notes edit

Primarily used in the collocation “meritious service”. Also used in a legal context (“meritious claims”) and religious context (“meritious deeds”).

Synonyms edit