meritorious
[mer-i-tawr-ee-uh s, -tohr-]
- deserving praise, reward, esteem, etc.; praiseworthy: to receive a gift for meritorious service.
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Origin of meritorious
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for meritoriously
Historical Examples
What is written already, if you read, you do so meritoriously—and it's an example of bad writing, if you want one in the poems.
The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, Vol. 1 (of 2) 1845-1846Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett
To the great mothers, (goddesses,) Anthony Orberthol willingly and meritoriously has performed his vows or promises.
And the napery, the glassware and the flowers also meritoriously performed the spectacular duties required of them.
The Voice of the CityO. Henry
In some cases that may be innocently and, when it sends the lead at the hordes that support a tyrant, meritoriously employed.
Highways and Byways in SurreyEric Parker
"Peter is very silent, and most meritoriously uninterested in everything," he said to his wife.
The Vicar of BullhamptonAnthony Trollope
meritorious
- praiseworthy; showing merit
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Word Origin
C15: from Latin meritōrius earning money
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for meritoriously
meritorious
adj.
early 15c., "deserving of divine grace," from Latin meritorius "that for which money is paid, that by which money is earned," from meritus, past participle of merere "to earn" (see merit (n.)). Related: Meritoriously; meritoriousness.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper