Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Demerit, -mereit, n. Also: demeryt, -mir(e)it, dimerit. [ME. demerite (1390), OF. demerite, L. dēmeritum.]

1. Desert for misdoing; wrong-doing deserving of punishment; misdeed. Usu. in phrase for (also according to, eftir) one's demeritis. 1456 Hay I. 273/18.
Thus suld the vencust man in barrieris be punyst efter the demeritis of the caus Ib. II. 100/30.
Thare wald cum nane evill in this warlde to naman, war it nocht foreservit for thair demeritis 1476 Breadalbane Doc. (Reg. H.) No. 14.
The inobedientis & trespassouris within the said boundis till pvnys & corek eftir thair demerytis c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 11/28.
That displesans [of sin] … cummis till a man aganis his will, nouther has he meryt nor demerit of it 1512 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 138.
Vnder the payne of … corporale pvnitioun quhilk sall be gevin and imputt to thame for thair demerits 1525 Reg. Great S. 96/1.
That chaplane yeirlie to be feit be us, and removit be us, his demerit requirand 1531 Bell. Boece II. 413.
He gart brin him, according weill to his demeritis 1535 Stewart 59174.
[He] thoillit deith for his demerit thair 1549 Compl. S. 27/14.
That samyn boreau is stikkit or hangit eftiruart for his cruel demeritis 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 206.
He is nocht habill to underly sic disciplin as his demirites … deserve a1578 Pitsc. I. 27/7.
Albeit the gouernoure punischeit and correctit thir men according to thair demereittis 1622-6 Bisset I. 119/10.
Gif they be fundin culpabill, to be punisit … eftir the qualitie of the falt and demereit

2. Merit, desert (for good deeds). 1514 Prestwick B. Rec. 46.
Land … [given] to Iohne Mertyn … for his service and dimeritis done to the gud toune in tymys bygane 1585 Acts III. 411/2.
To haif recompansit thair said father … according to our guid will borne to him and his demeritis in avaitting vpoun our seruice hithertillis