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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Meritabil(l, -able, a. Also: meryt-, meret-, and -abyll, -abil(l)e, -abelle. [f. Merite n.; e.m.E. meritable (1598–9).]Appar. obsolete by c 1550.

Worthy of, or serving to earn, reward; worthy of praise or credit, praiseworthy; meritorious.Espec. in the theological use.For further examples of the formula (2), see Mede n.¹ 2, Medeful(l a. (2), Nede n., Nedefull a.(1) 1456 Hay II. 26/8.
Manetenaunce of the worschipfull and meritable poyntis of the ordre Ib. 38/29.
And quhethir it be for meritable caus 1490 Irland Mir. 208 b/14.
The persoune may nocht wyrk na meritable werkis 1513 Doug. vi. x. 88.
And tha by merytabil dedis and gyftis seir That maid otheris hald thame in memory Ib. xi. Prol. 162. 1519 Douglas Corr. 76.
The rewarde of God, quhilk I doute nocht bot ȝoure grace sall ressaif for sa meritable labour 1533 Gau 107/15.
Neyne of our varkis makis wsz richtus quhow guid (or quhow meritabil as mony callis thayme) thay apeir a1538 Abell 86 b.
And that is lowabill and meritable(b) 1546 Corr. M. Lorraine 172.
Gif I de in the pane, my dede salbe meretable and honest(2) 1411 Ayr Friars Pr. Ckart. 45.
Sin meritable thing is til bere witnes til suthfastnes 1418 Melville Chart. 19.
Syn it is spedful and meritabill to ber witnes [etc.] 1464 Soc. Ant. XVII. 315. 1479 Hist. Carnegies 20.
Sene meritabill it is to beyr leil and suthfast witnessing 1509 Rec. Earld. Orkney 83. 1532 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 29 May. 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III. 67.
We beleif it to be worthie godlie and meritable to mak iust witnessing to the werite(b) 1435 Coll. Aberd. & B. 393.
Meretabill 1453 Melville Chart. 37.
Meretabille(3) c1460 Vert. Mess 23.
A mes with clen hart … is mar meritabile till his saul-heill na [etc.] 1551 Hamilton Cat. 177.
For trewly quhatsaevir He did … it was meritabil of grace to be gevin to us 15.. Clar. i. 1250.
To ws it war meritabill To succour … ȝone creature(4) ? 1400 Yester Writs 41.
For the merytabil heile of hir saule(5) a1568 Bann. MS. 67 a/10.
Trewith is put doun … Petie exylit and na man meretabill