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.
Quotation dates: 1490-1599
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Meritor(e, Meritour(e, a. [Sc. form corresp. to ME. and e.m.E. meritorie, -y, Meritory a.: cf. also ME. (1390) and OF. meritoire and Meritori(o)us.] Meritorious; esp. in the theological use, serving to earn reward, credit or ‘merit’ from God.Very common in Irland's works, otherwise rare.(1) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 21/22.
Fadere of hevin … be honorit jn ws be deidis meritore plesaunce to Thi hienes 1490 Ib. 32/36.
All gud and meritoure werkis 1490 Ib. 62/22. 1490 Ib. II. 7/21. 1490 Ib. 122/28. c1490 Id. Asl. MS. I. 18/29.
It is richt proffitable & meritor to do it c1490 Ib. 25/27.
And thow dois ony werkis nocht penale na dolorus thai suld be callit mair meritouris na satisfactouris c1490 Ib. 33/11. c1490 Ib. 39/13. 1525 Aberd. B. Rec. I. xli.
To what vther meritor wark thay think speidful 1533 Boece ix. xv. 327.
Exhorting him … he wald accept thir meritoure laubouris(2) 15.. Aberd. B. Rec. MS. (Jam.).
Sene meritor is to beir leill & suchtfest witnessing(3) 1490 Irland Mir. II. 6/28.
Be operacioun and deidis meritor of eternall glor(4) c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 6/5.
Or thi pennance be sufficient and meritor to clenge thi synnis
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"Meritor adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/meritore>
