Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēmerit(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dēmerit(e n. Also demert, dimerete, dismerite. |
| Etymology | OF desmerite & L dēmeritum (ppl. of dēmereo). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An offense, a crime, sin; (b) guilt, sinfulness; (c) worthiness to be rewarded or punished, desert; after (for) demerites, according to (one's) deserts.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.38/34 : And also for this euylles that we suffre iustly, oure demerytys requyrynge, lette vs take hit with a pacient soule.
- (1428) Proc.Privy C.3.300 : Þe seid Erle shal mowe, where, after his discrecion, þe demerit shal require it, discharge hym and put hym out of þe Kynges service.
- c1450(?1429) Lydg.Prayer KQP (Frf 16)25 : Good lord, vpon ther giltes rewe, And ther demerites by dome nat recompence.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.63 : Thei arette it Fortunys variaunce, Touchyng the giltes that thei deden vse, Ther demerites ful falsli to excuse.
- (1442) RParl.5.61a : And therupon like it to your wise discretions to pray the Kyng our Soverain Lord..to purvey such remedie and punisshement ageins their demerites and evil purpose as may be plesaunt to God.
- (1452) Paston2.272 : Thei that be giltles in this may be so declared, and that thei that be gilty may be ponysshed acordyng to her demerytes.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.8a : Their outeragious demerytees as yet remayn unpunysshed.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.20a : Youre seid Suppliant, more by malice of his Enemyes then for eny demeritees towardes youre Highnes..was put in the seid Acte.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Guy (LdMisc 683)70 : For ther dismeritees [vr. demerytes] God punshed hem of right.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)58/34 : That day shal be day of heleþ and eke of perdicion for diuersite of merites and demeritis.
- c1530 In iiij Poyntys (Lnsd 762)25 : I dowte my demeryttys, which weyen on euery side.
b
- (1421) Doc.N.Convocation in Sur.Soc.113162 : For ye auctorite..growes noght of ye persone in hym self nor of ye merit or demerit of hym.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)145 : The moral goodnes or baddenes, merite or demerite in the dede of the wil, makith the othere dede to be morali good or bad.
- (1473) RParl.6.70b : That then the wrong doer in that partie be punysshed by the discretion of the seid Chaunceler..after their demerite in that behalf.
- c1500(1463) Ashby Pris.(Trin-C R.3.19)121,136 : Remembre thy sylf, thy lyfe, thy demert [rime: desert, smert], Yef thow to pryson or trouble be broght..And so, by process of suffraunce long, Thow mayst atteyne to verrey knowlege Of thy demeryt.
c
- (1399) RParl.3.424a : Ȝe were not worthy, no sufficeant, ne able for to governe for ȝour owne Demerites.
- (1448) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1379 : In his most fereful and last dome..euery man shal most streitly be examined and demed after his demeritees.
- a1525(?1464) Cov.Leet Bk.332 : Aftur his dimeretys..he were worthy to haue made as lowly submission as cowde be thought þerfore, & to haue boron to the vtmast of his godes be-sides that.