Middle English Dictionary Entry
merī̆t(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | merī̆t(e n. Also meritte, meret, merote, meriȝt, meride. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A condition of a person's character or conduct that deserves either reward or punishment; merites, deserts; ben of god merites (wikked ~), to be worthy (unworthy); (b) due reward or punishment; bi ~, deservedly.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2051 : He [a king] mot ek..Se the decertes of his men; And after that thei ben of ken And of astat and of merite, He schal hem largeliche aquite.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.965 : God seeth every thyng..And hem disponyth..In hire merites sothly for to be, As they shul comen by predestyne.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.319 : Adversite cometh somtyme to schrewes..alle men wenen that thei han wel desservid it, and that thei ben of wykkid meryt.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.2.51 : The lokynge of the devyne purveaunce seth, that alle thingis byholdeth and seeth fro eterne, and ordeyneth hem everich in here merites [L meritis] as thei ben predestinat.
- (1442) Proc.Privy C.5.420 : Þat we may knowe and understonde the behavyng & merites of every persone in this behalve, and therupon accept every man in our conceite as he deservith.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Prayer Ursula (Hrl 2255)19 : Graunt vs, Iesu..Geyn our trespas gracious indulgence, Nat lik our meritis peised the qualite.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)90/1 : The childe..and thilke Joadys..toke her and made her deye an euell and a shamfull dethe; And so had she rewarde of her merite [F merite] in the ende.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)136 : For lakke off money, the kyng than rewarded þam with lande; And to some men he hath done in lyke wyse aboff thair merites, through ymportunite off thair suyttes.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)157 : If such an ordre be kept, men wil nat be so hasty to aske rewardis, but if thei be of right goode merites.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.277 : The remenant were anhanged..That were consentant of this cursednesse. Heere may men seen how synne hath his merite [rime: smyte].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2402 : Neuer a-forn no merit gat hem graunt, Ne no decert.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2376 : For if thou yevest it in lenyng, I holde it but a wrecchid thyng; Therfore yeve it hool and quyt, And thou shalt have the more merit.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5226 : I pray þe, prince, with me pas to my praysid modire, Þat þou may merote haue & menske & mede for þi werkis.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.155 : If hit happe vs to haue the victory..thou scholde be confusede by merite [L merito], sythe that thou was ouercommen with women.
2.
(a) A condition or quality that deserves well; worthiness, excellence; bi (for) ~ of, by virtue of; withouten ~, undeservedly; (b) reward, benefit; stonden of no ~, to derive no benefit; (c) a commendable quality in a horse.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)134/11 : Uor þis skele heþ oure byleaue merite.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.301 : In the worldes reverence Ther ben of suche manie glade, Whan thei to thilke astat ben made, Noght for the merite of the charge, Bot for thei wolde hemself descharge Of poverte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4893 : He [Ingratitude] wol noght knowe the merite, For that he wolde it noght aquite.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12891 : A! Ion..Thoru þi merite was it sene, Quen nan was worthier þan þou Hand to lai on suete iesu.
- c1400 Wycl.Blasph.(Bod 647)422 : Bot mony, for sikernesse of meryte of þese freris, ben to negligent in hor owne werkes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.293 : Ful many oon With-oute merit hath his fame blowe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)876/4 : Most worþi prince..Of merit egal to þe worþi nyne.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.5.144 : A man..is a devyne beest be meryte of his resoun [L merito rationis].
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.3.111 : Than moot it nedes be that schrewes, whiche that schrewednesse hath cast out of the condicion of mankynde, ben put undir the merit and the dissert of men.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)155/7 : I considere noþing her worþines of no meryte þat sche disserueþ to haue sich visytacioun.
- ?c1430(c1400) Rule & T.St.Francis(1) (Corp-C 296)48 : So þei seyen þat a good þing doon after þe comaundement of god is not of so gret meriȝt as a þing don after þe comaundement of a synful ydiot.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.2959 : Myn auctour..To write of Tullie in hast he gan hym dresse..Whos meritis treuli to recompence, The Muses nyne..A crowne of laureer set upon his hed.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)67/16 : And Seint Bernarde seith vppon the Canticles that vnknowing is enemye to þe soule and leser of vertuis, a dispreising of meritis and a lesing of beneficis.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)681 : For merit of þer thynges thre Suld we euermor bowsum be.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)9919 : Thy meryte to reknen al, Nor thy decert, ne wer but smal.
- a1475 St.Mary Magd.(2) (Dur-U Cosin V.2.14)219 : Blessid Mary Magdeleyn, how thou arte of grete merite and gloryous in the sight of god.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.351 : He was callede Iames ryȝhteuous..for the merite [Trev.: worþynesse; L meritum] of excellente holynesse.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.471 : This man was utterly unprofitable, doenge noo thynge accordenge to his honore and dignite, reioycenge the name of dignite withowte merytte.
- c1475(c1447) Epitaph Duke Glo.(Hrl 2251)97 : Studye, labour, and merit for comvne wele..Departith from me.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)1113 : Rescu yondyr knyghtes & recontynu fyght, And elles adew your crowne for all your gret meryt.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1725 : Wherof the parfit of here [the Jews'] lawe..hem was withdrawe, So that thei stonde of no merit.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.248 : For had neuere freke fyne wytte þe feyth to dispute; Ne man had no merite, myȝte it ben yproued.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)613 : Hende Lorde, Ȝif ever þy mon upon molde merit disserved, Lenge a lyttel with þy lede, I loȝly biseche.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5909 : For sellyng axeth no guerdonyng; Here lith no thank ne no merit; That oon goth from that other al quyt.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6678 : But it can hem nothyng profite; They lese the yift and the meryte.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.270 : I am..dampnyd..to the deth for the studie and bountes that I have doon to the senat; But, O, wel ben thei wurthy of meryte!
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)9929 : Thy body..wyl also be partable Off thy merytes & guerdouns, As he was off thy passiouns: Your decertes shal be al on.
c
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.808 : But thingis iiij in hem [stallions] is to biholde: ffourme and colour, merite [L meritum] and beaute.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.831 : Next hem in merit is dyuers hued: Black bay & permixt gray..and many mo.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.836 : Stalons best beth clere in oon coloured, Alle other left, but yf the magnytude Of their merite hem that beth discoloured Excuse.
3a.
Theol. (a) The right to be rewarded for a work done for God; merit; also, a spiritual reward; (b) ~ of, spiritual credit for (good works or virtues); (c) something that entitles to spiritual reward; (d) retribution at doomsday.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)27/756 : Þe more þou þenkest so on hys deaþ, Þe more hys þy meryte.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)222/9 : Zenne out of spoushod is wyþ-oute zenne ine spoushod, and naȝ onlepiliche wyþoute zenne, ac hit mai by to merite uor to wynne þet lif wyþ-oute ende.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)222/12 : Ine þri cas me may do þe dede of spoushod wyþ-oute zenne, and he mai habbe grat merite ase to þe zaule.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)1.157 : Ȝe naue no more merit In Masse ne In houres Þen Malkyn of hire Maydenhod, þat no Mon desyreþ.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.529 : And in as muche as thilke loue is the moore greuous to perfourne, so muche is the moore gret the merite.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)58 : Who euere is in charite hath part of alle meritis of holi chirche, as moche as he is worthi to haue part, bi the grace and iust delinge of Jhesu Crist.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.385 : This shewyng shrifte..shal be meryte [vr. mercy] to þe.
- c1400 Wycl.Blasph.(Bod 647)420 : And more booste of þe fende herde we nevere, sith quantite of merytes is hydde fro seyntis.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)359 : Ȝif þei wolden..lyve purely aftir Crist, þer merit were þe more.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)22/13 : Þat peyne disserueþ..meritis whiche haue noon eende.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)41/18 : If he vside siche penaunce aȝeins hise prelatis wil or suffraunce, he schulde not oonly haue no meryt for vertu, but..raþir he schulde do synne and offende me.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)42/16 : Þe meryte abideþ oonli in þe vertu of charyte which is maad fayre wiþ þe liȝt of discrecioun.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)180/17 : So þei encreessen þe meede and meryte of hem..ledynge hem aȝeins her wille to þe riȝt wey of heuene.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)44/30 : God for ȝowr meryte hath ordeynd hym [the confessor] to be ȝowr scorge.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)72/32 : Owyr Lord Ihesu Crist seyd on-to hir, 'Þu comyst not hedyr, dowtyr, for no nede but for meryte & for mede, for thy synnes wer for-ȝouyn þe er thow come her.'
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)89/38 : Þu xalt haue mor meryte in Heuyn for o ȝer of thynkyng in þi mende þan for an hundryd ȝer of preyng wyth þi mowth.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)251/38 : I thank þe þat þu woldist letyn me suffryn any pane in þis world in remissyon of my synnys & moryng of my meryte in Heuyn.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)83/5 : Thei wene wele þat þei haue deserued and receyued it for þeire merites, þee goodnes þat þei haue.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)119 : Bi no deede a man hath merit, saue bi a deede which is the seruice and the lawe of God.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)16.541 : The Meritez that god gan for hem do, In that litel leveret he fond Ryht tho.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)981 : And þer meret it may not eke, Bot if þai in þer hertes be meke To suffer wilfuly alwais What so men to þam dose or sais.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)44 : In thys world her..No thyng abyt, shortly for to wryte, Good lyff exepte and only ovr meryte.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)17.22 : He ledis vs in gastly breed til brennynge and ioy of his luf, and swa oure meryt waxis, & we ere safe fra ded.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)26.12 : Hafe mercy of me, that thi mercy be with my meryt.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)3/23 : But ye schuld noȝt vnknowe of howe myche meryt it is anentis God for to glorifie hym and plese hym be techyngis and prechyngis.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)58/34 : And that day shal be day of heleþ and eke of perdicion for diuersite of merites and demeritis.
- a1500 *Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)148/19 : The free arbytriment of man, which may deserue meryte and vnmeryte, to obteyne and to loose þe yeftis of grace.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)5085 : Hadde God man first so dight Þat he aftir synne ne might, Merite to no man were it worthi For no goo[d]nesse of his body.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)83/7 : He biȝet þreo preminences: priuilegie of preachur, merite [Nero: merit] of martirdom, Meidenes mede.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.941 : She hath merite of chastitee that yeldeth to hire housbonde the dette of hir body.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3029 : Of every bienfet the merite, The god himself it wol aquite.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)32/7 : Vertu may not bi gete, if þe meryte of vertu may not be gete.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)404/9 : Þou makist him dye for hungir, takynge awey fro him þe mete of þe meryte of obediens.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)794 : If we our dedes wil duly drese To haue þe meret of mekenes And win vnto þe hight of heuyn.
c
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.33 : Do mendite Thy maydens deeth, that wan thurgh hir merite The eternal lyf and of the feend victorie.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.177 : For hem þat hateth vs in owre meryte to louye, And pore peple to plese.
- c1400 Wycl.Blasph.(Bod 647)423 : Bot merytes of men ben dedis or lyves, þat God of his grace acceptis to mede.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)3/17 : We wyllen and covete to be parteable of all your good prayers and merites.
d
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)87/13 : We beleuen..þat euery man schall haue his meryte after he hath disserued.
3b.
Theol. (a) The virtue through which Christ, by his Passion, brings God's grace to the salvation of men; (b) a virtue of a holy person instrumental in the working of miracles, obtaining of God's grace, etc.; (c) the power of a pagan deity.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.44 : Of alle þe graces þat god ȝiueþ vnto holy chirche, owe man to ȝelde worsshipp to Iesu crist, þorouȝ whas meryt [vr. meriyt; F merite] þat it is.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)87/16 : If þe tyme of deeþ passeþ forth..withouten hope of þe meryt of my sones blood schad for hym..he gooþ þanne to euerelastynge dampnacioun.
- a1440 Thrn.Prayer Christ (Thrn)87 : Thurghe þe meryte of þi harde passione, Safe vs fra dampnacione.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)45/27 : The good spirit..be the merytes of the Passion of oure Lorde Jhesu Criste scholde haue stedfast hope..to haue heuene at the laste ende.
- a1500 *Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149:Hulme)259a : The Iewes..seyde vnto Nychodemus, 'thou schalt haue the merytes of Ihesu and a dwellynge place with hym'..'The meryte of thys goode man god send ma and that y may haue wyth a dwellynge place.'
b
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.28/12 : By the merites of the most glorious Apostle, hete of lyf was ynfowndid to seyr and drye membrys.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)982 : Voyded fro this man was þus þe fende Be prayere, diligens, and merite eke Of oure fader Norbert.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)231 : I you beseche..That ye vouchesaf for me to preye On-to thys virgyne, that ere I deye Thorgh hyr merytys I may purchase Of my mysleuynge a pardounn of grace.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)4380 : Kyng Williham herd of þis meracle þus y-do þorow þe meryde of þis blessud virgyn seynt Ede.
- a1475 St.Mary Magd.(2) (Dur-U Cosin V.2.14)212 : By the meritis of hir he made Marcel..to be worthi to seie these swete wordis.
- c1490 Lydg.Stella Celi(1) (Chet 6709)56 : O blessid Ihesu, for thy Moders sake..ffor her Meryte, save vs fro Pestylence!
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)173/30 : Why and wherfore dost þou so wickydly ayeinst þe prayers and the merites that I [Mary Magdalen] make for the?
- a1500 *Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)144/4,12 : Thou shalt not fynde hough any remedy myght be founde at that hour saffe only by the meryte of holy persones and divine myracles..Likewise fell aftirwarde of the cite of Toures by the merite of the gloriouse Seint Martyne.
- a1500 GLitany (Dc 42)132 : By..alle goodnes and meryttes that in the and thy modyr thou beheldiste, haue mercy on us.
- a1500 Lamb.Mir.Virg.(Lamb 432)323/15 : Sone the childe, semyd to yelde up the goest, gaff a laghter, and by the meritis of sent Marie the child was made all hole.
c
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)2019 : He [Jove], thrugh hys myghty merite, Wol do the an ese.