Mĕr'-i-tō'ri-oūs, a.

[Lat. meritorius, It. & Sp. meritorio, Pr. meritori, Fr. méritoire.] Possessing merit or desert; deserving of reward or honor; worthy of recompense; valuable.

And meritorious shall that hand be called, Canonized, and worshiped as a saint. Shak.