mereo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈmɛ.re.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɛː.re.o]^[1]

Forms

mereō (present infinitive merēre, perfect active meruī, supine meritum); second conjugation^[1] It is used both as an active mereō and as a deponent mereor; the active is usual in the senses “earn” and “serve”, the deponent with adverbs such as bene.^[2]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *merē- (“to earn”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *(s)mr-eh₁- (“to earn”), from the root Proto-Indo-European *(s)mer- (“to assign, allot”).^[3][1] De Vaan finds the verb hard to explain: its ⟨e⟩-grade suits neither a stative nor a causative, and Schrijver's view that it was formed from a noun does not explain its transitive use.^[3] Cognate with Ancient Greek μείρομαι (meíromai, “to receive one's share”), Ancient Greek μέρος (méros, “part, share”) and Ancient Greek μόρος (móros, “fate”).^[3][2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan's first attestation is Naevius, whom Köbler dates c. 235–200 BC.^[3][4] The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of earning money.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant to receive as one's wage, to earn money, as in Plautus, and in Apuleius to earn by prostitution.^[2] From Cato stīpendia merēre meant to draw a soldier's pay, to serve.^[2] In Caesar it meant to win glory or reproach by one's actions, and in Plautus to deserve, merit, good or bad.^[2] With adverbs, bene merērī dē meant to deserve well of someone, to do him good service, as in Plautus.^[2] Döderlein notes that merēre implies an activity, whereas dignum esse “to be worthy” denotes only a quality.^[5]

Its derivatives include meretrīx “courtesan”, merenda “afternoon meal” and meritum “service, reward”.^[3] It survives in Spanish and Portuguese merecer and Catalan merèixer, and meritum gave English merit through Old French about 1200.^[1][6]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[3][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of earning money and deserving.^[2][4]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses stīpendia merēre of military service.^[2][4]
• c. 1200 – English merit is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. To earn (money); to earn by prostitution.^[2]
2. stīpendia merēre, to serve as a soldier.^[2]
3. To win (glory, reproach).^[2]
4. To deserve, merit; to incur (blame).^[2]
5. bene merērī dē, to deserve well of, do good service to.^[2]

Word family

• commereō
• dēmereō
• ēmereō
• merenda
• merēns
• meretrīx
• meritō
• meritōrius
• meritum
• meritus
• permereō
• prōmereō

Related words

• merendārius
• merendō
• meretrīcābilis
• meretrīciē
• meretrīcius
• meretrīcor
• meretrīcula
• merx
• English merit

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from dignum esse.^[5]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com