meritorius Latin · revision 36493

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la mereō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [mɛ.rɪˈtoː.ri.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [me.riˈtɔː.ri.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''meritōrius''' (feminine meritōria, neuter meritōrium); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|mereō|-tōrius|t1=to earn, deserve]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) De Vaan reconstructs that verb as [[itc-pro|*mer-ē-|t=to earn]] and, with a question mark, [[ine-pro|*(s)mr-eh1-|t=to earn]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who uses it in the Philippics of boys who sold themselves for money, ''puerī meritōriī''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In general it describes anything let out or done for pay: Suetonius has hired carriages and a rented attic room, Seneca a call paid in the hope of profit, and Pliny the Younger baths for hire.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) As a neuter plural noun, ''meritōria'' were lodgings let out for short periods, in Juvenal and in Ulpian.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Suetonius also uses it of prostitutes, and in Firmicus Maternus the neuter ''meritōrium'' is a brothel.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) Medieval and Ecclesiastical Latin gave it a new sense from [[meritum]], merit: earning merit, deserving of grace, worthy.^(DMLBS)^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|meritorious]] took that sense, first “deserving of divine grace”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of boys who sell themselves.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 67–c. 127 AD – Juvenal uses the neuter plural of hired lodgings.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it of hired carriages.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 343/350 AD – Firmicus Maternus uses the neuter for a brothel.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English [[m|en|meritorious]] is recorded, meaning “deserving of divine grace”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Let out for a price, [[m|en|hired]]; earning money.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Earning money by [[m|en|prostitution]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin, Ecclesiastical Latin)'' Earning merit, [[m|en|meritorious]], deserving.^(DMLBS)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(neuter plural)'' Hired [[m|en|lodgings]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Late Latin, neuter singular)'' A [[m|en|brothel]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mereō]]

+ * [[meritum]]

+ * [[en|meritorious]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}