Mer·i·to·ri·ous a. Possessing merit; deserving of reward or honor; worthy of recompense; valuable.
And meritorious shall that hand be called,
Canonized, and worshiped as a saint. --Shak.
-- Mer*i*to*ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Mer*i*to*ri*ous*ness, n.
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meritoriousness
n : the quality of being deserving (e.g., deserving assistance);
"there were many children whose deservingness he
recognized and rewarded" [syn: deservingness, merit]