meritoriousness

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

meritoriousness
    n 1: the quality of being deserving (e.g., deserving
         assistance); "there were many children whose deservingness
         he recognized and rewarded" [syn: {deservingness}, {merit},
         {meritoriousness}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Meritorious \Mer`i*to"ri*ous\, a. [L. meritorius that brings in
   money.]
   Possessing merit; deserving of reward or honor; worthy of
   recompense; valuable.
   [1913 Webster]

         And meritorious shall that hand be called,
         Canonized, and worshiped as a saint.     --Shak.
   [1913 Webster] -- {Mer`i*to"ri*ous*ly}, adv. --
   {Mer`i*to"ri*ous*ness}, n.
   [1913 Webster]