a. and sb. [L. ēmeritus that has served his time (said of a soldier), pa pple. of ēmerēri (see EMERIT v.) to earn (one’s discharge) by service.]
A. adj. Honorably discharged from service; chiefly in mod.L. phrase emeritus professor, the title given to a university professor who has retired from the office.
1823. De Quincey, Lett. on Educ., V. (1860), 102. An emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy.
1870. Lowell, Study Wind. (1886), 86. He would not claim to be emeritus.
1874. Morley, Compromise (1886), 140. When Reason may possibly have no more to discover for us in the region of morals … and so will have become emeritus.
B. sb. One who has retired or been discharged from active service or occupation.
In mod. Dicts.
