[emer.i.tus] n, pl -i.ti (1750): one retired from professional life but permitted to retain as an honorary title the rank of the last office held
[2]emeritus adj [L, pp. of emereri to serve out one's term, fr. e- + mereri, merere to earn, deserve, serve--more at merit] (1794) 1: holding after retirement an honorary title corresponding to that held last during active service
2: retired from an office or position "professor ~"--converted to emeriti after a plural "professors emeriti"