Crossword Genius

Was worthy of ceremony in the Mediterranean region (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

merited

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'was worthy' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'ceremony in the mediterranean region' is the wordplay.
'ceremony' becomes 'rite' (rite is a kind of ceremony).
'in the' is an insertion indicator.
'mediterranean region' becomes 'med' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'rite' inserted into 'med' is 'MERITED'.

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for merited that I've seen before include "Properly earned or deserved" , "Deresved" , "Was worthy" , "appropriate" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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