† i-ˈworth, yˈworth, v. Obs.
Forms: 1 ᵹeweorð-an, -wyrð-an, 2 ȝewurðen, 2–3 iwurðe(n, -þe(n, 3 iworþe(n, 3–4 yworþe. pa. tense 1 ᵹewearð, pl. -wurðon, 2 ȝewearð, -warð, 2–3 iwearð, iwarð, 3 iwærð, iwerð, pl. iwurðen, 4 yworþ. pa. pple. 1 ᵹeworden, 2 ȝewurðen, 2–3 iwurðen, iworðen, 4 yworthe, i-worth(e.
[OE. ᵹeweorð-an (= OS. giwerðan, OHG. gawerdan, MHG. gewerden), f. ᵹe-, i-1 + weorðan, OS. werðan, Goth. wairþan to become: see worth v.]
1. intr. To become, or turn to (something); in pass. to be made or have become (something).
The complement of the predicate may be a n., adj., pa. pple. (forming a passive voice), n. in the dat. or with to, or a prep. phrase, as mid cilde with child.
| a 900 Cynewulf Crist 210 Ic his modor ᵹewearð. c 1000 ælfric Gen. xxi. 18 He ᵹewyrþ micelre mæᵹþe. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. John i. 14 Ðæt word wæs flæsc ᵹeworden. a 1175 Cott. Hom. 227 Þaðe he man ȝewarð, þa was he acenned of þe clene meidene. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 89 Þa iwarð þat folc swiðe abluied. c 1205 Lay. 259 Hit iwerð þere..þat þeos ȝunge wiman iwerð hire mid childe. Ibid. 3733 Cordoille com þat wourd, þat heo was iworðen widewe [c 1275 Þat ȝeo was widewe iworþe]. Ibid. 18171 He wurðeliche iwarð him to kinge. a 1225 Ancr. R. 140 Hit schal iwurðen ful liht. a 1300 Fragm. Sev. Sins iv. in E.E.P. (1862) 17 Beþench þat þou salt iworþe and forroti to axen and erþe. c 1369 Chaucer Dethe Blaunche 578, I wrechch..of al þe blysse þat euer was maked..Y worthe [v.r. I worþ] worste of al wyghtys. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2908 After euerech of hure strokes grute, ys body al swart y-worþ. c 1394 P. Pl. Crede 665 Þei wolden y-worþen so grete To passen any mans miȝt. |
2. To happen, come to pass, come into being; to be made.
| c 893 K. ælfred Oros. v. x. §1 Eac on þæm ᵹeare ᵹewurdon moneᵹa wundor. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. John iii. 9 Hu maᵹon ðas þing ðus ᵹeweorþan? a 1175 Cott. Hom. 223 He ne cweð naht ȝewurðe man..ac he cweð: Uton ȝewurcan man to ure anlicnesse. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 93 Ða iwearð þer muchel eie on godes folke. c 1205 Lay. 22735 Ich mai sugge hu hit iwarð. Ibid. 32240, Iwurðe þet iwurðe, iwurðe Godes wille! Amen. a 1225 Ancr. R. 52 Al þe wo þet nu is & euer ȝete was, & euer schal iwurðen. c 1230 Hali Meid. 33, I wurðe hit al þat ha habbe hire wil of streon. 1340 Ayenb. 262 Yworþe þi wil ase ine heuene and ine erþe. |
3. To come, arrive, get to be (at a place).
| c 1205 Lay. 9123 Fromward þeon londe of Jerusalem iwurðen heo beoð in Beðleem. Ibid. 29555 Þer heo iwurðen to [c 1275 Hii to him wende]. |
4. To befall, to happen to (a person).
impers. with acc. or dat.
| a 1000 Judith 260 (Gr.), Hu ðone cumbolwiᵹan..hæfde ᵹeworden. c 1205 Lay. 2236 Sel þe scal iwurðen [c 1275 Wel þe sal bi-tyde]. c 1230 Hali Meid. 45 After þi word..mote me iwurðen. |
5. To come acceptably to; to please, be agreeable; to be agreed upon.
impers., with acc. or dat., ne mihte heom iwurðen, they could not agree.
| c 893 K. ælfred Oros. iv. vi. §15 Hie ᵹewearð þæt hie wolden to Romanum friþes wilnian. a 1000 Andreas 307 Hu ᵹewearð þe þæs? 1014 O.E. Chron. (MS. E.), ᵹewearþ him and þam folce on Lindesiᵹe anes ðæt hi hine horsian sceoldan. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 93 Hwi iwearð hine [Ananias & Sapphira] swa, þet ȝit dursten fondian godes? c 1205 Lay. 29427 Þa ne mihtte heom iwurðe wha þis lond scolde aȝen. |
6. let iwurðen, let (a thing) be or go (as it will), let be, let or leave alone.
| c 1205 Lay. 3343 Lauerd beo þeu stille, let me al iwurþen. a 1225 Ancr. R. 414 Marthe haueð hire mester, leteð hire i-wurðen. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1535 He lete þe king al iworþe & to rome aȝen drou. 1340 Ayenb. 40 Þe ualse demeres, þet..Zelleþ hare domes, oþer ham leteþ yworþe. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. vi. 228 Late god take þe veniaunce; Theiȝ þei done yvel, Late þow god y-worþe! 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 279 Bote we leteþ God i-worþe wiþ his owne privete. |