† ˈdearworth, derworth, a. Obs.
Forms: 1 déorwurþe, dyrwurþe, 2 derwurðe, derwurð, dierewurd, 2–3 deor-, deore-, derewurðe, 3 durewurðe, 3–5 dere-, derworþe, derworþ, -worth, 4 derwurþ, direwerþe, 4–5 darworth, 5 derwurthe, dirworthe, dyrworth, derwarde, 4–6 dereworth, 6 dearworth.
[OE. déor-, d{yacu}rwurþe, app. f. d{iacu}eru, déoru dear n.1 + wyrþe worthy.]
1. Worthy of high estimation, highly valuable, precious, costly.
| c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. x. 28 Ðæt is ᵹit deorwyrþre ðonne monnes lif. 971 Blickl. Hom. 31 ᵹe on gold ᵹe on deorwyrþum hræᵹlum. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xiii. 46 He funde þæt an deorwyrðe [c 1160 Hatton derwurðe] meregrot. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 19 He..alesde us..mid his derewurðe flesse and mid his blode. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 145 Hie nam ane box..and hine fulde mid derewurðe smerieles. a 1300 Ten Commandm. 1 in E.E.P. (1862) 15 Þi derworþ blode þat þou schaddist for mankyn. c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. ii. iv. 41 Þat þei ne ben more derworþe to þe þen þine owen lijf. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 26 Þat þat is wiþynne þe arterye is ful derwarde & nediþ gret kepynge. c 1422 Hoccleve Learn to Die 448 Of satisfaccioun the leeste deede Right dereworthe were it in this neede. |
2. Worthy, honourable, noble, glorious.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 79 Þet he alihte..from derewurð wuninge. a 1175 Cott. Hom. 231 Se hlaford into þar halle come mid his dierewurd ᵹeferede. 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 243 Whan dereworþe dindimus þe enditinge hurde. a 1400–50 Alexander 2679 Now dose him fra Darius, a dereworth [v.r. darworth] prince. c 1420 Avow. Arth. xxii, Bidus me Sir Gauan, Is derwurthe on dese! |
3. Of persons: Dearly esteemed, dear, beloved.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 2 Louerd! seið Godes Spuse to hire deorewurðe Spus. 1382 Wyclif 2 Cor. vii. 1 Moost dereworthe britheren. c 1400 Sowdone Bab 1512 My fader so dereworth and der. c 1422 Hoccleve Learn to Die 498 Of alle freendes thow, the derwortheste. 1557 Tottell's Misc. (Arb.) 117 A dearworth dame. |