▪ I. worthy, a., adv., n.
(ˈwɜːðɪ)
Forms: α. 3 wurði (wrþi), 4 wurþy (wrþy), 4–5 wurthi, -thy (5 whurthy); 5 Sc. wirþy, 6 Sc. wirthie, -thy; 3–5 worþi (4 wortþi), 4–5 worþy, 3–6 worthi (4 worthti, 6 Sc. vorthi), 3–7 worthye, 4–7 worthie (4–5 worthé), 3– worthy (4 worthethy, 5 whorthy; Sc. 5 vorthy, 6 vorthty); 5 wourthy, 6 woorthie, -thye, 6–7 woorthy. β. Sc. (and north.) 5–6, 8– wordy, 6 vordy, wirdy, -die, worde.
[ME. wurði, worði, etc., f. worth n.1 + -y, replacing OE. wyrðe, weorðe, wurthe a., and in some senses OE. weorð, wurð, worth a.
The following are illustrations of the β-forms:
c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xl. (Ninian) 224 Sa..[he] made feil wordy goddis burde. 14.. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903) 114 Alle men helde her wordy heuen. c 1460 Merita Missæ 71 in Lay Folks Mass Bk. 150 Pray..That thow be wordy to see that syght. 1513 Douglas æneis i. vii. 137 Ane wordy weriour..thai mycht hir ken. 1533 Gau Richt Vay (S.T.S.) 64 It is ane trew vord and aluay wordy to be resauit. 1583 Extracts Burgh Rec. Lanark (1893) 89 Quharfor..I am nocht wirdie..to be ballie [bailie]. 1721 [see 1 b]. 1724, 1725 [see 8]. 1804 R. Anderson Cumbld. Ball. 114 It's for auld Kit Craffet, our wordy wise neybor. 1872 J. Young Lochlomond 49 (E.D.D.) Cottars puir, wha ne'er had daurk Wordy the name o' honest wark.]
A. adj. I. 1. a. Of things: Having worth; possessed of value or importance; good; excellent. Now arch.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1501 Firme birðe was wurði wune. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 226 Cristene men shulden þenke shame to..foule þe worþi suyt of Crist. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xiv. 28 Thauh ich preise pouerte þus and preoue hit by ensamples Worthiour. c 1440 Jacob's Well 190 Prayere is more worthy to god, þan almes or fastyng. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 86 Þus ȝe may se by veray reson þat Godys grace ys more worþy þen any fayre. c 1450 Cursor M. 10160 (Laud) Of hym we wille our story rede, For worthyest yt is in-dede. 1557 Seager Sch. Vert. 513 in Babees Bk., Aristotle the Philosopher this worthy sayinge writ. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. ii. 108 The Date (a woorthy tree) bendeth vp agaynst his burden. 1593 Bacchus Bountie B 1 b, The pots feet finely roasted In a worthie fire. 1628 R. Hayman in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1918) Jan. 31 Vnlesse your maiestie suddainely assist, this worthie busines is like to vanish Lamentablely. 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agric. (1681) 171 Cows and Oxen are worthy Beasts, and in great request with the Husbandman. 1674 Playford Skill Mus. i. xi. 55 All the most passionate Graces used in this most worthy manner of singing. 1774 Pennant Tour Scot. in 1772, 303 According to the worthy custom of these islands. |
† b. Of the value of, worth (so much). Obs.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 6323 Hys vessel was ten mark wurþy [v.r. wrþy]. ? a 1500 Chester Pl., Nativ. 592 Thyrd parte the worlde, as reade wee, that temple was worthye. 1569 J. Sandford tr. Agrippa's Van. Artes 160 The thinge is so muche worthy as it maye be solde for. 1577 Kendall Flowers Epigr. 36 b, If thou saie they are no gifts, but trifles worthie nought. 1604 E. G[rimstone] Acosta's Hist. Indies iii. xx. 185 The traffike they make of it, is worthy much mony. 1721 Ramsay Rise & Fall Stocks 124 We thought that dealer's stock an ill ane, That was not wordy haff a million. |
c. Capable of justifying (expense).
| 1785 J. Phillips Treat. Inland Nav. 44 It would be found worthy the expence to carry the navigation..to Braintree. |
2. a. Of persons: Distinguished by good qualities; entitled to honour or respect on this account; estimable.
| 13.. K. Horn (Harl.) 1222 For þer bueþ myne knyhte worþi men & lyhte. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 162 Of his men most worþi, at þam conseile gan [he] take. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 597 Cleopatra, This ilke senatour Was a ful worthy gentyl werriour. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xv. 67 Criste es þe best, þe worthiest and next to Godd. 1422 Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 197 Iosue the Wourthy and wyse weryor. 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. i. xxi. 36 The good..admonestyng of the worthy duc encreaceth in an oost hardynes..and vertue. 1548–9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Offices 24 Thou moste worthy iudge eternal. 1581 A. Hall Iliad ii. 20 He callde the auntients of the host, they that most worthy were. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, iii. vii. 239 Long liue King Richard, Englands worthie King. 1639 W. C. Italian Convert xxx. 222 But especially his worthy wife did then shew her selfe most loving and loyall. 1663 Jer. Taylor Funeral Serm. Abp. Armagh 20 He was bred in Cambridge,..under Mr. Hulet, a grave and a worthy Man. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 106 ¶4 My worthy Friend has put me under the particular Care of his Butler. 1758 S. Hayward's Serm. Introd. p. iii, A small collection of your late dear and worthy Pastor's sermons. 1806 H. Siddons Maid, Wife, & Widow III. 211 That worthy man could read hearts with great perspicuity. 1848 Lytton Harold iii. ii, Slowly then rose Alred, Bishop of Winchester, the worthiest prelate in all the land. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay vii, She would like her to be..married to some worthy person. |
b. absol. in sing. or plural sense.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xiii. 33 Þis maister was made sitte as for þe moste worthy. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 196 That he be [= by] worthi and be wise..was conseiled. c 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy iv. 342–3 Howe Kynge Pryamus, with al the worthy of Troyans partye, kame to the felde. 1490 Acta Dom. Concil. (1839) 149/2 To tak a deligent inquesicioune..of þe best and wordiast of þe said burghe. 1535 Coverdale Gen. xlix. 10 The cepter shal not be remoued from Iuda..tyll the Worthye come. 1845 J. C. Mangan German Anthol. I. 76 The Worthy possess not the earth. |
c. worthy of blood in Eng. Law: see quots.
| 1544 tr. Littleton's Tenures 2 b, The elder brother shall haue the lande by discent,..for that, that the eldest brother is more worthy of blod. 1628 Coke On Litt. 12 b, The bloud of the part of the father is more worthy..in iudgement of law, than the bloud of the part of the mother. a 1676 Hale Common Law (1713) 230 In the Case of Purchasers,..it resorted to the Line of the Mother, and the nearer and more worthy of Blood were preferred. 1766 Blackstone Comm. II. 213 The worthiest of blood shall be preferred. 1841 Stephen Comm. Law Eng. I. 382 All the female ancestors..were equally worthy of blood. |
d. Of mind or character: Having a high moral standard.
| 1753–4 Richardson Grandison IV. 12 But all three are men of worthy minds, and deserve better fortune. 1788 Wesley Wks. (1872) VI. 469 Such as are styled, in the cant term of the day, men of worthy characters;—one of the most silly, insignificant words, that ever came into fashion. 1843 Miall in Nonconformist III. 1 An act of homage done to great and worthy principles. |
| Comb. 1590 Sir J. Smyth Disc. Conc. Weapons 50 b marg., No honorable nor worthie minded men. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) II. 153 He is a worthy-hearted child. 1856 N. Brit. Rev. XXVI. 227 A worthy-minded parson of the old school. |
† 3. a. Of persons: Holding a prominent place in the community; of rank or standing. Obs.
| c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 217 Famulier was he With frankeleyns..And [eek] with worthy wommen of the toun. c 1400 Destr. Troy 7607 There was Ecuba þe honerable..With women of worship, the worthiest of Troy. c 1460 Urbanitatis 45 in Babees Bk., If þou sytte be a worthyor man Then þy self thow art on, Suffre hym fyrste to towche þe mete. |
† b. worthy man (also as one word): a man of note or standing. Obs.
| 1427 in Cov. Leet Bk. (1907) 111 The seyd meir..made com afore hym thes wurthymen foloweng. 1435 Ibid. 182 The whiche bille the seid meyre..send to all the wurthymen of the seyd lete. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 537/2 Ȝerde, borne a-forne a worthyman, Quiris. 1485 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 338/1 Burgeis and Worthymen, Cominaltie and their Successours. a 1500 Bale's Chron. in Six Town Chron. (1911) 133 To have..had diverse worthymen and their goodes of the citee. |
† 4. Of things: a. Strong, powerful. Obs.—1
| a 1300 E.E. Psalter xlix. 3 Fire in his sight sal brenne sothli And in his vmgange storme worthi [L. valida]. |
† b. Honourable; held in honour or esteem. Obs.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xix. 24 Is cryst more of myȝte & more worthy name Than ihesu or ihesus? c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 98 Þis stat is most wortþi in þe chirche. 1557 N.T. (Geneva) Matt. xxiii. 6 They..loue to syt in the worthiest place at feastes. 1586 Marlowe 1st Pt. Tamburl. i. i. 191 We knew..The Lords would not be too exasperate, To iniure or suppresse your woorthy tytle. 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 5 b/2 The worthyest partes of the bodye, as the Braynes, Harte, Liver, or throte. 1623 J. Taylor (Water P.) New Discov. by Sea Ep. Ded., All which..I humbly Dedicate to your Noble, Worshipfull and worthy Acceptances. a 1721 Prior Down-Hall ix, He is a Lawyer of worthy Renown. |
5. a. Of sufficient worth or value; sufficiently good; appropriate, fitting, suitable.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 11492 Ilkan him gaf worþi offrand. a 1440 Found. St. Bartholomew's xviii. (1886) p. lxvii, God, that is mervelous in his seyntes he..with worthy preysyng magnyfied. 1563 Homilies ii. Sacram. i. 214 A right & a worthy estimation, and vnderstanding of this mistery. 1594 in Brydges Restituta (1815) III. 298 You that..sought for matter in a forraine soyle, As worthie subjects of your silver pen. 1738 Gray Statius i. 19 Ye Argive flower..Receive a worthier load; yon puny ball Let youngsters toss. 1808 Scott Marm. i. xii, We saw the victor win the crest He wears with worthy pride. 1870 F. R. Wilson Ch. Lindisf. 64 It was improved by the insertion of worthy windows. |
† b. Sufficiently heavy or severe; deserved, merited by default or wrong-doing, condign. Obs.
| 1551 Crowley Pleas. & Payne 197 No hell can be worthy payne For your offence, it is so greate. 1574 Homilies ii. Wilful Rebell. iv. 586 A woorthy end of al false rebelles, who..become hangmen vnto them selues. c 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. cvi. xv, Often he freed them..But..Left them at length in worthy plagues to pine. 1601 Shakes. All's Well iv. iii. 7 He has much worthy blame laid vpon him. 1622 J. Taylor (Water P.) Merry Wherry Voy. Wks. 1630 ii. 10/1 They..did as much as lay in them to doe,..to giue them worthy punishment. |
6. a. Of persons: Possessed of sufficient worth, desert, or merit.
| 1552 2nd Prayer-Bk. Edw. VI, Commun., rubric, The humble..acknowledgyng of the benefites of Chryst, geuen vnto the woorthye receyuer. 1788 Picken Poems 86 A wordy frien' is e'en right rare, An' virtue ill to hit on. 1818 Byron Ch. Har. iv. clv, Thou Shalt one day, if found worthy,..See thy God face to face. 1832 Edin. Rev. Oct. 146 No worthy successor of Richard Turpin arises to ‘murder sleep’. 1885 Manch. Even. News 6 July 2/1 Mr. Phelps..is bent on proving that he is a worthy successor to Mr. Russell Lowell. |
b. Of actions, etc.: Adequate or suitable in respect of moral excellence or noble aims.
| 1563 Homilies ii. 444 (title) An Homely of the worthy receauing..of the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ. 1609 Dekker Gull's Hornbk. iv, Your next worthy worke is, to repaire to my Lord Chancellors Tomb. 1619 J. Taylor (Water P.) Kicksey Winsey C 3, I know there's many worthy proiects done, The which more credit..hath won. 1675 T. Comber (title) A Companion to the Altar. Or, an Help to the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper. 1851 Mrs. Browning Casa Guidi Wind. i. 223 Before the eyes of men, awake at last, Who..turn to wakeful prayer and worthy act. |
II. With various constructions.
Freq. intensified by well: see well adv. 16 b.
7. a. Of sufficient merit, excellence, or desert to be or have something. † Also with that.
| c 1220 Bestiary 186 in O.E. Misc. 6 Ne deme ðe noȝt wurdi, Ðat tu dure loken up to ðe heueneward. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1012 Of ðe ðre he wurðede ðe ton,..Ðe was wurði wurðed to ben. Ibid. 3753 He seiden he weren wurði bet To ðat seruise to ben set. a 1300 Cursor M. 4056 Ioseph he sagh a night in sueuen, þe quilk es worþie for to neuen. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. ii. 91 Worþi is þe Werkmon his hure to haue. 1377 Ibid. B. iii. 228 Mede is wel worthi þe maistrye to haue! c 1400 Rule St. Benet 228 Þat we may fle fro paines of hell And be worthi in blis to dwell. 1450–1530 Myrr. Our Ladye ii. 97 O mayden worthy to be loued of god. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 2, I requyre you all in the moost worthy to be loued woundes & passyon of Chryst. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) II. 11 He will, perchance, be fund worthie to be counted amang the maist wirthie vndir the sone in his tyme. 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 139 Not worthy to be named the same day..with God. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. i. x. 46 He is Worthiest to be a Commander..that is best fitted with the qualities required to the well discharging of it. 1708 Atterbury Serm. (Job xxii. 21) 24 That we may be found worthy to be admitted into the Blessed Vision of him in the next [life]. 1781 Cowper Retirement 700 All such as manly and great souls produce, Worthy to live, and of eternal use. 1799–1805 Wordsw. Prelude iv. 131 Those walks well worthy to be prized and loved. 1816 J. Wilson City of Plague ii. iv. 53 One hand alone on all the earth was worthy To place these flowers. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 307 The only knowledge worthy to be called knowledge. |
| ellipt. c 1420 Sir Amadace (Camden) xxxi, Ȝe mone haue maysturs euyrqware As wele wurthi ȝe ar soe. |
b. With ellipsis of to.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 1148 It es nogtht worþi forgiuen be. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 46 As hire thoghte..Sche was noght worthi axen there, Fro when they come. c 1400 26 Pol. Poems xx. 120 He is worþy be loued. |
† c. Const. for (some purpose). Obs.
| 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. ii. iv. 76 He is as worthy for an Empresse loue, As meet to be an Emperors Councellor. 1658 Earl of Monmouth tr. Paruta's Wars Cyprus 65 Doria refused to fall upon any petty businesse, as not worthy for his Kings Fleet, to run any hazard in. |
8. a. Deserving of something, by reason of merit or excellence.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 10350 Berns..oft er for þair dughtihede Selcuth worþi mikel of mede. 1471 Caxton Recuyell (Sommer) 492 Your labours shall neuer be dygne ne worthy of preysyng. c 1534 Tindale Prol. Mark, Ye see..of what authoritie his writing is, and how worthy of credence. 1565 Stapleton tr. Bede's Hist. Ch. Eng. 177 He was founde..best worthy of that bishopprick. 1605 Camden Rem., Wise Sp. 186 No mortall man doubtlesse is woorthy of such an high name. 1650 Nicholas Papers (Camden) 181, I thinke him worthy of much greater trust and favor. 1724 Ramsay Tea-t. Misc. (1733) I. 68 For now she's..wordy of my hand. 1725 ― Gent. Sheph. i. i, Weel are ye wordy o't. 1737 Gentl. Mag. VII. 596/1 The only Service..worthy of Preferment in the Army. 1798 Ferriar Illustr. Sterne iv. 137 It contains nothing worthy of attention. 1848 L. Hunt Jar of Honey Pref. 16 French has lately been thought worthy of cultivation. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xxvi. 192, I thought such services worthy of some recognition. 1874 Green Short HIst. iii. §4. 128 Abelard was a foe worthy of the menaces of councils. |
b. With ellipsis of of: Deserving, meriting.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 19362 (Edin.) Þa wente ioifuler þan are,..þat tai for him war worthi grame. c 1400 26 Pol. Poems ii. 40 The trewe seruant is worthy hys mede. 1494 Fabyan Chron. lxxxiii. (1811) 62 That thou..resygne..the Rule of thy lande to hym y{supt} is more worthy this rome than thou art. 1550 Crowley Inform. Sel. Wks. (1872) 162 Your owne conscience shall iudge you worthye no mercye. 1563 Homilies ii. Martrimony 540 This man is worthye much commendation. c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. xxxviii, Oh giue thy selfe the thankes if ought in me, Worthy perusal stand against thy sight. 1639 in Verney Mem. (1904) I. 94 There is no newes worth your acceptance or worthy my labour. 1648 Winyard Midsummer Moon 3 Good ingenious soules..are thought worthy heaven because they boast no merit. 1675 Dryden Aurengz. i. (1676) 14 Be worthy me, as I am worthy you. 1727 Switzer Pract. Gard. i. v. 38 And it is worthy remark, that he waters [etc.]. 1743 Francis tr. Hor., Odes iv. ix. 30 Greece had with Heroes fill'd th' embattled Plain, Worthy the Muse in her sublimest Strain. 1777 W. Dalrymple Trav. Sp. & Port. cxxxii, It was worthy notice, I was informed. 1813 J. C. Hobhouse Journ. (ed. 2) 509 Whatever was worthy imitation was imitated by the Turks. 1864 Tennyson Aylmer's F. 712 Him too you loved, for he was worthy love. 1889 Swinburne Stud. B. Jonson 83 Dame Polish is a figure well worthy the cordial and lavish commendation of Gifford. |
c. With verbal ns. (Cf. worth a. 8 b.)
| c 1440 Alphabet of Tales 90 Þan þe grete devull..sayde þat he was wurthi lovyng. 1548 Udall Erasm. Par. Matt. iii. 1 Nowe is it worthy the hearyng to knowe how our Lorde Iesus Christ began & entred with the matter, that he came for. 1581 G. Pettie tr. Guazzo's Civ. Conv. i. (1586) A 6 b, Either to doe thinges worth the writing, or to write things worthy the reading. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 152 The wordes of Beniamin are worthy the inserting. 1685 Caldwell Papers (Maitl. Club) I. 145, I took boat from Middleburgh to Dort; nothing occurred worthie noticeing. 1718 Entertainer No. 27. 179 He is not worthy regarding who has not some Spice of this Ambition. 1795–6 Wordsw. Borderers iii. 1179 'Twere matter Worthy the hearing. 1879 Morley Burke iii. 40 A time..when England would not be worthy living in. |
9. Deserving or meriting by fault or wrong-doing. Const. as in senses 7 and 8.
| (a) c 1220 Bestiary 447 in O.E. Misc. 14 Man al so ðe foxes name Arn wurði to hauen same. c 1366 Chaucer A.B.C. 123 And þat my soule is wurthi for to sinke. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. v. 236 Þow haddest [be] better worthy be hanged þerfore. c 1440 Alphabet of Tales 155 He said his head war wurthi to be smetyn off. c 1449 Pecock Repr. iv. iii. 435 Mannys lawe..is leeful and not worthi be vndirnome and blamed. c 1460 Contin. Brut 517 Þei said playnly þat þe Lorde Say,..& many mo, wer traytoures, & worthy to be dede. 1508 Stanbridge Vulgaria (W. de W.) B v, Thou arte worthy to be hanged. 1561 T. Norton tr. Calvin's Inst. i. ix. 20 Then suche carelesnesse is woorthye to bee laughed at. 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. iii. xix. (1886) 56 Whereby it is inferred that they are worthie to die. 1632 Star Chamber Cases (Camden) 171, I think, therefore, he is worthie to paie 500li dammage. |
| ellipt. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1417 Pilatus he sende..Vorto holde hom harde inou, as hii wel wrþi were. 1556 Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden) 41 To be hongyd and heddyd..and there sufferde as they ware wordy. |
| (b) 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 746 As ȝe ben worþi of wo whan þe word failus. c 1350 Will. Palerne 4788 Þat we ar worþi to þe deth, wel we be a-knowe. 1505 Presentm. Juries in Surtees Misc. (1890) 31 Yowr wyff hays had hyll wordes for me, qwylk y{supt} I was never worde off. 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 84 There are manie woorthie of great blame in this respect. |
| (c) a 1340 Hampole Psalter vi. 1 Sett noght swilk skilles agayns me þat i be conuycte & worþi dampnacioun. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) iii. ix. 56 In this fyre haue they theyr sepulture, none other be they worthy. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 10 b, Idlenes euermore [is] worthie blame. 1581 A. Hall Iliad ii. 28 Oh hatefull case, worthy reproche. 1615 R. Brathwait Strappado 193 O I were worthy death, Not to loue them. |
10. Appropriate, suitable, becoming, fit: † a. In the phrase it is worthy that.., or variations of this. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 7311 It es wel worthye þat qua Mai bere no wel ne thole na wa. 13.. Ibid. 6508 (Gött.) Þis ilk es he Þat broght vs thoru þe rede se,..Þar-for es worthi he honurd be. c 1400 Rom. Rose 7573 It were worthy To putte thee out of this baily. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton) v. xiv. (1859) 79 Now for this feste shalle we seyen the graces, as worthy is, with all oure dylygence. 1450–1530 Myrr. Our Ladye ii. 288 Yt is worthy that man shulde calle..all the workes of god to prayse hym. c 1480 Henryson Fox, Wolf & Cadger 149 ‘It is weill worthie’, quod he, ‘I want ȝone tyke, [etc.].’ |
b. Const. with noun as object. In later use = of sufficient excellence, etc., to be appropriate for (one). Now arch. and rare.
| c 1440 Jacob's Well 267 Þe glose..seyth, þat it is noȝt worthy god to be mercyfull to hym þat is cruel & vnmercyfull. c 1513 More Hist. Edw. V Wks. 35/1 Katheryne..is..in verye prosperous estate, and woorthye her birth and vertue. 1639 Du Verger tr. Camus' Admir. Events 40 Her lookes..did but seeke to find a Rocke worthy her ship⁓wracke. 1697 Dryden æneis vi. 1178 These are Imperial Arts, and worthy thee. 1718 Pope Iliad xviii. 166 The host to succour, and thy friends to save Is worthy thee. a 1774 Goldsm. Hist. Greece II. 130 To teach him all such arts and sciences as are worthy the heir to a great Kingdom. 1833 Tennyson Dream Fair Women 164 A name for ever!.. Worthy a Roman spouse. 1852 J. H. Newman Idea University viii. (1873) 186 It is the drawing the mind off..to subjects which are worthy a rational being. |
c. Const. of.
| 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 219 Mine Aeneas, which if it were worthy of your person, I wold most willingly present it to your highnesse. 1591 Spenser Ruins Time 287 Treasure passing all this worldes worth, Worthie of heauen it selfe, which brought it forth. 1637 Rutherford Lett. xci. To J. Kennedy (1671) 186 That our little inch of time-suffering is not worthy of our first night's welcome-home to heaven. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 241 Nectar, visiting each plant,..fed Flours worthy of Paradise. 1697 Dryden æneis xi. 633 Let that vile Soul in that vile Body rest; The Lodging is well worthy of the Guest. 1795 Gentl. Mag. LXV. 542/2 His charities..were truly splendid, worthy of the son of the celebrated Bishop of Cloyne. 1810 Scott Lady of L. v. x, The stern joy which warriors feel In foemen worthy of their steel. 1829 Scott Anne of G. xxxv, Your sentiments and conduct are worthy of the noble house you descend from. 1864 Byrce Holy Rom. Emp. xv. (1875) 244 There had been pontiffs whose fearlessness and justice were worthy of their exalted office. |
† 11. Under an obligation to do something. Obs.—1
| 1469 Paston Lett. Suppl. (1901) 128 Wheche wele considered, she were wurthy to recompense you. |
B. adv. or quasi-adv. a. Worthily; in a manner worthy of (something). Obs. or only poet.
| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1477 Sir Wawen her welcumed worþy on fyrst. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 360 Thay callit it the best ȝule than, And maist worthie began, Sen euer King Charlis was man. 1526 Tindale Ephes. iv. 1, I..exhorte you thatt ye walke worthy [Gr. ἀξίως] off the vocation wher with ye are called. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iii. 114 Among all other creatures..the Horse may worthiest challenge the chiefest place. 1806 H. Siddons Maid, Wife, & Widow II. 67 It is a prouder triumph to found a race by living worthy, than to receive the greatest honours from the records of the dead. 1815 M. Pilkington Celebrity III. 47 Satisfaction which arises from a conviction of having acted worthy of ourselves. |
b. In comb. with adjs. or verbs, as worthy-sing vb. (= to sing worthily), worthy-sweet adj.
| 1606 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. Tropheis 34 Let me his Harp-strings..haue; His Lute, and not his Launce, to worthie-sing Thy glorie. 1844 Mrs. Browning Lady Geraldine's Courtship xlv, The leafy sounds of woodlands..Brought interposition worthy-sweet. |
C. n.
1. a. A distinguished or eminent person; a famous or renowned man or woman; esp. a man of courage or of noble character.
| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1508, ‘I woled wyt at yow, wyȝe,’ þat worþy þer sayde,..‘what were [etc.].’ c 1350 Will. Palerne 755 A sete þat was..vnder a windowe of þat worþeis chaumber. c 1400 Destr. Troy 9481 He woundit þat worthy in his wide þrote. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy i. 4103 Vp-on þe whiche..many worþi loste þer his lif. c 1450 Holland Houlate 849 The Pape..Wosche with thir worthyis, and went to counsall. 1535 Coverdale 2 Sam. i. 21 There is the shylde of the Worthies smytten downe. ― 1 Macc. ix. 21 Alas, that this worthy shulde be slayne. 1582 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 46 Too serue this woorthy,..My father vnwelthy mee sent. 1605 1st Part Jeronimo iii. ii. 30 This fierce, couragious Prince, a noble worthy. 1628 A. Leighton Appeal to Parlt. 126 Sundry worthies of the Scottish nation. 1654 Whitlock Zootomia 322 Rule to trye the reall worth of Feminine worthies by. 1664 Butler Hud. ii. ii. 149 Did not our Worthies of the House, Before they broke the Peace, break Vows? 1706 E. Ward Wooden World Diss. (1708) Ded. A 6 b, To excite some renown'd Worthy to do you Justice. 1784 Cowper Tiroc. 647 With commendation due, To set some living worthy in his view. 1805 Southey Madoc i. xviii, The Bard of years to come..Shall with the Worthies of his country rank Llewelyn's name. 1866 J. Martineau Ess. I. 1 Before he can be..registered among the worthies of humanity. 1868 Freeman Norm. Conq. II. vii. 81 In the course of the next year England lost one of her truest worthies. |
b. spec. A hero of antiquity.
| 1552–3 in Feuillerat Revels Edw. VI (1914) 133 A maske of greate personages representinge the woorthyes of the greekes. 16.. Rowley Birth of Merlin iv. v. 119 He to the world shall add another Worthy. 1638 Junius Paint. Ancients 51 Hercules among all the other Worthies was most frequently made in a Lions skinne. 1711 Pope Temple Fame 65 note, The western front is of Grecian architecture: The Doric order was peculiarly sacred to Heroes and Worthies. 1762 Hurd Lett. Chivalry 32 Do not you remember that the Grecian worthies were..as famous for encountering Dragons..as for suppressing Giants? |
c. the nine worthies: nine famous personages of ancient and mediæval history and legend, also called † the nine nobles (see noble n.1 1 b).
The number is composed of three Jews (Joshua, David, and Judas Maccabæus), three Gentiles (Hector, Alexander, and Julius Cæsar), and three Christians (Arthur, Charlemagne, and Godfrey of Bouillon).
| c 1417 Agincourt 13 Though thou be not set amonge y⊇ worthyes nyne, Yet wast thou a conqueroure in thy tyme. 1454 E.E. Wills (1882) 133, I bequeth to my brother..the hallyng with the ix wurthy. 1550 J. Coke Eng. & Fr. Heralds §11 (1877) 61 Charlemayne..for his valyauntnesse is of the nombre of the nyne worthyes. [1589 Warner Alb. Eng. vi. xxix. 128 For well this Subiect might increase the Worthies vnto ten.] 1610 Tofte Honours Acad. ii. 3 That famous Iosuah, one of the nine Worthies. 1619 J. Taylor (Water P.) Kicksey Winsey C 1 b, Forgot had bin the thrice three worthies names, If thrice three Muses had not writ their fames. |
| transf. 1586 J. Ferne Blaz. Gentrie 156 Semyramis..is one of the nine worthies of that sexe. 1906 G. B. Shaw Let. 29 Sept. (1972) II. 657 The points we cannot accept. These are .2. The triumvirates, on the ground that the nine worthies cannot be found to take the responsibility. |
† d. A prominent scholar or theologian. Obs.
| 1605 Hieron Short Dial. A iij b, Popish grounds, which our owne worthyes, long since haue razed and overthrowne. 1607 ― Defence i. Pref. *3 b, Is not this,..to make voyd all the writings of our worthyes written in condemnation of those corrupt translations? 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. ¶13 So many of their Worthies disclaiming the now receiued conceit. |
e. Applied colloquially or facetiously to any person, esp. one having a marked personality. (Common in 19th cent.)
| 1751 Warburton Pope's Wks. III. 69 Thus it fared with our two Worthies. 1821 Scott Kenilw. iii, Tressilian acquiesced, and the two worthies left the apartment together. 1836 Dickens Sk. Boz, Streets—Night, Stirring the taproom fire and..taking part in the conversation of the worthies assembled round it. 1850 ‘Sylvanus’ Bye-lanes & Downs i. 13 Another worthy of York appertaining to the turf about this period. 1880 Browning Dram. Idylls Ser. ii. Pietro of Abano 351 Ho, my knaves without there! Lead this worthy downstairs! |
2. A thing of worth or value. rare.
| 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. iv. iii. 236 In her faire cheeke, Where seuerall Worthies make one dignity. |
▪ II. † worthy, v. Obs.
[f. worthy a.]
1. trans. To render, or hold, worthy (of something); to raise to honour or distinction.
| 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love i. ii. 109 Who hath worthyed kinges in the felde? 1549 Coverdale etc. Erasm. Par. Jas. i. 13–21 This is the honoure that the heauenly father worthyed vs withal. 1565 J. Calfhill Answ. Martiall 128 b, To make hir wel apayde, that she should be worthied to haue a God to talk to hir. Ibid. 170 b, Sith the Scripture is worthyed of these titles. 1601 W. Watson Import. Consid. (1831) 4 By how much I might be worthied with a favourable conceit had of you all. 1605 Shakes. Lear ii. ii. 128 When he..put vpon him such a deale of Man, That worthied him, got praises of the King. 1624 Quarles Job Militant Med. xvi. N 1, So wisedome be the message; Embassadours are worthyed in th' Embassage. |
2. To hold in honour, pay respect to.
| c 1425 Eng. Conq. Ireland 93 The Pepil of the londe manshiply hym sholde vp-take, and worthy as lorde. |