ˈstalworth, a. and n. Obs. exc. arch.
Forms: α. 1 stǽlwierðe, -wyrðe, 2 stele-, 3 stealewurðe; 3 stalwarþe, 5– warth; 3 stalewurðe; 3–4 stalwrthe; 3–5 stalworþe, 4–6 -worthe, (5 staloworth), 6 stalwoorth; 4–5 stallworthe, stalwurþe, -wurthe, (5 stalwort), 4–7, 9 arch. stalworth. β. 3–5 stalword(e. γ. 3–5 stalwarde, 3 stalewarde, 4, 6, 8 Sc. stalward. (See also stalwart a.) δ. 3 staðelwurðe.
[OE. stǽlwierðe, f. stǽl place + wierðe worth a.
The length of the vowel in the first syllable seems to be authenticated by some of the early ME. forms; the shortening of ǽ to ă in the first element of a compound is normal. The OE. stǽl (the quantity of which is certain from the three occurrences in poetry) appears not to be immediately connected with the synonymous stæl with short vowel (dat. stale); according to some scholars it represents a contraction of OTeut. *staþl- or *stađl-, the relation of OE. stǽl to staðol foundation (see staddle n.) being considered parallel with that of mǽl speech to the synonymous mæðel. The 13th c. form staðelwurðe, occurring only once (see 3 δ) strongly confirms this view.
The early ME. forms with medial e, stele-, steale-, stalewurðe are difficult to account for.]
A. adj.
† 1. (OE.) Of things: Serviceable. Obs.
| O.E. Chron. an. 896, Þa [scipu] þe þær stælwyrðe wæron binnan Lunden byriᵹ [hie] ᵹebrohton. c 897 ælfred Gregory's Past C. xvii. (1871) 115 Se ðe ᵹeornlice conn onᵹietan ðæt he of him gadriᵹe ðat him stælwierðe sie [L. quod adjuvat]. a 1000 ælfred's Blooms in Cockayne Shrine (1864) 192 He ᵹyfð..gooda ᵹifa on þissa wurlda þeah hi eca ne sien hi beoð þeah stælwyrða þa hwile þe we on þisse wurlde beoð. |
2. Of persons, and animals: Strongly and stoutly built, sturdy, robust.
| α c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 25 He..þenchet ic em hal and fere and strong and stelewurðe ᵹet ic mei longe libben and alle mine sunne timliche ibeten. c 1350 Will. Palerne 1950 Alle on stalworth stedes stoutliche i-horsed. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 846, On stal-worth schonkez. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 263 Þerfore þey haueþ staleworþe children and stronge. 1494 Fabyan Chron. v. lxxii. (1811) 50 Maximian..was stalworth and mighty of his handes. 1565 Golding Ovid's Met. i. (1593) 25 A staleworth stripling strong and stout. 1600 Fairfax Tasso vii. xxvii, His stalworth steed the champion stout bestroad. |
| 1847 Longfellow Evang. i. i. 43 Stalworth and stately in form was the man of seventy winters. 1864 Le Fanu Uncle Silas I. xv. 168 The stalworth lady. 1890 D. C. Murray John Vale xxiv, We're a pretty stalworth set o' people. |
| β 1375 Barbour Bruce xviii. 310 Apon a stalward horss he raid. |
3. Of persons, their actions, etc.: Brave, courageous, valiant, mighty.
| α a 1225 Juliana 44 Þeo ilke þat beoð stalewurðe [MS. Bodl. stealewurðe]. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 702 A stalewurðe deð. c 1300 Havelok 25 He was þe stalworþeste man at nede, Þat may riden on ani stede. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 9833 Þat blessyng..makeþ vs stalwurþe yn batayle whan þe fende wyl vs asayle. c 1400 Rule St. Benet (Verse) 276 For god makes þam so mekli of mayne And stalworth to stand him [þe deuel] a-gayne. c 1400 Destr. Troy. 365 Mony stalworth in stoure. 1577 Holinshed Hist. Eng. I. 286/1 Harolde aunswered, that they were not Priestes, but stalwoorth and hardie Souldiours. a 1650 Turke & Gowin 25 in Percy Fol. MS. (1867) I. 91 Giue thou be neuer soe stalworth of hand I shall bring thee to the ground. |
| 1808 Scott Marm. i. v, He was a stalworth knight, and keen. 1853 Rock Ch. Fathers i. ix. (1903) III. 251 England's most stalworth knights. |
| β 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 3960 Þe kniȝtes þe stalwordore & þe betere in hor dede. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xv. lxxxvi. (1495) 522 The men..ben stalword men, stronge werryours and fyers. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 3937 Þa foule Backes, Als store & as stalword as þire sedill dowis. |
| γ a 1225 Ancren R. 272 Hwon hit unstrencðeð, þet schulde beon monlich & stalewarde & kene ine treowe bileaue. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 428 Vor godes loue stalwarde men armieþ ȝow vaste. 1375 Barbour Bruce xvi. 356 Till withstand Men that thame soucht vith stalvard hand. 1595 J. Davidson in C. Rogers Three Sc. Reform. (1874) 104 John Knox that valyant Conqueror, That stood in many stalward stour. c 1750 D. Graham Hist. Rebell. iii. Writ. 1883 I. 109 That stalward Duke. |
| δ a 1225 Ancr. R. 272 (Cleop. MS.) Staðelwurðe [cf. γ]. |
† 4. = strong in various applications.
Obs.| α a 1300 Cursor M. 17342 Þai ledd ioseph..To prisun in a stalworth hald. a 1340 Hampole Ps. ii. 9 Þis wand..stalworth & lastand. 1340–70 Alisaunder 1230 Þat stalworthe sted [Constantinople]. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 68 Whanne a stomake ys hoot, stalworthe, and good. |
| γ 1375 Barbour Bruce x. 491 Douglass the castell sesit all, At than wes closit vith stalward vall. c 1750 D. Graham Hist. Rebell. ix. Writ. 1883 I. 158 Spey..That rapid river and stalward stream. |
† B. n. A strong and valiant man.
Obs.| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1659 Wyth stille stollen countenance þat stalworth to plese. ? a 1500 Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.) II. 41 Suche a stalwarde before me never stood So stowte and stearne is he. |