Worthy

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈwɜːði/
• GenAm IPA: /ˈwɝði/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)ði
• Hyphenation: wor + thy

From Middle English worthy, wurthi, from Old English *weorþiġ ((not found); "worthy"), equivalent to worth + -y. Cognate with Dutch waardig ("worthy"), Middle Low German werdig ("worthy"), German würdig ("worthy"), Swedish värdig ("worthy"), Icelandic verðugt ("worthy").

Full definition of worthy

Adjective

1. having worth, merit, or value
• ShakespeareThese banished men that I have kept withal
  Are men endued with worthy qualities.
• Sir J. DaviesThis worthy mind should worthy things embrace.
2. honourable or admirable
3. deserving, or having sufficient worth
4. Suited; befitting.
• ShakespeareNo, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway.
• Bible, Matthew iii. 11... whose shoes I am not worthy to bear.
• MiltonAnd thou art worthy that thou shouldst not know
  More happiness.
• DrydenThe lodging is well worthy of the guest.

Derived terms

• worthily
• worthiness

Noun

1. a distinguished or eminent person

Related terms

• -worthy
• unworthy

From Middle English worthien, wurthien, from Old English weorþian ("to esteem, honor, worship, distinguish, celebrate, exalt, praise, adorn, deck, enrich, reward"), from Proto-Germanic *werþōną ("to be worthy, estimate, appreciate, appraise"), from Proto-Indo-European *wert- ("to turn, wind"). Cognate with German werten ("to rate, judge, grade, score"), Swedish värdera ("to evaluate, rate, size up, assess, estimate"), Icelandic virða ("to respect, esteem").

Verb

1. (transitive) To render or treat as worthy; exalt; revere; honour; esteem; respect; value; reward; adore.And put upon him such a deal of man, That worthied him, got praises of the king ... — Shakespeare, King Lear.
• 1880, Sir Norman Lockyer, Nature:After having duly paid his addresses to it, he generally spends some time on the marble slab in front of the looking-glass, but without showing the slightest emotion at the sight of his own reflection, or worthying it with a song.
• 1908, Edward Arthur Brayley Hodgetts, The court of Russia in the nineteenth century:And it is a poor daub besides," the Emperor rejoined scornfully, as he stalked out of the gallery without worthying the artist with a look.
• 1910, Charles William Eliot, The Harvard classics: Beowulf:No henchman he worthied by weapons, if witness his features, his peerless presence!

Derived terms

• worthier
• worthying