[OE. woruldman, f. woruld WORLD sb. + MAN sb.1]
1. A man of this world, a human being.
a. 900. Cynewulf, Crist, 1016. Woruldmonna seo unclæne ʓecynd.
a. 1000. Boeth. Metr., xxviii. 10. An þara tungla woruldmen hatað wænes þisla.
c. 1205. Lay., 28131. Nulleþ [hii] hit biginne for nane weorld-monne [later text worle-þinge].
1852. Bailey, Festus (ed. 5), 341. The hero is the world-man, in whose heart One passion stands for all, the most indulged.
† 2. A man who is devoted to this world; a worldling. Obs.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 881. Ichulle fordon þe wisdom of þeos wise world men.
1601. Bp. W. Barlow, Eagle & Body (1609), E 2 b. An infallible note, he will not say of a reprobate, but certainly of a worldman, not yet regenerate.