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 sb.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, Æneid, 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. 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. Vertue, 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. ‘P. Foulface,’ 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. Sanford, trans. Agrippa’s Van. Artes, 160. The thinge is so muche worthy as it maye be solde for.
1577. T. Kendall, Flowers Epigr., 36 b. If thou saie they are no gifls, but trifles worthie nought.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’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 Navig., 44. It would be found worthy the expence to carry the navigation … to Braintree.
2. Of persons: Distinguished by good qualities; entitled to honor 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. Maundev. (Roxb.), xv. 67. Criste es þe best, þe worthiest and next to Godd.
1422. Yonge, trans. 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. Shaks., 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. trans. 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 (1773), 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. Of persons: Holding a prominent place in the community; of rank or standing. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Cant. T., 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. Vrbanitatis, 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 wurthymnen foloweng. Ibid. (1435), 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. Honorable; held in honor 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 wortpi 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., trans. 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. Of sufficient worth or value; sufficiently good; appropriate, fitting, suitable.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11492. Ilkan him gaf worþi offrand.
c. 1400. 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, Marmion, 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 a 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. Shaks., 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. 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. 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. 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. Ibid. (1377), 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, trans. 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. Shaks., Two Gent., II. iv. 76. He is as worthy for an Empresse loue, As meet to be an Emperors Councellor.
1658. Earl Monm., trans. 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. 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, trans. 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. Ibid. (1725), Gent. Sheph., I. i. Weel are ye wordy o’ t.
1737. Gentl. Mag., VII. 596/1. The only Service, the only Merit, 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 yt 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. Matrimony, 540. This man is worthye much commendation.
c. 1600. Shaks., 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, trans. 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 sbs. (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. Pettie, trans. 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, trans. 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 500ll 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 yt 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. 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. Ibid. (13[?]), 6508 (Gött.). Þis ilk es he Þat broght vs thoru þe rede se,… Þar-for es worthti 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, trans. Camus’ Admir. Events, 40. Her lookes … did but seeke to find a Rocke worthy her shipwracke.
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. Bryce, 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. 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. Mrs. 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. sb. 1. 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. Ibid., 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. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 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 sb.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 ye 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. Ferne, Blaz. Gentrie, 156. Semyramis … is one of the nine worthies of that sexe.
† 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. Ibid. (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. Assiduously stirring the tap-room fire, and deferentially 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. Idyls, Ser. II. Pietro, 351. Ho, my knaves without there! Lead this worthy downstairs!
2. A thing of worth or value. rare.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. iii. 236. In her faire cheeke, Where seuerall Worthies make one dignity.
