- Worthy
- Worthy Wor"thy, a. [Compar. {Worthier}; superl. {Worthiest.}]
[OE. worthi, wur[thorn]i, from worth, wur[thorn], n.; cf.
Icel. ver[eth]ugr, D. waardig, G. w["u]rdig, OHG. wird[=i]g.
See {Worth}, n.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Having worth or excellence; possessing merit; valuable;
deserving; estimable; excellent; virtuous.
[1913 Webster]
Full worthy was he in his lordes war. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
These banished men that I have kept withal Are men endued with worthy qualities. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
This worthy mind should worthy things embrace. --Sir J. Davies. [1913 Webster]
2. Having suitable, adapted, or equivalent qualities or value; -- usually with of before the thing compared or the object; more rarely, with a following infinitive instead of of, or with that; as, worthy of, equal in excellence, value, or dignity to; entitled to; meriting; -- usually in a good sense, but sometimes in a bad one. [1913 Webster]
No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
The merciless Macdonwald, Worthy to be a rebel. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. --Matt. iii. 11. [1913 Webster]
And thou art worthy that thou shouldst not know More happiness. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
The lodging is well worthy of the guest. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
3. Of high station; of high social position. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
Worthy women of the town. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
{Worthiest of blood} (Eng. Law of Descent), most worthy of those of the same blood to succeed or inherit; -- applied to males, and expressive of the preference given them over females. --Burrill. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
