1.
1.
2.
[syn: desirable, suitable, worthy]
3. having qualities or abilities that merit recognition in some way;
- Example: "behavior worthy of reprobation"
- Example: "a fact worthy of attention"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Worthy \Wor"thy\, v. t.
To render worthy; to exalt into a hero. [Obs.] --Shak.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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[imac]g. See Worth, n.]
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1. Having worth or excellence; possessing merit; valuable;
deserving; estimable; excellent; virtuous.
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Full worthy was he in his lordes war. --Chaucer.
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These banished men that I have kept withal
Are men endued with worthy qualities. --Shak.
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Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be.
--Milton.
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This worthy mind should worthy things embrace. --Sir
J. Davies.
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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.
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No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway. --Shak.
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The merciless Macdonwald,
Worthy to be a rebel. --Shak.
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Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. --Matt. iii.
11.
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And thou art worthy that thou shouldst not know
More happiness. --Milton.
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The lodging is well worthy of the guest. --Dryden.
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3. Of high station; of high social position. [Obs.]
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Worthy women of the town. --Chaucer.
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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.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Worthy \Wor"thy\, n.; pl. Worthies.
A man of eminent worth or value; one distinguished for useful
and estimable qualities; a person of conspicuous desert; --
much used in the plural; as, the worthies of the church;
political worthies; military worthies.
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The blood of ancient worthies in his veins. --Cowper.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
worthy
adj 1: having worth or merit or value; being honorable or
admirable; "a worthy fellow"; "a worthy cause" [ant:
unworthy]
2: worthy of being chosen especially as a spouse; "the parents
found the girl suitable for their son" [syn: desirable,
suitable, worthy]
3: having qualities or abilities that merit recognition in some
way; "behavior worthy of reprobation"; "a fact worthy of
attention"
n 1: an important, honorable person (word is often used
humorously); "he told his story to some conservative
worthies"; "local worthies rarely challenged the chief
constable"