worthy
Noun · AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Adjective (3)worthier, worthiest
- having worth or merit or value; being honorable or admirable“a worthy fellow”“a worthy cause”Opposite unworthySimilar deserving, valuable, worthwhile, applaudable, exemplary, sacred, meritorious, creditable +5 moreRelates to worthinessSee also estimable, good, honorable, respectable, righteous, valuable
- worthy of being chosen especially as a spouse“the parents found the girl suitable for their son”Synonyms: desirablesuitableOpposite ineligibleSimilar eligible
- having qualities or abilities that merit recognition in some way“behavior worthy of reprobation”“a fact worthy of attention”Opposite unfitSimilar fit
Noun (1)worthies
- an important, honorable person (word is often used humorously)“he told his story to some conservative worthies”“local worthies rarely challenged the chief constable”Type of important person, influential person
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Translations
Adjective having worth, merit, or value
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: OE. worthi, wurþi, from worth, wurþ, n.; cf. Icel. verðugr, D. waardig, G. würdig, OHG. wirdīg. See Worth, noun
1. Having worth or excellence; possessing merit; valuable; deserving; estimable; excellent; virtuous.
Full worthy was he in his lordes war.— Geoffrey Chaucer
These banished men that I have kept withal Are men endued with worthy qualities.— William Shakespeare
Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be.— John Milton
This worthy mind should worthy things embrace.— Sir John Davies
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.
No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway.— William Shakespeare
The merciless Macdonwald, Worthy to be a rebel.— William Shakespeare
Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear.— Matt. iii. 11.
And thou art worthy that thou shouldst not know More happiness.— John Milton
The lodging is well worthy of the guest.— John Dryden
3. Of high station; of high social position. obsolete
Worthy women of the town.— Geoffrey Chaucer
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. Alexander Mansfield. Burrill
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.
The blood of ancient worthies in his veins.— William Cowper
To render worthy; to exalt into a hero. obsolete William Shakespeare
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54