worthy

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having qualities or abilities that merit recognition in some way

   behavior worthy of reprobation

2. 2
   adj

   Having worth, merit, or value.

   These banished men that I have kept withal / Are men endued with worthy qualities

3. 3
   adj

   Admirable or honourable.

   that such iron moulds as these shall have autority to knaw out the choicest periods of exquisitest books, and to commit such a treacherous fraud against the orphan remainders of worthiest men after death, the more sorrow will belong to that haples race of men, whose misfortune it is to have understanding.

4. 4
   adj

   Deserving, or having sufficient worth.

   1 And I saw in þe right hand of him that sate on the Throne, a booke written within, & on the backeside, sealed with seuen seales. 2 And I saw a strong Angel proclaiming with a loude voice; Who is worthy to open the booke, and to loose the seales thereof? 3 And no man in heauen, nor in earth, neither vnder the earth, was able to open the booke, neither to looke thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open, and to reade the booke, neither to looke thereon.

5. 5
   adj

   Suited; suitable; befitting.

   No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway.

6. 6
   noun

   A distinguished or eminent person.

   That worthy one day, in our absence, being caught in the act of culpable talpicide, was rebuked by his mistress for disobeying his master's orders.

7. 7
   noun

   a good, wise and virtuous person.

   Confucius and Mencius are revered as the Sages and Worthies of Confucianism.

8. 8
   verb

   To render or treat as worthy.

   And put upon him such a deal of man, That worthied him, got praises of the king […]

Etymology

From Middle English worthien, wurthien, from Old English weorþian (“to esteem, honor, worship, distinguish, celebrate, exalt, praise, adorn, deck, enrich, reward”), from Proto-Germanic *werþōną (“to be worthy, estimate, appreciate, appraise”), from Proto-Indo-European *wert- (“to turn, wind”). Cognate with German werten (“to rate, judge, grade, score”), Swedish värdera (“to evaluate, rate, size up, assess, estimate”), Icelandic virða (“to respect, esteem”).