worthy

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈwɝ.ði/; /ˈwɜː.ði/ (UK)^[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English wurþi, worþi, formed from the noun worth and the suffix -y,^[2][3][4][5] replacing Old English wurþe, weorþ (“worth, worthy”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of things, having worth, value or importance; good: about 1250 in the OED,^[6] the mid-13th century in Etymonline.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Of persons, distinguished by good qualities and deserving respect, is from the 13th century;^[6] Etymonline dates deserving of reverence to about 1300.^[3] In Middle English it also meant having great money value.^[3] The sense of having sufficient importance led to many compounds from the 13th century on, such as seaworthy.^[3] The noun, a person of eminent worth, is from the late 14th century,^[3][2] especially in the Nine Worthies, nine famous men of history and legend.^[3] The older sense of things being excellent is long archaic.^[5] A verb worthy, to make or hold worthy, existed from 1387 to the 17th century.^[6][5] In dialect worthy or wordy was used in Scotland, Cumberland, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, East Anglia and Somerset.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 1250 – of things, valuable, excellent.^[6][3]
• 13th century – of persons, deserving honour.^[6][4]
• 1377 – a worthy person.^[6]
• 1387 – the verb, to make worthy (now obsolete).^[6]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Having worth, merit or value.
2. Deserving respect; honourable or admirable.
3. Deserving of something; good enough for it: worthy of praise.

Noun

1. An important or distinguished person, now often used humorously.

Word family

• worthily
• worthiness
• noteworthy

Related words

• -worthy
• unworthy
• worth
• worthwhile
• worthless
• seaworthy

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
6. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)