worthy English · revision 6834

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1250}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈwɝ.ði/; /ˈwɜː.ði/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English wurþi, worþi, formed from the noun [[worth]] and the suffix [[-y]],^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) replacing [[ang|wurþe]], [[m|ang|weorþ|t=worth, worthy]].^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of things, having worth, value or importance; good: about 1250 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the mid-13th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of persons, distinguished by good qualities and deserving respect, is from the 13th century;^(OED 1989) Etymonline dates ''deserving of reverence'' to about 1300.^(Etymonline) In Middle English it also meant having great money value.^(Etymonline) The sense of having sufficient importance led to many compounds from the 13th century on, such as [[seaworthy]].^(Etymonline) The noun, a person of eminent worth, is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) especially in the ''Nine Worthies'', nine famous men of history and legend.^(Etymonline) The older sense of things being excellent is long archaic.^(SOED 2002) A verb ''worthy'', to make or hold worthy, existed from 1387 to the 17th century.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) In dialect ''worthy'' or ''wordy'' was used in Scotland, Cumberland, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, East Anglia and Somerset.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1250 – of things, valuable, excellent.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 13th century – of persons, deserving honour.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1377 – a worthy person.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1387 – the verb, to make worthy (now obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having worth, [[merit]] or value.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Deserving respect; [[honourable]] or [[admirable]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Deserving of something; good enough for it: ''worthy of praise''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An important or distinguished person, now often used [[humorous|alt=humorously]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[worthily]]

+ * [[worthiness]]

+ * [[noteworthy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[-worthy]]

+ * [[unworthy]]

+ * [[worth]]

+ * [[worthwhile]]

+ * [[worthless]]

+ * [[seaworthy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}