| 释义 |
▪ I. worth, n.1|wɜːθ|
Forms: 1 weorþ, weorð (1–2 weord), wurð (2 wurhðe), wyrþ, 1, 3 wurþ, 2–3 wurth (5 wurthe, wyrtht); 1, 4 worþ, 3– worth (6 wortht), 4–7 worthe, 6 woorth, wourth(e.
[OE. weorþ (wurþ, worþ) neut., = OFris. werth, OS. werđ, OHG. werd (MHG. wert, G. werth, wert), ON. verð (Norw. verd, Da. værd), Goth. wairþ. Cf. worth a.]
1. Pecuniary value; † price; † money.
c825Vesp. Psalter xliii. 13 Ðu bibohtes folc ðin butan weorðe. c893ælfred Oros. iv. x. 198 Þeh þe he hie sume wið feo ᵹesealde,..he þæt weorð nolde aᵹan. 971Blickling Hom. 89 Hire innoþ þu ᵹefyldest niᵹon monaþ mid ealles middanᵹeardes weorþe. c1000Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxvi. 9 Þys mihte beon ᵹeseald to miclum weorþe, and þearfum ᵹedæled. c1175Lamb. Hom. 31 Þet he nime þa ilke ehte oðer his wurð. a1225Ancr. R. 150 Nis heo uniseli þet mit te wurð of heouene buð hire helle? 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 7674 Þe King Willam uorto wite þe wurþ of is londe Let enqueri streitliche [etc.]. a1300Cursor M. 12390 Treen beddes for to make, Was he wont for worth to take. 1390Gower Conf. II. 46 That al the gold of Cresus halle The leste coronal of alle Ne mihte have boght after the worth. c1450Godstow Reg. 539 He sholde yeve to them eschaunge to the worthe of the same acris. 1581A. Hall Iliad i. 1 Chryses..with things of price,..His daughter captiue helde by Greekes by worth hir home to buy. 1642D. Rogers Naaman 133 A pearle..makes all base, & to come under the worth thereof. 1695Locke Further Consid. Value Money 27 Rising and falling of Commodities is always between several Commodities of distinct worths. 1781Cowper Charity 133 The bark..Charg'd with a freight transcending in its worth The gems of India. 1836Dickens Sk. Boz, Doctors' Commons, Some poverty-stricken legatee,..selling his chance..for a twelfth part of its worth. 1870Morris Earthly Par. iv. 41 Of little worth Was all the gear that hall did hold.
b. The equivalent of a specified sum or amount.
For OE. examples see pennyworth, and cf. halfpennyworth, pounds' worth (s.v. pound n.1 4), shillingsworth.
1508Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 258/1 The malis.. of the vi merkis worth of land of the Redecastell. 1583T. Stocker Civ. Warres Lowe C. iv. 55 b, This victualler had about him in Gold to the Worth of 20. Florins. 1607Shakes. Timon iii. iii. 22 I'de rather then the worth of thrice the summe, Had sent to me first. 1627Treasurer's Almanacke (ed. 2) B 6, The Operation of the worth of 30 li. Annuitie for 6 yeares. a1687Petty Polit. Arith. viii. (1691) 108 If the Tradesmen..could do one Million worth of Work extra⁓ordinary. 1781Cowper Table-T. 85 The worth of his three kingdoms I defy, To lure me to the baseness of a lie. 1859Tennyson Geraint & Enid 410 ‘Take Five horses and their armours;’..‘My lord, I scarce have spent the worth of one!’ 1890‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer xxiii, He always gets the worth of his money.
†c. In allusive phr.: The amount or value of something small or insignificant. Obs.
13..Guy Warw. (A.) 150 Þer nas man..Þat bireft him worþ of a slo. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. iv. 170 Ȝit ȝeue ȝe me neuere þe worthe of a russhe. 1546J. Heywood Prov. i. x. (1867) 24 Beggyng of hir booteth not the woorth of a beane.
†d. Money (in contrast to goods). Obs. rare.
a1300Cursor M. 5393 Þai had noþer worth ne ware Þat þai moght for þair mete spare.
2. The relative value of a thing in respect of its qualities or of the estimation in which it is held.
Freq. with implication of high value: cf. b.
1340Ayenb. 82 Hit sseweþ þet þe wordle is ydel, ine byinge vyl, in worþ biter. 1390Gower Conf. I. 25 Of Selver that was overforth Schal ben a world of lasse worth. 1570Levins Manip. 174/2 Y⊇ Worth of a thing, precium, dignitas. 1599Storer Life & D. Wolsey C 3, A man made old to teach the worth of age. 1605Camden Rem., Epitaphs 42 This bad inscription which I insert more for the honor of the name, then the worth of the verse. 1616T. Draxe Bibl. Scholast. 2 A man knoweth not the worth of a thing before that he wanteth it. 1663Butler Hud. i. i. 880 Nor doth the bold'st attempts bring forth Events still equal to their worth. 1746Francis tr. Horace, Art Poet. 526 Let them not come forth, 'Till the ninth ripening Year mature their Worth. 1782F. Burney Cecilia viii. ix, I knew not..the full worth of steadiness and prudence till I knew this young man. 1857Maurice Epist. St. John i. 4 He made me see the worth of habits, the worth of acts, the worth of moral purposes. 1877C. Geikie Christ xxxi. (1879) 370 The worth of man's homage to God does not depend on the place where it is paid.
b. High or outstanding value, excellence. Obs. or arch.
1617J. Taylor (Water P.) Three Weeks' Observ. D 2 b, A paire of such Organs, which for worth and workemanship are vnparalelld in Christendome. 1659Gentl. Calling vi. xvii. 435 Any thing that carries the stamp of ancient worth and nobility. 1678Wanley Wond. Lit. World v. ii. §16. 469/2 A covetous Pelagian, and one that had nothing of worth in him.
3. The character or standing of a person in respect of moral and intellectual qualities; esp. high personal merit or attainments.
In early use also comprising rank or dignity.
1591Shakes. Two Gent. ii. iv. 102 His worth is warrant for his welcome hether. 1593― Rich. II, iii. iii. 110 By the Worth and Honor of himselfe,..His comming hither hath no further scope, Then for his Lineall Royalties. 1615G. Sandys Trav. 19 He was a iust Prince, full of worth and magnanimitie. 1621R. Brathwait Nat. Embassie Ded. A 2, The accomplished mirror of true worth, Sr. T. H. the elder. 1655Ashe Funeral Serm. Gataker 46 To favour the Son very highly for his own worth and work in the Ministry. 1728Young Love Fame iii. 265 How hard for real worth to gain its price? 1753–4Richardson Grandison I. xvi. 103, I regard him..for his own worth's sake, and for his uncle's. 1788J. Hurdis Village Curate (1797) 14 The down-cast eye of modest worth, Which shrinks at its own praise. 1827Southey Funeral Song, P'cess Charlotte of Wales 21 Henry, thou of saintly worth. 1872Morley Voltaire 3 Each did much to raise the measure of worth..of mankind.
b. In pl., † sometimes of one person.
a1586Sidney Arcadia ii. ii. §4 How can you him unworthy then decree, In whose chiefe parte your worthes implanted be? a1593Marlowe & Nashe Dido iii. iv. 1037 If that you maiestie can looke so lowe, As my despised worths. 1616T. Scot Philomythie ii. C 3, If either of you, thinke you can Out of your owne worths, proue more fit. 1631Weever Anc. Funeral Mon. 116 Honourably preferred, and prouided for according to their worthes.
4. In the phrases of great, little, no, etc., worth.
1590Spenser F.Q. ii. iii. 21 A goodlie Ladie..That seemed to be a woman of great worth. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxii. §15 As the sacrament it selfe is a gift of no meane woorth. 1600Shakes. A.Y.L. v. iv. 161 Euerie day Men of great worth resorted to this forrest. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 70 Seeing resistance of no worth, [they] fled. 1784Cowper Task vi. 952 Forgive him, then, thou bustler in concerns Of little worth. 1820Shelley Hymn Merc. xxx, Caldrons and tripods of great worth. 1847Tennyson Princess ii. 397 And two dear things are one of double worth. 1846Landor Imag. Conv., Colonna & Buonarotti Wks. II. 217/2 A man of highest worth.
b. of worth: of high merit or excellence.
c1586C'tess Pembroke Ps. xlv. i, My harte endites an argument of worth. 1591Shakes. Two Gent. iii. i. 107 She..is promis'd by her friends Vnto a youthfull Gentleman of worth. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 38 Rings and Iewels of Gold inammeld and set with stones of worth and lustre. 1686tr. Chardin's Coronat. Solyman 84 All the Kaanas or Governments of Persia were likewise bestow'd upon persons of worth. 1766Fordyce Serm. Yng. Wm. (1767) I. Pref. p. vii, Women of worth and sense are to be found every⁓where. 1816L. Hunt Rimini iv. 391 Her thin white hand, that wore a ring of worth. 1825Scott Betrothed xxvii, The sordid wretches..conceive those temptations too powerful for men of worth.
5. The position or standing of a person in respect of property; hence concr., possessions, property, means. Obs. or arch.
1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. vi. 32 They are but beggers that can count their worth. 1598J. Manwood Lawes Forest xvi. (1615) 109 Euery Gentleman, Husbandman, Farmer and householder of any worth. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 206 They..generally loue play:..so that..they will hazard all their worth, themselues, wiues, children and other substance. 1753–4Richardson Grandison (1781) II. 227 She gave in an estimate of her worth, to what amount the Ladies knew not. 1812Crabbe Tales xvii. 172 To legal claims he yielded all his worth.
†6. to take at, of, or to worth; to take (accept, bear, have) in worth, or in good worth; to take (or bear) well in worth: to take (something) at its true or proper value; to take in good part, to be content with. (See also aworth adv.) Obs.
(a)1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xii. 125 Take we her wordes at worthe, for here witnesse be trewe. 1483Vulgaria abs Terentio n ij, I thanke the that thou tokist it to worthe. Ibid. q ij b, Thi mynde or hert that shulde take it at worthe. c1520Everyman 903 This memorayall men may haue in mynde, Ye herers take it of worth.
(b)c1481Paston Lett. III. 278 Yf she be eny better than I wryght for, take it in woo[r]the, I shew the leeste. c1490Caxton Rule St. Benet (1902) 134 He that it was sent vnto shall take it in worthe & cherefully. c1520Skelton Magnyf. 1439 And so as ye se it wyll be no better, Take it in worthe suche as ye fynde. 1576Gascoigne Kenelw. Castle Wks. 1910 II. 100 That you take in worth my will, which can but well deserve. 1636Sir R. Baker Cato Variegatus 16 When a poore friend, a small gift gives to thee: Take it in worth: and let it praysed be.
(c)c1500Yng. Child. Bk. 114 in Babees Bk., Be it gode or be it badde, Yn gud worth it muste be had. 1523[Coverdale] tr. Dulichius' Old God (1534) O j, Yf greate abbottes wolde take my salutation in good worthe it sholde be redy for theym. 1549Latimer 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 82 It becommeth me to take it in good worthe, I am not better then he was. 1576R. Peterson G. della Casa's Galateo 26 Some..neuer take in good worthe the honour and courtesie that men doe vnto them. 1609Holland Amm. Marcell. A ij b, Not doubting that you wil take this small gift in good worth. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. i. vi. 16 He compounds with his father to accept in good worth the utmost of his endeavour.
(d)a1542Wyatt Poems, Lo! how I seek 8 Hap evyll or good I shallbe glad To take that comes as well in worthe. 1564Brief Exam. A iiij, I trust your most Reuerende fatherhood wyll beare all these thynges well in worth. 1592Timme Ten Eng. Lepers A 2, Pardon my rudenesse herein, and take it well in woorth.
▪ II. worth, n.2 Now only Hist.|wɜːθ|
Also 7 woorth.
[OE. worþ (weorþ), wurþ, = OS. wurđ, MLG. wurd, word.]
An enclosed place, a homestead.
Except in quot. 1649, only by inference from place-names in which it forms the second element.
1575Laneham Let. (1871) 4 The name..iz called Kenelvvorth. Syns most of the Worths in England stand ny vntoo like lakez [etc.]. 1628Coke On Litt. 5 b, Worth signifieth a watry place or water. 1649Deed of Conveyance, Windsor, All those two closes..one..on y⊇ Spittlehill and the other in the Woorth comonly called Margret Acre. 1917Q. Rev. Oct. 338 Probably the ‘worths’ were farms on clearings made later than the original settlements.
▪ III. † worth, n.3 Obs. rare—1.
[Perh. an error for worthing.]
Manure.
1609–10Act 7 Jas. I, c. 18 §1 The Counties of Devon and Cornewall, where the moste parte of the Inhabitantes have not commonly used any other Worth, for the bettringe of their Arrable Groundes and Pastures.
▪ IV. worth, n.4
error for ord (beginning).
14..Sir Beues (S) 293 [He] tolde [it] boþ worth and ende.
▪ V. worth, a.|wɜːθ|
Forms: 1–2 weorþ, weorð, weorðe, 1–5 worþ, 3–5 worþe, 3–6 worthe, 3– worth; 1, 3 wurð, 1–5 wurþ (Orm. wurrþ, 3, 5 wrþ), 3–5 wurth (5 wurght), 4–5 wurthe; 5 wourth, 6–7 woorth (6 -the); 5 werth, 9 dial. wirth.
[OE. weorþ, worþ, wurþ, = OFris. werth, OS. werđ, MDu. wert, weert (Flem. weerd), waert (Du. waard), OHG. werd (MHG., G. wert), ON. verðr (Icel. verður, Norw. verd, Sw. värd, Da. værd), Goth. wairþs; the relationships of the stem are obscure. OE. also had the derivative form wierðe, wyrðe, which is represented by wurðe, wurthe, in early southern texts; see wurthe a. The Anglian form of this, weorðe, cannot in ME. be distinguished from weorð.
Almost always (now only) in predicative use, or following the n. as part of a qualifying phrase.]
I.
1. a. Of the value of a specified amount or sum; equivalent to (something) in material value.
Also used indefinitely in direct or indirect questions; see group (b).
(a)a695Laws Ine lv, Ewo bið mid hire ᵹiunge sceape scill. weorð. Ibid. lviii, Oxan horn bið x. pæninga weorð. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 11416 Somme riche robes, wyþ [v.r. worth] many poundes. c1350Athelston 391 Now is my goode hors forlorn,..He was wurþ an hundryd pounde. c1435Torr. Portugal 712 At the beddes hed he fond A swerd, worthe an Erllys lond. c1450Mirk's Festial 86 Ȝe haue a comyn sayng among you, and sayn þat Godys grace ys worth a new fayre. 1480J. Warkworth Chron. (Camden) 25 Alle the good that was therin, whiche was worthe xx. ml. li. or more. c1530[see March n.2 2]. 1544tr. Littleton's Tenures 81 Though the horse..be nat the .xx. part worth in value of the summe of money. 1573–80Tusser Husb. (1878) 44 A rottenly mould is land woorth gould. 1600J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa vii. 289 An ell of the scarlet of Venice or of Turkie-cloath is here worth thirtie ducates. 1639J. Clarke Parœm. 45 A penny at a pinch is worth a pound. 1697Dryden Virg. Past. v. 127 What Present worth thy Verse can Mopsus find! 1705Addison Italy, Pavia 28 It [the statue] is esteem'd worth its weight in Gold. 1779Warner in Jesse Selwyn & Contemp. (1844) IV. 285 He would be worth a mint of money, and make one of the best hunters in the kingdom. 1839Lane Arab. Nts. I. 80 It is worth ten pieces of gold. 1869Ruskin Q. of Air §122 The money of all nations is worth, at its maximum, the property of all nations, and no more.
(b)a1122O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1085 He lett ᵹe-writan..hu mycel ælc mann hæfde..& hu mycel feos hit wære wurð. c1400Rule St. Benet lvii. 37 Loke what it is wrz [= wrþ], þat ye ne sette na felun price þar-on. 1528Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden) II. 19 A Fyne..whych amountyth nygh asmoche as the sayd landes..be worth clyerly to be solde. 1605P. Erondelle Fr. Gard. K 5 b, There is a fayre Diamond, what is it worth? 1795–6Wordsw. Borderers iii. 1278 Pray tell me what this land is worth by the acre. 1905‘G. Thorne’ Lost Cause ii. 37 What'll it be worth when it is reaped?
ellipt.a1690–1874 [see candle n. 5 f]. 1883D. C. Murray Hearts xviii, The game didn't seem worth the candle.
b. Of (such-and-such) value to a person. Also with dative of person.
1484Caxton Fables of Poge xii, [The Dene sayd] I pray yow what is this benefyce worth to yow a yere. 1533More Apol. x. Wks. 867/1 Al the landes and fees that I haue..is not at this daye..woorthe yearelye to my lyuynge, the summe of full fyftye pounde. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 303 Certenly that countrey is not so much worth vnto hym, but that, if he myght with his honour, he coulde be content to forgoe it. 1632Star Chamber Cases (Camden) 160 He said the first oath should stand and that it should be worth her 100li. 1686tr. Chardin's Coronat. Solyman 83 Which Employment was worth to him about fifteen thousand pounds yearly.
c. In contemptuous comparisons. Sometimes ellipt. after verbs of action: see (b).
For further examples see button n. 1 b, cress 2, fas 2, fig n.1 4, fly n.1 1 d, halfpenny 1, haw n.2 2, leek 3, mite2 1 b, pease n. 2 b, pin n.1 3 b, preen n. 1 b, straw n.1 7, turd 1 b.
c1250Orison of Our Lady 28 in O.E. Misc. 160 Þis liues blisse nis wurð a slo. a1272Luue Ron 86 ibid. 95 Hit nere on ende wrþ on heryng. c1290St. James 52 in S. Eng. Leg. 35 Ouwer power nis nouȝt wurth an hawe. a1300Cursor M. 26991 Hop es god at hald wit houe, bot til vnskil noght worth a gloue. 1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 769 For euery gadlyng nat wurþ a pere Takyþ ensample at ȝow to swere. c1320Sir Tristr. 3167 Þis lond nis worþ anay [= an egg], When þou darst do swiche adede. a1352Minot Poems i. 24 Þai fled,..And all þaire fare noght wurth a flye. 1390Gower Conf. I. 334 To hasten is noght worth a kerse. 14..? Lydg. Assembly of Gods 597 For all the baytys that ye for hym haue leyde..be nat worth a peere. 1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 8 Whereas in maters not woorth a blewe point..wee will spare for no cost. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VII, 7 She knewe it to be but a feigned & peinted mattre & not woorth two strawes. 1580Fulke Retentive, Discov. Dang. Rock ii. 181 Therfore these three differences are not worth three chippes. 1600W. Watson Decacordon (1602) 72, I would say they [the Jesuits] had no scholerisme worth a blew button amongst them.
ellipt.1776Foote Bankrupt ii. 36 Manufacturers, and meagre mechanicks? fellows not worth powder and shot.
(b)1338R. Brunne Chron. (1725) 204 Þou fisshes not worþe a leke, rise & go þi ways. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. viii. 54 Schal no deuel at his deþ-day deren him worþ a Myte. c1425Macro Plays, Castle Persev. 2227 Go hens! ȝe do not worthe a tord!
2. a. Of material value; capable of being estimated in terms of money or some other material standard; valuable as a possession or property. Qualified by adv. of quantity, as little, much, † nought. † well worth: of full value. arch.
c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 213 Þe sullere loueð his þing dere and seið þat it is wel wurð, oðer betere; þe beȝer..seið þat hit nis noht wurð. c1340Nominale (Skeat) 306 Lityl is worth the reme of an ey. 1482Cely Papers (Camden) 118 As for a gosse hawke I gett non here yett for..my lordd Chamberleyn beyth hem upp and [= if] they be any thyng wurth. 1558T. Watson Seven Sacr. xviii. 113 Bye me one or twoo of the best of them and leaste woorthe. 1568Jacob & Esau ii. iv. C iv b, Ah sir, when one is hungry, good meat is much worth. 1581G. Pettie tr. Guazzo's Civ. Conv. iii. (1586) 138 It may rightly be saide..that the feathers are more worth then the byrde. 1615W. Lawson Country Housew. Garden (1626) 6 Fruit blown vnripe, are small worth. 1718Entertainer No. 19. 126 A Carbunkle is more worth than a Rock. 1719De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 68 My Time or Labour was little worth, and so it was as well employ'd one way as another.
b. Of value in other than material respects. arch.
c1200Ormin 1156 Mare wass hiss bede wurrþ Þann alle þeȝȝre lakess. c1205Lay. 26555 Nis noht wurð þratte buten þer beo dede æt. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2318 His sacringe was lute worþ & naþeles it was ydo. 1390Gower Conf. I. 25 That figure..Betokneth how the world schal change And waxe lasse worth and lasse. c1430Freemasonry (1840) 36 Hyt ys so muche worthe,..The vertu therof no mon telle may. 1484Caxton Fables of æsop i. xii, Better worthe is to lyue in pouerte surely, than to lyue rychely beyng euer in daunger. 1568Cecil in Cal. St. Papers Irel. Pref. 8 Marry! an ounce of advise is more worth to be executed aforehand than in the sight of perrills. 1579Googe Lopez de Mendoza's Prov. 32 That wisedome is more woorth then the weapons of the mightie. 1648Gage West Ind. 37 Their prayers for them is more worth then the means of sustenance which they receive from them. 1672Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 19, I do not think it so much worth to gain his approbation. 1781C. Johnston Hist. J. Juniper II. 173 A blessing that is more worth than all the wealth of which the Jews have ever cheated honest men. 1834Southey in Corr. w. C. Bowles (1881) 311 He will have..a living lesson, better worth than Divines could teach. 1871B. Taylor Faust II. ii. ii. 148 Little worth is woman's beauty, So oft an image dumb we see.
3. a. Of a specified or certain value in other than material respects.
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 810 To soþ þou seidest me, þat as muche as ich hadde ich was worþ. 1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 8550 Þy lyfe hym þynkeþ ys wurþ no þyng. 1340–70Alex. & Dind. 261 For riht wisdam is worþ al þe world riche. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. Prol. 75 Weore þe Bisschop..worþe boþe his Eres, Heo scholde not beo so hardi to deceyue þe peple. 1526J. Rastell Hundred Merry Tales (1866) 93, I pray y⊇ teche me my Pater noster, & by my trouth I shall therfore teche the a songe of Robyn hode that shall be worth .xx. of it. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. iii. 30 A dram of sweet is worth a pound of sowre. 1617Moryson Itin. i. 248, I thought an howers rest worth a Kings ransome. 1638Chillingw. Relig. Prot. i. iii. §26. 139 Neither is this deduction worth any thing. 1713Addison Cato ii. i, A Day, an Hour of virtuous Liberty, Is worth a whole Eternity in Bondage. 1795–6Wordsw. Borderers ii. 1003 A thought that's worth a thousand worlds! 1818Scott Br. Lamm. xxviii, A night-cowl of good claret is worth all the considering-caps in Europe. 1849Lytton K. Arthur vi. lxxx, But one live dog is worth ten lions dead. 1867Freeman Norm. Conq. I. vi. 574 The judgement of a competent tribunal is always worth something. 1894Solicitor's Jrnl. XXXIX. 2/1 In a matter of this kind a grain of common sense is worth a peck of scientific hair-splitting.
b. In the phrase as much as..is worth.
1711Steele Spect. No. 24 ⁋4 It is as much as my Life is worth, if she should think we were intimate. 1849Cupples Green Hand x, To haul on a wind was as much as her spars were worth.
c. for all (it, one) is, was worth: to the fullest extent. Orig. U.S.
1875‘Mark Twain’ Sk. New & Old 310 We shall fly our comet for all it is worth. 1883Mercury (N.Y.) in Ware Passing Engl. 5 Scalchi, to use a side-walk phrase, played Siebel for all the character was worth. 1884Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 1 Oct. 2/14 The Boston Post, having worked the bogus..letter for all that it was worth, now admits that it was a forgery. 1889Gunter That Frenchman xxi. 298 [The steamer] is driving, for everything she is worth, down the waters of the Finnish Gulf. 1897M. Kingsley W. Africa 197 We spun round and round..I steering the whole time for all I was worth.
d. for what it is worth, a dismissive phr. intimating that something (esp. an accompanying statement) is of uncertain or little value. Often parenthetically.
1888J. Ross Three Generations 228 There is my opinion; I give it for what it is worth. 1922F. Harris My Life & Loves I. xv. 327 However, the fact is so peculiar that I insert it here for what it may be worth. 1952M. Norton Borrowers xx. 157 ‘Well,’ she conceded at last. ‘I'll tell you. For what it's worth.’ 1962A. Huxley Let. 19 Jan. (1969) 928 Laura brought up the idea suddenly and it fired my imagination. So here, for what it is worth, it is. 1979J. Johnston Old Jest 152 You're going to have to decide which side you're on. Nancy, for what it's worth, seems to have made her decision.
†4.
a. Valuable; of value or use (to some end); worthy. Obs.
1340Ayenb. 90 Zaynte paul..heþ hyer ynemned þe meste gentile guodes þet man may do and þet mest were ywoned to by worþ and profiti. 1382Wyclif Matt. v. 13 To no thing it [salt] is worth ouer, no bot that it be sent out, and defoulid of men. 1422Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 196 Hit is noȝt wourth, the Science and Iugementes of the Sterrys. 1449Pecock Repr. iii. viii. 325 And therfore this afore sett answere is not worth. a1450Le Morte Arth. 2545 To Ryde A-ȝeyne hem All by dene Or ther worthe walles holde.
†b. Worth while. Obs.
c1386Chaucer Prol. 785 Vs thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys..And bad him seye his voirdit as hym leste. 1449Pecock Repr. ii. i. 136, I wote not that it is worth forto talke in resonyng with eny persoon of the laife vpon eny mater of Goddis lawe, but if he be able [etc.].
5. Of standing in respect of possessions, property, or income; possessed of, owning. Usu. with specification of the sum.
1460Paston Lett. III. 429 Enquere of hym wher his goode is, and what he is wurthe..; for I undre stande that he is wurthe in money vc marke. 1497Plumpton Corr. (Camden) 123 She is called worth mli beside hir land. 1531–2Act 23 Hen. VIII, c. 2 Euery suche person..beynge worthe in mouable substaunce the cleere value of .xx.li. or aboue. 1551in Feuillerat Revels Edw. VI (1914) 59 Gentlemen that..wolde not be seen in london so..disgysed for asmoche as they ar worthe or hope to be worthe. 1567Harman Caveat 61 The troth is..she would wekely be worth vi. or seuen shyllinges with her begging. 1655Nicholas Papers (Camden) II. 257 Sr Theodore Mayerne is dead and left his dawghter wourth a hundred thousand pounds in ready mony. 1676G. Etherege Man of Mode iii. iii, You are for Masks, and Private Meetings; where Women engage For all they are worth I hear. 1711Steele Spect. No. 260 ⁋1 If..all my Securities are good, I shall be worth Fifty thousand Pound. 1778F. Burney Evelina lxxxii, She assures me..that I shall be sole heiress of all she is worth. 1821Lamb Elia i. Old Benchers Inner T., He was master of four or five hundred thousand pounds; nor did he look..worth a moidore less. 1878G. Macdonald Ann. Q. Neighb. xxxii, She will be worth something when she is married.
†6. Of persons: of account or importance; entitled to respect or honour; worthy. Obs. (In OE. also of things.)
Beowulf 1902 He þæm batwearde..swurd ᵹesealde, þæt he syðþan wæs..maþme þy weorðra. c888ælfred Boeth. xxxix. §2 Weliᵹ & weorð & rice & foremære on his aᵹnum earde. a1100Gerefa in Anglia IX. 260 A swa he ᵹecneordra, swa bið he weorðra. a1122O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 876 Þa ᵹislas þe on þam here weorþuste wæron. c1200Ormin 5020 & tu þe sellf narrt rihht nohht wurrþ Wiþþutenn Godess hellpe. c1205Lay. 30993 Þer neoren eorles no wurðer [c 1275 worþere] þene cheorles. c1300Harrow. Hell (E.) 172 Ȝa, leue lord, godes sone, welcom be þou & worþ come. 1340Ayenb. 23 Þet byeþ þe heȝe men and þet byeþ mest worþ. Ibid. 90 Huo þet lest heþ, lest is worþ. c1350Will. Palerne 2498 He wan a-ȝen to william & to his worþ make. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. xi. 310 Fore þe more a man may do,..The more is he worth and worthi. 1535Coverdale Prov. xvi. 32 He that can rule him selfe, is more worth then he yt winneth a cite.
II.
†7.
a. Of sufficient merit, entitled by merit, deserving, to be or do something. Obs.
In OE. usually expressed by wyrðe: see wurthe a.
c1000ælfric Hom. II. 316 We ðe næron wurðe beon his wealas ᵹeciᵹde. c1200Ormin 2357 Þærþurrh wass ȝho wel wurrþ to ben Swa wurrþedd her onn erþe. Ibid. 19875 Forrþi wass ȝho wurrþ att Godd,..To don þatt dede o Sannt Johan. c1205Lay. 2965 Hu mochel worȝ leste þu me [c 1275 hu mochel worþ holdist þou me] to walden kineriche. a1300Cursor M. 12822, I am noght worthe to lese þe thuanges of his sco. 1340Ayenb. 231 Naȝt ne is worþ to habbe maidenhod of bodye þet heþ wyl to by y-spoused. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints i. (Peter) 332 He..mad hym byschope; for þat he ves worth to haf sic degre. 1390Gower Conf. I. 107, I trowe ther be noman..That halt him lasse worth than I To be beloved. c1420Wyntoun Cron. v. 4502 He was worthe to wyn wictorys.
b. Deserving or worthy of (something). † In early use with genitive.
In OE. only in form wyrðe, Angl. weorðe.
c833Will in Birch Cartul. Sax. I. 575 Ða hwile þe God wille ðæt ðeara æniᵹ sie þe londes weorde sie. c888ælfred Boeth. xvi. §1 For his cræftum he bið anwealdes weorðe, ᵹif he his weorðe bið. 12..in Bracton De Leg. Angl. iv. i. (Rolls) III. 184 He ne es othes worthe that es enes gylty of oth broken. c1400Destr. Troy 10353 Now, loke if þis lede soche longyng be worthe, As þou writis in þi wordes. c1400Rule St. Benet (verse) 922 Than es þer wark worth mikyl mede. a1425Cursor M. 12302 (Trin.) Þe childes frendes fro þat houre helde ihesu worþe honoure. c1470Gol. & Gaw. 1245 Ilkane be werk and be will Is worth his rewarde. 1615W. Lawson Country Housew. Garden (1626) 18 And it is hardly possible to misse in graffing so often, if your Gardiner be worth his name. 1772T. Mudge Descr. Timekeeper (1799) 19 It flatters me not a little that you should think any thing of mine so much worth your trouble. 1830Marryat King's Own lii, The captain..is not worth his salt. 1873Browning Red Cotton Night-Cap Country 194 He will have recognized..How much that's good in man..makes Monsieur Léonce Miranda worth his help.
†c. Without const.: Of merit, deserving. Obs.
c1380Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 358 Ȝour place is ordeyned in hevene after þat ȝe ben worþe.
†d. Deserving on account of demerit or fault. Obs.
c1375Lay Folks Mass Bk. (MS. B.) 72 In worde, & werk I am to wite and worth to blame. c1375Cursor M. 44 (Fairf.) Our dedis fra our hert takis rote, queþer þai be worþ bale or bote. c1400Rom. Rose 7104 Wel were it worth to bene brent.
8. a. Sufficiently valuable or important to be an equivalent or good return for (something). Also const. of. worth (the) while: see while n. 3 b.
1387Trevisa Higden IV. 355 The queene..beet Iudas ful ofte, but al for nouȝt, ffor it was not worþ þe while. 1513Douglas æneis ii. vii. 129 Thair with my handis wrocht I worth my deid. 1556M. Huggarde Display. Protestants 40 It shall be worth the traueill to say somwhat therein. 1642C. Saltonstall Navigator 65 They [the Theorems] will give you so great a light..that it will be well worth your labour. 1667Milton P.L. i. 262 To reign is worth ambition though in Hell. 1711W. King tr. Naude's Ref. Politics iii. 107 That the crown of France was well worth the trouble of hearing one mass. 1866Neale Sequences & Hymns 23 Ye, who sometimes think the glory Of the labour scantly worth.
b. With vbl. n. (in early use with the, one's) as complement. † Also to with inf. (quot. 1559).
The const. also occurs with OE. wyrðe, weorðe.
In recent times the illogical use of worth for worth while, and vice versa, is frequent.
(a)1540Palsgr. Acolastus iv. vii. X ij b, My corne..was not worth the cuttyng downe. 1559Clough in Burgon Life Gresham (1839) I. 255 It was sure a sight worth to go 100 myles to see it! 1582N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. i. v. 13 (margin) Three smal Ilands discouered not worth the entering. 1617Moryson Itin. i. 32 A Tower..worth the seeing, for the antiquity and building. 1630R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 112 All histories will tell you, it is a point worth the looking into. 1669Earl of Sandwich tr. Barba's Art of Metals i. (1674) 129 It is very well worth ones making a journey purposely to see them. 1692L'Estrange Fables cccxliii. 300 Hang 'em All up..they are not Worth the Begging. 1798Wordsw. Peter Bell iii. 815 An Ass like this was worth the stealing! 1832Lister Arlington II. 252 You may think it little worth the telling,..but you shall know every thing.
(b)1591–5Spenser Col. Clout 85 Well I weene it worth recounting was. 1638Junius Paint. Ancients 28 Viewing round about all what was worth seeing in so famous a place. 1686[Allix] Dissert. iii. in Ratramnus' Body & Bl. (1688) 54 It is worth observing..that the Adoration of the Sacrament sprang not up till some Ages after. 1751Hume Enq. Princ. Morals vii. (1902) 256 [He] soon lost his iron lamp, the only furniture which he had worth taking. 1782F. Burney Cecilia viii. iv, That the matter is somewhat spread..is now not to be helped, and therefore little worth thinking of. 1836Hints on Etiquette (ed. 2) 15 If a man be worth knowing, he is surely worth the trouble to approach properly. 1877Mallock in 19th Cent. Sept. 251 (article) Is Life worth living? 1889T. A. Trollope What I remember III. 285, I have then, as at all times, found life eminently ‘worth living.’ 1915Sisam Skeat's Havelok p. xxxi, When a text has any claims to belong to the thirteenth century, it is worth noticing what evidence it contains for the lengthening of short vowels in open syllables.
c. With nouns having the force of vbl. ns.
1660Nicholas Papers (Camden) IV. 231 He is acquainted with diuers things worth the knowledge. 1744M. Bishop Life 137, I..was very inquisitive in asking about every particular Thing that was worth my Observation. 1772Junius Lett. lxviii. 338 It is worth the reader's attention to observe. 1837Dickens Pickw. iii, ‘They are not worth your notice,’ said the dismal man. 1877Huxley Physiogr. 76 The rusting of this particular metal is worth closer study.
†9. Fit, meet, proper. Obs. rare.
a1300Cursor M. 7515 It es noght worth, leif sir king, þat man in godd haue mistrouing. a1400–50Wars Alexander 3426, I maynly ȝow swere,..Þe worthe wage þaim [to] wayue þat þai haue wele serued. c1412Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 441 Certes to blame ben þe lordes grete,..þat hir men lete Vsurpe swiche a lordly apparaille; [It] Is not worþ.
▪ VI. worth, v.1 Obs. exc. arch.|wɜːθ|
Forms: (see below).
[Common Teut.: OE. weorðan, wurðan (wearþ, wurdon, ᵹeworden) = OFris. wertha, wirtha, wirda (WFris. wirde), OS. werđan (MLG. and LG. werden; MDu. and Du. worden), OHG. werdan, werthan (MHG. and G. werden), ON. and Icel. verða (Norw. dial. verda, verta, MSw. varþa, vardha, Sw. varda, Da. vorde), Goth. wairþan. The stem is prob. the same as that of L. vertĕre, OSlav. vrŭtĕti, vratiti (Russ. vertjet'), Lith. versti (stem vert-), Skr. vṛit (vártatē, vartti) to turn, the sense in Germanic having developed into that of ‘to turn into’, ‘to become’. Cf. -ward suffix.
OE. compounds are represented by the obsolete forworth and i-worth.]
A. Illustration of Forms.
1. a. inf. α1 weorðan, wurðan, wyrðan, 2–3 wurðen, wurþen (3 Orm. wurrþenn), 3 wrþan, 4 worþen, worthyn. β2 wurðe, 4 werþe, 4–5 worþe, 4–6 worthe. γ4 worþ, 4–5 worth. δ4 worde, 5–7 Sc. word.
α Beowulf 2526 Unc sceal weorðan..swa unc wyrd ᵹeteoð. a900Andreas 182 (Gr.) Sceal feorhᵹedal..æfter wyrðan. c1000Daniel 115 (Gr.) Þætte rices ᵹehwæs..sceolde..ende wurðan. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 147 He wiste..þat hit wurðen solde. c1200Ormin 492 Þatt nan ne shollde wurrþenn Þa sett to wurrþenn prest. c1205Lay. 1234 Þar on þu scalt wrþan sæl. c1275Prov. ælfred 200 in O.E. Misc. 115 It sollen wurþen to nout. c1330Assump. Virg. 262 (B.M. MS.), Ne schal me neuer worþen wel. c1394P. Pl. Crede 9 Schent mote y worþen. a1400in Anglia XVIII. 324 Ȝif on be in poynt to worthyn wod.
βc1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 147 He spec of þat þe sholde wurðe. 13..Guy Warw. 1171 Swiche no miȝt y neuer werþe. c1350Will. Palerne 327 God lene him grace to god man to worthe. c1400Gamelyn 491 Cursed mot he worthe. a1450Le Morte Arth. 1817 What shall worthe of vs twoo!
γa1300Cursor M. 930 To puder sal þou worth again. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. ii. 47 Lat hem worth til lewte be iustice. a1400–50Wars Alexander 2878 He bad hym..on a blonk worth. 1549Latimer 4th Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 120 What wyl worth..of thys man?
δa1300Cursor M. 22489 (Edinb.) Þe sternes..sal..worde al blak sum ani col. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xviii. (Egipciane) 1181 Now quhat sal word of me? 1533Gau Richt Vay (S.T.S.) 30 He wald word man for our saluation. a1665W. Guthrie Serm. 14 (Jam.) What will word of my wife?
b. pres. ind. (3rd sing.) α1 weorðeð, (uuiurthit), wyrðeþ, 3 wurððeð, 4 worþeþ (pl. worþen); north. 1 worðes, 4 worþez, -is (2nd worþest), 5 worthis, Sc. wordis, wourdis. β1 weorð, wierð, wyrð, wirð, wurð, 2 wrð, 3 wurþ, 3–4 worþ, 4–6 worth (4 worht); 2nd 1 wyrst, 3–5 worst.
In OE. and early ME. the present tense is sometimes used in place of the future.
α735[see B. 2]. a900Andreas 483 (Gr.) Ᵹif ðu..larna þinra este wyrðest. c950Lindisf. Gosp. Luke i. 34 Huu worðes ðis? a1000Laws of æthelbirht xxxiv, Ᵹif banes blice weorðeþ, iii scillingum ᵹebete. c1205Lay. 8786 For ȝet heo wurððeð þe laðe. c1290Beket 998 in S. Eng. Leg. 135 Alle we worþez i-brouȝt to nouȝte. a1310in Wright Lyric P. ix. 36 Hit wortheth al to wyn. 13..Guy Warw. 407 Þou worþest to hewen. 13..Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1106 Hit worþez to yourez. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. vi. v. (Tollem. MS.), Þe ouir party..worþeþ more lyȝte, and þe neþer parties..worþen more heuy. a1450Le Morte Arth. 782 Vp he worthis vppon his stede. c1475Rauf Coilȝear 706 Ȝone is Wymond, I wait, it worthis na weir. c1480Henryson Cock & Jewel 23 Þe bow þat ay is bent Wordis vnsmart.
βc888ælfred Boeth. iv, Þonne he betwux us & hire wyrð. c897― Gregory's Past. C. xvii. 111 He wierð self to ðæs onlicnesse. c900Bæda's Hist. Pref. i. (1890) 2 Hu wurð he elles ᵹelæred? a1000Laws æthelbirht lxv, Ᵹif he healt weorð, þær motan freond seman. c1000ælfric Gen. iii. 19 Ðu..to duste ᵹewyrst [v.r. wyrst]. Ibid., Exod. vii. 9 Heo wyrð to næddran. a1175Cott. Hom. 235 Fram þa forme man to þa latst þe wrð et þes wrldes ende. c1250Prov. ælfred 304 in O.E. Misc. 120 And selde wurþ he blyþe and gled. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1570 So is þe stude icluped nou & euere worþ. c1325Spec. Gy Warw. 128 Sauued worþ he neuere mo. c1380Sir Ferumb. 488 Þyn auaunt worþ dere aboȝt. 1513Douglas æneis xii. Prol. 187 Slekyt worth thir bestis skynnis.
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2232 Þou worst þer king anon. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xix. 404 Ysaued worstow [v.r. worst þou] neure. c1380Sir Ferumb. 805 Elles þow worst beleyn. c1425Seven Sag. (P.) 1505 Certys, syre, thou worst schent.
c. pres. subj. 1 weorðe, (uueorthae), 2–3 wurðe, (pl. wurðen), wurþe, 3 wurthe, 4 wurth; 3–4 worþe, 4–6 worthe; 4 worþ, 4– worth, (4 wortht, 5 vorth); 6 Sc. wirth.
735[see B. 2 b]. c1000Saxon Leechd. III. 58 Ᵹif næᵹl of honda weorðe. c1175Lamb. Hom. 153 I þonked wurðe him. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 193 Ure fon..wulled swo don, bute we wurðen us warre. c1250Prov. ælfred 633 Wel worþe þe wid. c1300Havelok 434 Waried wurthe he. Ibid. 2873 Blissed worþe his soule ay! a1352Minot Poems ii. 11 Wele worth þe while. a1375Joseph Arim. 146 Mensked he worþe! c1400Destr. Troy 597 Till ye fay worthe. c1440Generydes 4871 Woo worth the tyme. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xliv. 9 Wo wirth the fruct..And wo wirth him. 1563Homilies ii. Passion ii. 199 Wo worth the tyme that euer we synned. 1611Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xviii. 887 Ah woe worth him.
d. imp. 4 worth, 5 worthe.
a1330Otuel 828 Worþ vp bi-hinden me her. c1450Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 249 Thanne worthe upp, Walis.
2. pa. tense. (1st and 3rd sing.) α1–3 wearþ, wearð, warð, 2, 4 ward (2 uuard), 3–4 warþ (3 Orm. warrþ); 2–3 werð, werþ, 4 werþe, werth; pl. 1 wurdon, 2 wurðon, wurþen, 5 worden. β3 wurð, wurd, worþ, (4 worþe), 4–6 worth (5 worthe). γSc. and north. 5 word, 5–6 worde.
αa900Andreas 1343 (Gr.) Hwæt wearð eow? c1000Ags. Gosp. Luke xxiii. 12 On ðam dæge wurdun herodes & pilatus ᵹefrynd. a1154O.E. Chron. an. 1135 Wurþen men suiðe of uundred. c1160Hatton Gosp. Matt. viii. 26 Þær warð ȝeworðen mychel smoltnyss. c1175Lamb. Hom. 133 Sum [seed]..werð totreden. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 167 Þe lichame warð bretful of wunden. Ibid. 181 He..wearð þar mide acheked. c1200Ormin 10960 Þæraffterr warrþ itt efft to nohht. 13..Guy Warw. 4723 Opon a mule sche warþ anon. 1387Trevisa Higden V. 277 At laste he werþe sike. c1400Chron. R. Glouc. (Rolls) App. G. 171 Noble he werþ & riche. c1400T. Chestre Launfal 131 He ward yn greet dette. 1481Caxton Reynard xvi. (Arb.) 34 Thus worden my teeth al blody.
βc1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 99 Þat bred wurð to fleis. c1250Gen. & Ex. 995 His name ðo wurð a lettre mor. Ibid. 1197 Ȝhe wurd wið child. c1275Duty of Christians 109 in O.E. Misc. 144 Þat folk worþ eft wroþe i-spild. 1387Trevisa Higden V. 195 Lowys..worþe sike. c1440Gesta Rom. xlvi. 186 What worthe of hit he ne knew. c1470Henry Wallace iii. 13 Wictaill worth scant. 1513Douglas æneis v. xi. 86 The myndis worth agast.
γc1375Sc. Leg. Saints xii. (Mathias) 420 He worde stane-blynde. 1570Durham Depos. (Surtees) 137 He knewe not..what worde of them.
3. pa. pple. α1 ᵹeworden, 2 -ðen, 3 iwurðen, 4 iworþe. β1 worden, 2 wurðen, 3 Orm. wurrþenn, 5 wurthen; 2–3 worðen, 4 worþen, 4–5 worthen; Sc. 4–5 worthyn, -ine, 5–6 worthin (6 -ing), 6 wordine. γ2 wurþe, 5 worthe.
α971Blickl. Hom. 223 He..sona wearð hal ᵹeworden. c1160Hatton Gosp. Matt. viii. 26 Þær warð ȝeworðen mychel smoltnyss. c1230Hali Meid. 9 And is þat..iwurðen to meastling. 1387Trevisa Higden IV. 187 Þe Parthes þat were i-worþe rebel.
βc1000Daniel 124 (Gr.) Wearð he..acol worden. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 147 He spec of þat..alse þehȝ hit wurðen were. c1200Ormin 3873 Godess Sune..Wass wurrþenn mann. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints iv. (James) 198 Herrod..wes worthine þe devilis lyme. c1400Destr. Troy 9691 To frete hom with fyre, þat were fey worthen. 14..Wyntoun Cron. (W.) iv. 1654 Thai had sene The wethere worthing brycht and schene. c1430Pilgr. Lyf Manhode ii. cxli. (1869) 131 On horse he is wurthen vp. c1480Henryson Want of Wyse Men 6 Wit is worthin wrynkis. 1513Douglas æneis iii. Prol. 26 Wenis thou..the craw be worthin quhite. 1533Gau Richt Vay (S.T.S.) 29 That God is wordine mane.
γc1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 219 Also suteliche swo it wurþe were. c1449Pecock Repr. v. vi. 516 Lete se what schulde haue worthe of the men.
4. weak forms.
a. pa. tense 3 wurðede, 5 wurthed; 4–5 worthed(e, -id (Sc. -yd); Sc. and north. worthit, -yt (5 wourthit).
b. pa. pple. 4 worþed, worthed, Sc. 7 worde, 9 wort.
c1250Gen. & Ex. 2946 Ðe fisses..wurðeden dead. 13..Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 485 Til worþed an ende. Ibid. 678 A duk to haue worþed. 1375Barbour Bruce xiii. 354 Thame worthit..abyde. c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) xxiv. 112 Þe whilk..worthed till a worthy and a..Cristen man. c1440Alphabet of Tales 307 What at wurthed of þe bodie cuthe neuer man tell. c1470Gol. & Gaw. 973 Thus wourthit schir Gawyne wraith. a1500Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (? 1510) S iij, The kyng..worthed there vpon. 1570Durham Depos. (Surtees) 149 He knoweth not what is woorde of the graill. 1629Z. Boyd Last Battell 425 (Jam.) What can bee worde of such a..professor. 1818Hogg Brownie of Bodsbeck I. 38 What could be wort of a' the sheep.
B. Signification.
1. intr. To come to be, come to pass, come about, happen, take place.
c950Lindisf. Gosp. Luke i. 34 Cuoeð..[Maria] to ðæm engel, huu worðes ðis? c1000Ags. Gosp. Matt. viii. 26 He bebead þam winde & þare sæ, & þær wearð ᵹeworðen mycel smyltness. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 147 He spec of þat þe sholde wurðe. Ibid. 197 Hit is worðen alse ure louerd wolde. 13..Northern Passion H 410 Or þe kok haue krawin thrise Sall it worth opon þis wise. 13..Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 485 Wyth wele walt þay þat day, til worþed an ende, in londe. c1400Leg. Rood iv. 127 And so it wurthed at þe last Þe cros al out of minde was past. c1425Eng. Conq. Ireland xvi. 38 Aftyr this, worth gret spech yn-to all þe lond.
b. In the subjunctive mood, expressing a wish for something to happen to one, usually with dat. of person.
13..Cursor M. 25633 (Gött.) Gabriel..said, ‘leuedi! ful of blis, ai worth þe wel!’ c1300Havelok 2221 He let his oth al ouer-go, Euere wurþe him yuel and wo! c1350Will. Palerne 2567, I ne wot in wat wise to worche be best,..but worþe god wiþ alle. c1394P. Pl. Crede 493 Eft he seyde to hem-selfe wo mote ȝou worþen. c1400Gamelyn 482 But ever worthe hem wel that doth thee moche sorwe. c1450Mirk's Festial 295 Þe dor tyneth on hym for euermore and so eurelasting farewel worthe hym and hys werkys.
c. In the phrases woe worth (now arch.), and well worth (obs.) followed by noun or pronoun. (Cf. woe A. 4, well a. 1.)
(a)c1205Lay. 3359 Wa worðe þan monne Þe lond haueðe mid menske. 13..Cursor M. 21992 (Edin.) Antecriste..wa worþe his wit! c1350Will. Palerne 4118 Ȝif i wrong seie any word, wo worþ me euer. 1390Gower Conf. III. 320 Wo worthe evere fals envie! c1440Gesta Rom. lxi. 260 Woo worthe the oure that euer I was made in! 1470–85Malory Arthur iv. xi. 132 Wo worth this swerd, for by hit haue I geten my dethe. a1542Sir. T. Wyatt Poems (1913) I. 76 Thou toke her streight from me: that wo worth thee! 1600Holland Livy v. xlviii. 211 Wo worth men conquered, and downe with them still. 1647Herrick Noble Numb., Widow's T. 21 Woe worth the Time, woe worth the day, That reav'd us of thee, Tabitha. a1801R. Gall Poems & Songs (1819) 30 Wae worth ye, sir! it sets ye ill To talk to me in sic a style. 1810,1870[see woe A. 4].
(b)c1205Lay. 13079 Wel wurðe þe Vortiger Þat þu ært icumen her. c1250Gen. & Ex. 155 Wel wurðe his miȝt.., ðe wrout is on ðe ferðe day! 13..Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 2127 Wel worth þe, wyȝe, þat woldez my gode. a1352Minot Poems ii. 5 It es wrokin, I wene, wele wurth þe while. c1374Chaucer Troylus v. 379 Wel worth of dremes ay þese olde wyues. c1480Henryson Fox & Wolf 35 Weill worth my Father, that send me to the lair.
2. To become, come to be (something):
a. With n. or adj. as complement.
735Bæda's Death-verse 1 Fore there neidfaerae naeniᵹ uuiurthit thoncsnotturra than him tharf sie. 971Blickl. Hom. 175 Þa hwile þe he þær stod, he wearþ færinga ᵹeong cniht. a1154O.E. Chron. an. 1135, And uuard þe sunne suilc als it uuare thre niht ald mone. Ibid. an. 1154, Þat ilce dæi..þa sæclede he & ward ded. c1200Ormin 160 Oþre unnfæwe shulenn ec Full glade & bliþe wurrþenn. c1205Lay. 32107 Þenne scullen i[n] Bruttene blissen wurðen riue. c1250Gen. & Ex. 1175 Abimalech wurð sek on-on. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2806 Louerd he worþ of france. c1320Sir. Tristr. 836 Til y tristrem se, No worþ y neuer bliþe. 1340–70Alex. & Dind. 265 Bute þe loweste þat liuede his lord mihte worþe. 1387Trevisa Higden I. 189 Scheepe þat drynkeþ of þat oon [river] schulle worþe blak, and schepe þat drynkeþ of þat oþer schul worþe whyte. a1400Stockh. Med. MS. 699 in Anglia XVIII. 324 Ȝif on be in poynt to worthyn wood For peyne of teth, dragance is good. c1425Wyntoun Cron. viii. iii. 145 He suld hawe worthyd rede for schame A fre kynryk swa til defame. 1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 45 For dout that thai worth proude and hautayn of thair office. 1513Douglas æneis iv. Prol. 245 O lust,..Thyself consumyng worthis insaciable.
b. With past participles.
735Bæda's Death-verse 5 Hwæt his gastae..æfter deothdaeᵹe doemid uueorthae. a1154O.E. Chron. an. 1135, Wurþen men suiðe of uundred & of dred. c1175Lamb. Hom. 133 Sum of þe sede feol..bi þe weie and werð totreden. c1200Ormin 347 Þatt streon þatt wass..lac to wurrþenn offredd her O rodetreowwess allterr. c1250Gen. & Ex. 1943 In ðis ðisternisse,..Ȝet wurðe [he] worpen naked and cold. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2801 Cristendom worþ icast adoun. c1350Will. Palerne 2291 But god now hem help, slayn worþ þei slepend. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xix. 404 But þow lyue by lore of spiritus iusticie,..ysaued worstow neure. c1380Sir Ferumb. 1871 If þou tarie longe her-wyþ þou worst y-schent Heȝe þow worst an honge. c1425Eng. Conq. Ireland xlix. 124 Al the contrey forth ther-aftyr worth so I-storbet, that [etc.].
3. With prepositional or adverbial complements:
a. To come to be, attain to being (in a particular place or condition).
c888ælfred Boeth. iv, Swa deð eac se mona..þonne he betwux us & hire [the sun] wyrð. a900Cynewulf Crist 1028 Þonne..Adames cynn..weorþeð foldræste eardes æt ende. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 327 Þo he adde is bone ido he werþ aslepe riȝt þere. c1374Chaucer Compl. Mars 248 He wend anon to worthe out of his mynde. c1400Trevisa Higden VII. 505 The strete werth a fuyre. c1400T. Chestre Launfal 131 So savagelych hys good he besette, That he ward yn greet deete. c1470Gol. & Gaw. 1096 Lat it worth at my wil the wourschip to wale.
b. To turn or be converted to something; to change in status to.
Beowulf 2203 Heardrede hildemeceas..to bonan wurdon. a1122O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 870, Hit þa þæt ær wæs ful rice, þa hit wearð to nan þing. a1023Wulfstan Hom. xxx. 145 We..sceolon on worulde wurðan wurmum to æte. c1200Ormin 6976 Þatt steorrne..Warrþ all to nohht..Affterr þatt Crist wass fundenn. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 99 Þat bred wurð to fleis and þe drinke to blod. c1230Hali Meid. 9 And is þat tu wendest gold, iwurðen to meastling. c1300K. Horn (Laud) 467 Þou art so fayr and briycte, Þou schalt worþe to knyte. 13..Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1106 Quat-so-euer I wynne in þe wod, hit worþez to yourez. c1394P. Pl. Crede 746 And ich a beggers brol.. worþ to a writere. 1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 211 Sa that, bot gif thare war a soverane..all the world wald worth to nocht.
c. To get up, on or upon, a horse, etc.
c1290Beket 1164 in S. Eng. Leg. 139 Þe holi Man..werth op..and rod him forth wel faste. 13..Guy Warw. 4723 Opon a mule sche warþ anon. c1330Arth. & Merl. 5053 (Kölbing) A destrer þo ladde Agreuein..& seyd, ‘Worþ her on hastiliche!’ c1374Chaucer Boeth. ii. pr. ii. (1868) 35 Worþe vp [L. ascende] yif þou wilt. c1400Master of Game (MS. Digby 182) xxxiii, Þe horsmen þat beth þere at þe deth, shulde worthe vppe on horse. c1450Lovelich Merlin 11398 Kyng Arthewr be þe Reyne his hors took son,..‘My leve frend,’ he seide, ‘worth vp jn haste.’ a1500Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (? 1510) S iij, For thy the kyng Boccus anon Toke hors and worthed there vpon.
d. To become of (= happen to, betide). Also with on.
c1380Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 277 God behiȝt hem Isaac, and tolde what shulde worþe of him. c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) xxxi. 139 We wist neuere what worthed of þe remenaunt. c1449Pecock Repr. v. vi. 516 Lete se what schulde haue worthe of the man in these ȝeeris, if thei hadden not be mad religiose. 1549Latimer 4th Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 120 What wyl worth, what wyl be the ende of thys man? c1570Durham Depos. (Surtees) 150 He knew not from whence they came, or what worde of them. 1629Z. Boyd Last Battell 425 (Jam.) Then many shall wonder what can bee worde of such a blazing professor. a1665W. Guthrie Serm. 14 (Jam.) What will word of my house? And, What will word of my goods and gear? 1818Hogg Brownie of Bodsbeck I. 38, I was..considering what could be wort of a' the sheep.
e. To pass away, go hence, remain after (= behind).
13..Cursor M. 19110 (Edin.) Þe lastand dede sal worþe awai. c1350Will. Palerne 2355 Wende listly hennes & late me worþ after. c1400Destr. Troy 1975 Þou shalt haue þat I hete & þou hence worth. a1425Cursor M. 22588 (Trin.) Lord god þat lasteþ ay Þou shal vs do to worþe away.
4. to let (one) worth: to let alone; = i-worth 6.
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2330 Þer fore he was so prout & þe king nas him sulf bote as a ssade, & let im worþe al out. c1350Will. Palerne 3597 ‘Lat me worþ’, quaþ william, ‘þat schal i wite sone’. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. Prol. 187 For-þi I conseille alle þe comune to lat þe catte worthe. c1400Rom. Rose 6037 Late ladies worthe with her thyngis. c1450Merlin iii. 58 Than seide Merlyn, ‘Let me worthen ther-with, and I shall a-quyte me of the couenaunt that I made’.
5. To behove, need, be necessary. Usu. impersonal with dative preceding (him worthit, etc.). Sc.
1375Barbour Bruce iv. 194 Him worthit, magre his, abyde In till ane hamelat neir thair-by. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints ii. (Paul) 651 Þis Nero worthit ay of ned..ryse aye quhene his master come nere. c1425Wyntoun Cron. vi. 333 Þis Pyppyne þan..Werthit til tak til hym..Off Frawns þat tyme þe gouernaylle. c1470Henry Wallace iii. 271 Schir Amar said; ‘Trewis it wordis tak’. Ibid. viii. 1616 Off this sayn[g] me worthis for to ces.
▪ VII. † worth, v.2 Obs.
Forms: 1 weorðian, wurðian, wyrðian, north. worðiᵹan, 2–3 wurðien, -in, wurðen (3 Orm. wurrþenn), wurðgin (pa. pple. 2 iwurðeȝed, 3 iwur(d)get), wurðie, 3 wurrþe, worþi, 5 worth(e.
[OE. weorðian, wurðian, f. weorþ worth n.1]
1. trans. To honour (a person or thing); to treat with honour or respect.
c897ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xvii. 123 Ðu weorðasð ðine suna ma ðonne me. 971Blickl. Hom. 11 Weorþian we eac þa claþas his hades. c1000Ags. Gosp. Matt. xv. 8 Þis folc me mid welerum wurþað [v.r. weorþað]. c1175Lamb. Hom. 45 We aȝen þene sunne dei swiþeliche wel to wurþien. c1200Ormin 2358 Þærþurrh wass ȝho wel wurrþ to ben Swa wurrþedd her onn erþe. c1205Lay. 13422 Þas cnihtes weoren an hirede hæhliche iwurðed. c1250Gen. & Ex. 262 Ihesus..Ros fro ded on ðe sunenday, ðat is forð siðen worðed ay. Ibid. 3503 Wurð ðin fader and moder so, ðat ðu hem drede. a1400–50Wars Alexander 2124, I wald more worth..a wyse man disciple, þan þe honour þat Acheles aȝt.
b. To pay divine honours to (a deity); to worship.
c893ælfred Oros. iv. iv. 162 Þa diofla þe hie an simbel weorþedon. 971Blickl. Hom. 27 Ᵹif þu feallest to me & me weorþast. c975Rushw. Gosp. John iv. 22 Ᵹie worðiᵹas þ̶te ᵹe ne wutun, we worðiᵹað þ̶te we wutun. c1175Lamb. Hom. 11 Hine ȝe scule wurþian and hersumen and luuian mid al euwer heorte. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 45 Ure hlouerd ihesu crist..heȝed and wurðed bie he. c1205Lay. 1162 Heo wurðeden þæt anlicnes: þe scucke hit on-feng. c1250Gen. & Ex. 1845 Wið newe alter wurðed he wel ðe strong god of ysrael.
2. To raise to honour; to distinguish.
a900Cynewulf Elene 1195 (Gr.) Bið..se hwæteadiᵹ wiᵹᵹe weorðod, se þæt wicg byrð. a1000Waldere i. 22 (Gr.) Weorða ðe selfne godum dædum. c1205Lay. 2614 Al his cun he wurðede, richen & wrecchen. c1400Chron. R. Glouc. (Rolls) App. G. 154 Þeos foure weyes on þis lond, king belin..Made & worþede ham wiþ gr[et] franchise. |