| 释义 |
worthful, a.|ˈwɜːθfʊl|
Forms: 1 weorðful, 1–3 wurð-, wurþful (3 Orm. wurrþfull), 3 wurthful; 4 worþuol, 7 worthful(l; 6 wyrthfull.
[OE. weorþ-, wurþful, f. weorþ, wurþ, worth n.1 In later use app. re-formed (partly to match worthless) in 16–17th and again in 19th cent., perhaps on the model of G. wertvoll.]
1. Of persons: Honourable; deserving of honour; meriting respect or reverence; full of worth or merit. Also absol.
Beowulf 3099 Swa he manna wæs wiᵹend weorðfullost wide ᵹeond eorðan. c1000Ags. Gosp. Luke xiv. 8 Ne site þu on þam fyrmestan setle, þe-læs..sum weorðfulra siᵹ inᵹelaðod fram hym. a1122O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1086. §8 Se cyng Willelm..wæs..swiðe rice & wurðfulre..þonne æniᵹ his fore-genga wære. c1200Ormin 5195 Helyas wass..an wurrþfull prophete. a1250Owl & Night. 1481 Ȝef he is wurþful and aht man. 1340Ayenb. 16 Þe heȝe men..and þe hardi and þe worþuolle. 1536in Lett. Suppr. Monast. (Camden) 126 Ryght wyrthfull sir, with due reverens my duty remembred [etc.]. 1607Rowlands Guy Warw. Ep. Ded., Disdain not therefore (most worthful and precious spirit)..to vouchsafe the view of these Artless Lines. 1647Trapp Comm. 2 Cor. x. 13 (1656) 728 As any man is more worthful, he is more modest. 1849Rock Ch. Fathers II. 272 Those high-born dames and worthful females whom Margaret the queen had drawn about her. a1909G. Tyrrell Autob. (1912) I. 238 The more worthful have to repair the defective training of the noviceship.
†2. Respectful, reverent; loyal. Obs.
c1000Sax. Leechd. III. 440 Munecas ᵹestaþolode to weorþfulre þenunge hælendes cristes. c1250Gen. & Ex. 2678 Or [= before] haue he hire pliȝt & sworen, ðat him sal feið wurðful ben boren.
3. Having worth or value; valuable; precious.
a1225Ancr. R. 140 Þet heo..strenðeð & deð menske hire wurðfule soule. a1225Leg. Kath. 1017 His wundri werkes & wurðful in eorðe. a1240Lofsong in O.E. Hom. I. 211 Turn to þe worlde þi wurðful rode þet þu spreddest þe on. 1599Marston Antonio's Rev. ii. ii, That prince that worthfull praise aspires, From hearts, and not from lips, applause desires. 1879Pentecost In Vol. Bk. vi. (1882) 43 Just as a man's note is only current and worthful because the man is good. 1888Furnivall E.E.T.S., Texts preparing, Gen. Notices 3 Some [Lives of Saints] are dull..But..all are worthful for the history of our language. 1893Upton Hibbert Lect. (1894) 298 The presence of absolutely worthful ideas in our consciousness.
Hence † ˈworthfulhead, honour, dignity; ˈworthfulness, value.
c1250Gen. & Ex. 3499 Ne let ðu nogt min wurð-ful-hed forfaren in ðe fendes red. 1894Pentecost in Brit. Weekly 20 Sept. 338 Make this the touchstone of worthfulness in selecting the books. |