unworthyadj.adv.n.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈwəːði/, U.S. /ˌənˈwərði/ A. adj.
I. Not worthy or of merit, and related uses.
1.
a. Of things: deficient in worth; having little or no value; worthless.In later use chiefly elliptical from A. 3b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > worthless
naughteOE
unworthc960
nought worthOE
unworthya1240
vaina1300
lewd1362
base?1510
to be nothing toc1520
stark naught1528
nothing worth1535
worthilessa1542
draffish1543
baggage1548
dunghill?1555
valureless1563
toyish1572
worthless1573
out (forth) of door (also doors)1574
leaden1577
riff-raff1577
drafty1582
fecklessc1586
dudgeon?1589
nought-worth1589
tenpenny1592
wanwordy?a1595
shotten herring1598
nugatory1603
unvalued1604
priceless1614
unvaluable1615
valuelessa1616
waste1616
trashya1620
draffy1624
stramineous1624
invaluable1640
roly-poly?1645
nugatorious1646
perquisquilian1647
niffling1649
lazy1671
wanworth1724
little wortha1754
flimsy1756
waff1788
null1790
nothingy1801
nothingly1802
twopenny-halfpenny1809
not worth a flaw1810
garbage1817
peanut1836
duffing1839
trash1843
no-account1845
no-count1851
punky1859
rummagy1872
junky1880
skilligalee1883
footle1894
punk1896
wherry-go-nimble1901
junk1908
rinky-dink1913
schlock1916
tripe1927
duff1938
chickenshit1940
sheg-up1941
expendable1942
(strictly) for the birds1943
tripey1955
schlocky1960
naff1964
dipshit1968
cack1978
a1240 Wohunge in Old Eng. Hom. I. 281 Ne was neauer unwurði þing chepet swa deore.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xvii. cxv Barlich..haþ þe fouleste strawe of alle corne & vnworthieste stobles.
c1440 Gesta Romanorum xiii. 43 Loo! what I haue suffred for the, where as I put non vnworthier thing for the then my owne body.
c1445 R. Pecock Donet 33 Whanne a man..beriþ in his hond sum pore vnworþi sticke.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) iv. 196 Ane hamelat neir thair-by, A litill toune and vnworthy [1489 Adv. wnworthy].
?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Aiv Myn accustomed poore and vnworthy seruyce.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) i. ii. 228 France being ours, wee'l bend it to our Awe..Or lay these bones in an vnworthy Vrne. View more context for this quotation
1618 J. Taylor Pennyles Pilgrimage D 2 My poore vnable and vnworthy pen.
1634 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. Hist. New Test. (STC 12640.5) 130 Our weak, and unworthy praiers.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 86 Whose Leaves..become th' unworthy Browze Of Buffal'os.
1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci iii. i. 40 These limbs, the unworthy temple of thy spirit.
1854 Poultry Chron. 2 78/1 To withhold..prizes in any of the classes in which the specimens are deemed unworthy.
b. Not reputable; hurtful or injurious to reputation; discreditable.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > [adjective]
undignec1315
unhonestc1450
reproachable1477
unhonourable1540
discredible1575
discreditable1577
defacing1583
reprobate1589
reproachful1591
scandalous1592
uncreditable1649
notorious1666
unworthy1693
discrediting1699
increditable1703
disreputable1773
compromising1883
1693 J. Dryden Examen Poeticum Ded. sig. A4 A kind of Contempt for those who have risen by unworthy ways.
1735 J. Thomson Rome: 3rd Pt. Liberty 376 Unworthy joys! that wasteful leave behind..No secret ray to glad the conscious soul.
1795–6 W. Wordsworth Borderers i. 255 I suspect unworthy tales Have reached his ear.
1813 P. B. Shelley Queen Mab v. 67 Blunting the keenness of his spiritual sense With narrow schemings and unworthy cares.
1882 W. Besant All Sorts of Men II. xxvi. 190 She repressed her indignation at this unworthy suggestion.
2.
a. Of persons: not worthy; lacking worth or merit; undeserving; hence, despicable, contemptible.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > condition of being held in contempt > [adjective] > contemptible
unworthc893
unwrastc893
littleOE
narrow-hearteda1200
wretcha1200
unworthya1240
wretchedc1250
un-i-wrastc1275
bad1276
lechera1300
feeblea1325
despisablea1340
villain1340
contemptiblec1384
lousyc1386
caitiff1393
brothelyc1400
roinousa1425
poor1425
sevenpennyc1475
nasty1477
peakish1519
filthy1533
despectuous1541
beggary1542
scald1542
shitten?1545
disdainfula1547
contemptuous1549
despicable1553
skit-brained?1553
contemniblea1555
vile1560
sluttish1561
queer1567
scornful1570
scallardc1575
tinkerly?1576
worthless1576
beggarly?1577
paltry1578
halfpenny1579
dog bolt1580
pitiful1582
sneaking1582
triobolar1585
wormisha1586
baddy1586
dudgeon1592
measled1596
packstaff1598
roguey1598
roguish1601
contemptful1608
grovelling1608
lightly1608
disdainable1611
purulent1611
snotty-nose1622
vilipendious1630
cittern-headed1638
wormy1640
pissabed1643
triobolary1644
disparageable1648
blue-bellied1652
unestimable1656
scullion1658
piteous1667
dirty1670
shabbed1674
shabby1679
snotty1681
snotty-nosed1682
mucky1683
bollocky1694
scoundrel1700
scaldeda1704
sneaking1703
ficulnean1716
unsolid1731
pitiable1753
scrubby1754
inimitable1798
scrubbish1798
worm-likea1807
small1824
lowlife1827
ketty1828
skunkish1831
yellow-bellied1833
scaly1843
cockroachya1845
wutless1853
nigger1859
trashy1862
low-down1872
cruddy1877
shitty1879
tinhorn1886
blithering1889
motherfucking1890
snidey1890
pilgarlicky1894
shitass1895
shoddy1918
yah boo1921
bitching1929
shit-faced1932
turdish1936
fricking1937
jerk-off1937
chickenshit1940
sheg-up1941
snot-nosed1941
jerky1944
mother-loving1948
scroungy1948
fecking1952
pissant1952
shit-kicking1953
shit-eating1956
bumboclaat1957
rassclaat1957
shit-headed1959
farkakte1960
shithouse1966
daggy1967
dipshit1968
scuzzy1969
bloodclaat1971
bitch ass1972
wanky1972
streelish1974
twatty1975
twattish1976
dweeby1988
douchey1991
wank1991
cockish1996
society > morality > dueness or propriety > moral impropriety > [adjective] > undeserving
unofservedc1225
unworthya1240
undeserved1390
unmeedfula1425
meedless1435
incondignc1450
indignc1450
undeserving1549
worthless1586
unworth1587
desertless1631
immeriting1635
demeritoriousa1640
deserveless1648
society > morality > dueness or propriety > moral impropriety > [adjective] > undeserving > of insufficient merit
unworthc893
unworthya1240
undignec1315
unthrivingc1325
unmeriting1594
meritless1596
unmeritable1597
unmeritorious1599
immeritorious1642
immeritous1645
α.
absolute.c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 52 He þat geuys þe giftys..to vnworthy and to hem þat has non nede.1555 R. Eden in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde Pref. sig. diij Fortune..sumtymes fauoureth the vnworthyest.1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. i. 75 The insolence of office, and the spurnes That patient merrit of th' vnworthy takes. View more context for this quotationa1658 R. Lovelace Poems (1659) 30 'Tis the same wrong th' unworthy to inthrone.1864 Fox tr. K. Ælfred's Boeth. (1895) 97 Canst thou now understand how great dishonour power brings on the un~worthy when he receives it?β. c1475 Cath. Angl. 424/1 (A.) Vn Wordy, jndignus, jgnobilis.1796 R. Gall Tint Quey (1819) 29 This is a bonny speech..To come frae your unwordy head.c1820 J. Hogg Tales & Sketches (1837) II. 147 Ah! the unwordy rascal!a1240 Wohunge in Old Eng. Hom. I. 279 Schomeliche spateling of unwurði ribauz.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 23882 Amang þaa hirdes am i an, Sa wreche vnworthi wat i nan.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 20015 Al if I. be vn-worþi man.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) iii. 10 He pryues þaim þat him think vnworthy.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 284 Quhen princis prayis for vnworthy personis, god is offendit.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ecclus. xxix. 32 Yet shall he be taken as vnworthy, & heare many bytter rough wordes.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. i. 37 So may I..Misse that which one vnworthier may attaine. View more context for this quotation
1639 J. Woodall Surgeons Mate (rev. ed.) Pref. sig. B3 Unworthy impostors under the names of Surgeons.
1680 W. de Britaine Humane Prudence xiv. 41 External Fortunes may befal the unworthiest persons.
1737 E. Lewis Let. to Swift 30 June [A] family..brought to ruin by that unworthy man lord Kinnoul.
1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward II. v. 115 Campo-Basso, the unworthy favourite of Duke Charles, with..his base, treacherous spirit.
1835 G. P. R. James Gipsy iii An unworthy blackguard of that name.
1846 A. Marsh Father Darcy II. viii. 136 The authority confided to me—unworthy—by the church.
b. Conventionally or devotionally used as an expression of humility.
ΚΠ
?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Uiv Written by your vnworthy seruant.
1660 R. Allestree Gentlemans Calling 171 O most..bountiful Lord, who..hast in an extraordinary measure abounded to me thy unworthiest Servant.
a1700 in Publ. Catholic Rec. Soc. (1911) 9 334 Str Agnes of the Jnfant Jesus. Priouresse unworthy.
1754 in Publ. Catholic Rec. Soc. (1910) 8 249 S[iste]r Agnes Howard Abbess unw[orth]y.
3. With const. Not of sufficient merit, excellence, or worth.
a. With to (Sc. †till) and inf. (Chiefly of persons.)
ΚΠ
a1350 in K. Böddeker Altengl. Dichtungen (1878) 203 Iesu, þah ich be vnworþi to loue þe.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 14927 Crist and his moder do me to spede! þat vn-worthi es for to rede.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 428 Thanne bi lijk argument..ech gouernaunce and ech thing..weren vnleeful and vnworthi to be had and vsid.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 2709 I am vnworthy..Slike hy degre to come toward.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. DDv Proclamyng themselfe synners & vnworthy to lyue.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy ii. 629 I wot me vnworthy þis wirdis to fall.
1563 A. Nowell in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) (Camden) 21 [To] iudge whether it [= his MS. Catechism] were not unwoorthie..to be maide publike.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxvii. 159 He..is..thought unworthy to have any charge, or preferment in Warre.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 91 Since hee [sc. man] permits Within himself unworthie Powers to reign Over free Reason. View more context for this quotation
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iv. 343 The rest [are]..unworthy to compare With Sion's songs. View more context for this quotation
1715 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad I. ii. 862 His Troops in forty Ships Podarces led,..Nor he unworthy to command the Host.
1789 W. Cowper On Queen's Visit to London 67 The cumb'rous throng, Not else unworthy to be fear'd.
1827 R. Pollok Course of Time I. i. 15 Unworthy is your servant, To stand in presence of the King.
1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake II. xxi. 361 His soul, unworthy to be delivered from evil.
b. With of, †to, †for (something specified), or clause.
ΚΠ
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Tobit iii. 19 Or I was vnwrthi to hem, or thei parauenture to me weren not wrthi.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Deeds xiii. 46 Ȝe..han demed vs vnworthi of [a1425 L.V. vnworthi to] euere lasting lyf.
c1386 G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale 359 Lord, vndigne and vnworthy Am I, to thilke honour.
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus Amicitia indigni, vnworthy of friendship.
1589 R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations To Rdr. sig. *4v I accompt him vnworthy of future fauours.
1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles ix. 36 I am vnworthy for her Scholemaister. View more context for this quotation
1615 W. Mure Misc. Poems xiv. 14 Quhich endit ye dayes of this sensuall slaue, Wnwordy the earth sould ȝeild him a graue.
1674 R. Head Jackson's Recantation sig. A4 I thought my self unworthy of a forreign Plantation.
1785 W. Cowper Task iii. 731 Neglected Nature pines, Abandon'd, as unworthy of our love.
1823 F. D. Hemans Siege Valencia ii. 132 The noble daughter of Pelayo's line Hath nought to ask, unworthy of the name Which is a nation's heritage.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. ii. 250 Nor did he appear to the public unworthy of his high fortunes.
c. Of superior worth or merit. (Const. to.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > worth > [adjective] > worthy to a superior degree
unworthy1746
1746 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Satires ii. ii. 139 Why lives in deep Distress A Man unworthy to be poor?
4. † b. Dishonouring, low, mean. Const. to. Obsolete.
a. Of treatment, etc.: not deserved, warranted, or justified; unmerited.Chiefly of treatment, fortune, etc., below the deserts or merit of the person or persons concerned.
ΚΠ
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Macc. xiv. 42 Cheesynge for to dye nobly, rather than..aȝeinis his birthis for to be ledd with vnworthi wrongis.
a1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula 30 It seemeþ..vnworþi for to vse wele þingis y-giffe þat kan noȝt gette hym mo þingis.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome iv. viii With mony vthir nocht vnwourthy lovingis.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccccijv This vnworthie and lamentable fortune of the Norinbergians.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. iv. sig. Cc5v He inly touched was With tender ruth for her vnworthy griefe. View more context for this quotation
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 146 [They] ceased not..vntill they had wrought his vnwoorthie destruction.
1648 J. Beaumont Psyche vii. cxviii. 105 The holy Travellers through Cold..And Northerne Blasts, took their unworthy way.
1700 J. Dryden tr. G. Boccaccio Theodore & Honoria in Fables 262 Mov'd with unworthy Usage of the Maid.
1854 R. C. Trench Synonyms New Test. 194 Absolutely unworthy suffering there is none.
1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar xxii. 368 The unworthy treatment of their great enemy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > ignobleness or baseness > [adjective]
theowlikec1175
low?c1225
undignec1315
unfreec1330
base?1518
roynish1570
baseborn1573
base-minded1573
haskardly1576
ignoble1592
unnoble1593
slavish1597
disnoble1609
infimous1613
unhandsome1645
unheroical1656
mean1665
unworthy1694
unheroic1732
raff1761
undignified1782
raffish1795
truculent1825
unpromotable1836
menial1837
low-flung1841
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > [adjective] > base or vile > specifically of actions, conduct, etc.
vilec1290
villains1303
villain1340
base?1518
vild1568
slavish1597
grovelling1608
unworthy1694
1694 J. Collier Misc. i. 33 How unworthy and unchristian it is to play upon the Indigence..of another.
5.
a. That has not requisite worth or merit; inferior to or below what is merited or deserved; base.
ΚΠ
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. ii. xiv. 184 Thinkand richt vnworthy þat þare hail sollicitude..was direkkit to na vthir fyne.
1598 B. Yong tr. J. de Montemayor Diana 130 This villany did the traitor Alfeus work,..for the contempt, which she had of his vnwoorthy affection.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iii. xiii. 84 Your Cæsars Father oft..Bestow'd his lips on that vnworthy place, As it rain'd kisses. View more context for this quotation
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. iii. §4 Far be such unworthy thoughts from our apprehensions of a Deity.
1760 Impostors Detected II. iv. iii. 190 I represented to him how unworthy the profession..was to one of his character.
1820 C. Lamb True Story in Wks. (1908) I. 256 A little festival..(though it must bear an unworthier name)..in honour of her guest's recovery.
b. Beneath or below, unbecoming or unbefitting, the character, repute, or dignity of a person, etc.; not worthy or deserving of notice, etc.
ΚΠ
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 612 A Wound unworthy of our State to feel.
1700 J. Dryden Fables Pref. sig. *C2 Some People [think]..these Tales..unworthy of my Pains.
1733 A. Pope Corr. 2 Apr. (1956) III. 365 I will take care to suppress things unworthy of him.
1780 Mirror No. 73 Some of them are new, and not unworthy of notice.
1869 H. F. Tozer Res. Highlands of Turkey I. 303 A series of domestic tragedies..hardly unworthy of the palace of Atreus at Mycenæ.
II. With ellipse of of.
6. Not deserving, meriting, or worthy of.
a. Of persons. †Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > dueness or propriety > moral impropriety > [adjective] > undeserving > undeserved
unearnedc1200
unofearneda1225
unwortha1240
unworthya1382
unrighteous1533
desertless1556
unmerited1581
undeserving1598
immerited1602
meritless1603
undemerited1629
unmeritable1635
ill-deserveda1666
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Job xxx. 2 Thei weren trowid vnwrthi that lif [L. vita ipsa indigni].
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Ecclus. xxv. 11 Blisful..[is he] that seruede not to the vnwrthi hymself [L. indignis se].
1535 in T. Wright Three Chapters Lett. Suppression Monasteries (1843) 103 The poore house which I under God..(though unworthye suche a cure) have hadde mynistration and rule of.
1567 T. Palfreyman Baldwin's Treat. Morall Philos. (new ed.) f. 97v Hee [is]..much vnworthy honour, that seketh his owne wealth & oppresseth other.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. iii. 199 How much he is vnworthy [1623 vnworthy to haue] so good a lady. View more context for this quotation
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 219 Iorwerth..was thought vnworthy the Crowne and dignitie.
1717 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad III. ix. 88 Curs'd is the Man,..Unworthy Property, unworthy Light,..who delights in War.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho IV. xiii. 299 She again beheld..Valancourt unworthy of the esteem and tenderness she had once bestowed upon him.
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 80 Until he proves himself unworthy the confidence we repose in him.
1874 G. W. Dasent Half a Life III. 78 This only shows you are quite unworthy such luck.
b. Of things, etc.
ΚΠ
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 207 A place not vnworthy the remembrance.
1661 Earl of Orrery Coll. State Lett. (1742) 18 It may not be unworthy your grace's observation, that [etc.].
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 96 All other Themes..Are worn with use; unworthy me to write. View more context for this quotation
1718 M. Prior Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) Postscr. A Panegyric, not unworthy the Pen of some future Pliny.
1765 Museum Rusticum 4 334 Agriculture..is..not unworthy even the patriot's care.
1809 S. Smith Serm. II. 335 Many men..imagine, that this department of medicine is unworthy the name of science.
1832 R. Lander & J. Lander Jrnl. Exped. Niger I. i. 26 Nothing seemed unworthy his acceptance, from fine scarlet cloth to a child's farthing whistle.
1882 Daily News 19 Aug. 4/7 Nor is it unworthy notice that [etc.].
7. Not befitting or suiting (a person, etc.); derogatory to the dignity, standing, or character of; below the level of.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > [adjective]
evil971
lowc1175
poor?c1225
feeblec1275
vilea1300
petty1372
unthende1377
secondary1386
petitc1390
unmeeta1393
illa1400
commonc1400
coarse1424
indigent1426
unlikelyc1450
lesser1464
gross1474
naughty1526
inferior1531
reprobate?1545
slender1577
unlikely1578
puny1579
under1580
wooden1592
sordid1596
puisne1598
provant1601
subministrant1604
inferious1607
sublunary1624
indifferent1638
undermatched1642
unworthy1646
underly1648
turncoated1650
female1652
undergraduate1655
farandinical1675
baddishc1736
ungenerous1745
understrapping1762
tinnified1794
demi-semi1805
shabby1805
dicky1819
poor white1821
tin-pot1838
deterior1848
substandard1850
crumby1859
cheesy1863
po'1866
not-quite1867
rocky1873
mouldy1876
low-grade1878
sketchy1878
midget1879
junky1880
ullaged1892
abysmal1904
bodgie1905
junk1908
crap1936
ropy1941
bodger1945
two-star1951
tripey1955
manky1958
schlocky1960
cack1978
wank1991
bowf1994
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > degrading or debasement > [adjective] > unworthy or unfitting
indign1545
unworthy1646
infra dig.1824
1646 H. Lawrence Of Communion & Warre with Angels 99 Other sins have their aggravations, but this is..the most unworthy a man.
1682 Earl of Anglesey in B. Whitelocke Memorials Eng. Affairs Publ. to Rdr. sig. B2v His Posthumous Work contains..many things most False, and unworthy so great a Name.
1720 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad V. xx. 244 Unmanly Pride: Unworthy the high Race from which we came.
1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. III. lii. 128 Rigours..unworthy men of their profession.
1798 S. Lee Young Lady's Tale in H. Lee Canterbury Tales II. 394 For her father to expatiate on such baubles, was unworthy both his experience and sex.
1810 R. Southey Curse of Kehama vii. 59 The wings of Eagle or of Cherubim Had seem'd unworthy him.
1852 J. H. Newman Idea of Univ. (1873) 53 It would..have been unworthy a genius..so analytical as Aristotle's, to have laid it down that [etc.].
1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay i. 6 A silly after-glow of boyish folly, unworthy his experience and maturity.
B. adv.
Unworthily: in a manner unworthy of (something). Also elliptical (cf. A. 6, A. 7).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > disharmony or incongruity > unsuitability or inappropriateness > [adverb]
wrongc1175
unkindlyc1300
wrongly1303
unworthily1377
uncovenablya1382
improperly1390
inconveniently1509
ineptly1523
impertinently1546
unaptly1548
unfeatly1548
unhandsomely1548
unfitly1561
disagreeably1566
unmeet1577
unsuitably1624
malapropos1630
unfittingly1637
unfit1653
unworthy1661
inaptly1809
misappropriatelyc1831
infelicitouslya1834
ineligibly1846
inappropriately1847
inapplicably1864
unapropos1956
1661 Earl of Orrery Coll. State Lett. (1742) 19 This would engage him to walk not unworthy such an honour.
1708 in W. Mure Select. Family Papers Caldwell (1854) I. 217 Our sins in walking unworthy of ye great mercy God hath blest us with.
1740 S. Richardson Pamela II. 377 I hope I shall not behave unworthy of the good Instructions.
1776 H. Brooke Fool of Quality (rev. ed.) IV. xvii. 121 Letting him know how unworthy he should have acted by his daughter, had he imposed..upon her.
1804 ‘E. de Acton’ Tale without Title III. 7 Let us not act unworthy of beings who have a hope in futurity.
C. n.
An unworthy person.Used only in expressed or implied contrast to worthy n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > condition of being held in contempt > [noun] > state or quality of being contemptible > contemptible person
wormc825
wretchOE
thingOE
hinderlingc1175
harlot?c1225
mixa1300
villain1303
whelpc1330
wonnera1340
bismera1400
vilec1400
beasta1425
creaturec1450
dog bolt1465
fouling?a1475
drivel1478
shit1508
marmoset1523
mammeta1529
pilgarlica1529
pode1528
slave1537
slim1548
skit-brains?1553
grasshopper1556
scavenger1563
old boss1566
rag1566
shrub1566
ketterela1572
shake-rag1571
skybala1572
mumpsimus1573
smatchetc1582
squib1586
scabship1589
vassal1589
baboon1592
Gibraltar1593
polecat1593
mushroom1594
nodc1595
cittern-head1598
nit1598
stockfish1598
cum-twang1599
dish-wash1599
pettitoe1599
mustard-token1600
viliaco1600
cargo1602
stump1602
snotty-nose1604
sprat1605
wormling1605
brock1607
dogfly?1611
shag-rag1611
shack-rag1612
thrum1612
rabbita1616
fitchock1616
unworthy1616
baseling1618
shag1620
glow-worm1624
snip1633
the son of a worm1633
grousea1637
shab1637
wormship1648
muckworm1649
whiffler1659
prig1679
rotten egg1686
prigster1688
begged fool1693
hang-dog1693
bugger1694
reptile1697
squinny1716
snool1718
ramscallion1734
footer1748
jackass1756
hallion1789
skite1790
rattlesnake1791
snot1809
mudworm1814
skunk1816
stirrah1816
spalpeen1817
nyaff1825
skin1825
weed1825
tiger1827
beggar1834
despicability1837
squirt1844
prawn1845
shake1846
white mouse1846
scurf1851
sweep1853
cockroach1856
bummer1857
medlar1859
cunt1860
shuck1862
missing link1863
schweinhund1871
creepa1876
bum1882
trashbag1886
tinhorn1887
snot-rag1888
rodent1889
whelpling1889
pie eatera1891
mess1891
schmuck1892
fucker1893
cheapskate1894
cocksucker1894
gutter-bird1896
perisher1896
skate1896
schmendrick1897
nyamps1900
ullage1901
fink1903
onion1904
punk1904
shitepoke1905
tinhorn sport1906
streeler1907
zob1911
stink1916
motherfucker1918
Oscar1918
shitass1918
shit-face1923
tripe-hound1923
gimp1924
garbage can1925
twerp1925
jughead1926
mong1926
fuck?1927
arsehole1928
dirty dog1928
gazook1928
muzzler1928
roach1929
shite1929
mook1930
lug1931
slug1931
woodchuck1931
crud1932
dip1932
bohunkus1933
lint-head1933
Nimrod1933
warb1933
fuck-piga1935
owl-hoot1934
pissant1935
poot1935
shmegegge1937
motheree1938
motorcycle1938
squiff1939
pendejo1940
snotnose1941
jerkface1942
slag1943
yuck1943
fuckface?1945
fuckhead?1945
shit-head1945
shite-hawk1948
schlub1950
asswipe1953
mother1955
weenie1956
hard-on1958
rass hole1959
schmucko1959
bitch ass1961
effer1961
lamer1961
arsewipe1962
asshole1962
butthole1962
cock1962
dipshit1963
motherfuck1964
dork1965
bumhole1967
mofo1967
tosspot1967
crudball1968
dipstick1968
douche1968
frickface1968
schlong1968
fuckwit1969
rassclaat1969
ass1970
wank1970
fecker1971
wanker1971
butt-fucker1972
slimeball1972
bloodclaat1973
fuckwad1974
mutha1974
suck1974
cocksuck1977
tosser1977
plank1981
sleazebag1981
spastic1981
dweeb1982
bumboclaat1983
dickwad1983
scuzzbag1983
sleazeball1983
butt-face1984
dickweed1984
saddie1985
butt plug1986
jerkweed1988
dick-sucker1989
microcephalic1989
wankstain1990
sadster1992
buttmunch1993
fanny1995
jackhole1996
fassyhole1997
fannybaws2000
fassy2002
1616 N. Breton Good & Badde (title page) Descriptions of the Worthies, and Vnworthies of this Age. Where The Best may see their Graces, and the Worst discerne their Basenesse.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) i. 73 The Worthies of England being your Subject, you have mingled many Unworthies among them.
1886 Encycl. Brit. XX. 614/2 John Wilmot..was one of the unworthies of the reign..of Charles II.
1893 E. Peacock in Notes & Queries 22 July 72 Bothwell, Knox,..and other worthies and unworthies of the troubled Marian period.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
† unworthyv.
Obsolete. rare.1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. liii. sig. R6v To feed that dispersiue humour, all wayes shall be trodden, though they never so much vnworthy the man.
1. transitive. To dishonour; to do discredit to.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > detract from [verb (transitive)] > bring discredit on or bring into disrepute
unworthyc1230
alosea1325
low1340
ensclaundre1389
foulc1390
disparagea1400
deface1529
depress1550
discredit?1550
ignoblec1590
redound1591
reproach1593
blame1596
nullify1603
scandal1606
sinka1616
even1625
explode1629
disrepute1649
disrepute1651
lese1678
rogue1678
reflect1769
disconsider1849
dispraise1879
c1230 Hali Meid. 35 Þis is sunne, & ec uncunnelicheð þe, & unwurðcheð [v.r. unwurdgeð] þi bodi.
Categories »
2. To asperse or vilify.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > [adjective]
horyc1000
missayingc1330
slandering1402
disclanderous1421
maligningc1425
defamatoryc1485
calumnious1490
defamative1502
slanderous?1521
infaming1535
obtractuous1537
defaminga1550
defamous1557
black-mouthed1560
sycophanticala1566
malignious1578
libelling1587
blasting1591
maledicent1599
traducing1601
black-throated1604
blasphemous1605
depraving1606
abusive1608
calumniating1609
obloquious1611
vilifying1611
infamatory1612
calumniatory1625
aspersionating1639
aspersive1642
scandalizing1646
reflexive1654
unworthying1654
reflecting1656
reflective1664
slanderful1669
aspersing1673
reflectious1715
traducent1736
obloquial1790
sycophantic1801
wronging1845
trash-talking1975
1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομία 459 They know not how to raise their slender Merits, but by levelling others that excell them in any thing, with their unworthying Tongues.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
<
adj.adv.n.a1240
v.c1230