worthn.¹

Brit.

/wəːθ/, U.S.

/wərθ/

Forms: early Old English wiorð (Kentish), Old English weorþ, Old English weorþe (rare), Old English weorð, Old English worð (Northumbrian), Old English wurh (probably transmission error), Old English wyrþ, Old English wyrð (rare), Old English–early Middle English wurð, Old English–Middle English wurþ, late Old English wiorþ (Kentish), early Middle English weord, early Middle English worȝ, early Middle English wurd, Middle English werthe, Middle English werþe, Middle English worrth, Middle English worþ, Middle English worz, Middle English–1500s wurthe, Middle English–1600s woorth, Middle English–1600s worthe, Middle English– worth, 1500s woorthe, 1500s wourthe, 1500s–1600s wourth, 1500s–1600s wurth; also Scottish pre-1700 uort, pre-1700 virth, pre-1700 vord, pre-1700 vorth, pre-1700 vortht, pre-1700 vyrt, pre-1700 warth, pre-1700 wirth, pre-1700 worcht, pre-1700 wortht, pre-1700 wortth, pre-1700 wourcht, pre-1700 wrocht, pre-1700 wrth, pre-1700 wyrth, pre-1700 wyrtht.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian werth , Old Saxon werth (Middle Low German wert ), Old High German werd (Middle High German wert , German Wert ), Old Icelandic verð , Norwegian verd , Old Swedish værþ (Swedish värde ), Old Danish wærth (Danish værd ), Gothic wairþ < the same Germanic base as worth adj.In Old English a strong neuter. The Middle English form worz appears to show south-western z for þ . Compare also (rare) Old English wyrðu (strong feminine) honour, dignity (apparently originally a Germanic īn -stem, cognate with Old High German wirdī , werdī (Middle High German wirde , wierde , German Würde ) < the same Germanic base as worth adj.).

I. Senses relating to monetary value.

1. The material or monetary value of something; the amount at which something may be estimated in terms of a medium of exchange, such as money or goods. See also Phrases 1.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > monetary value > [noun]

wortheOE

valuea1325

cost1340

valourc1350

valure1440

valora1483

valoir1496

valor1496

valuation1549

valent1765

vallidom1790

money value1848

money-worth1854

society > trade and finance > money > value of money > [noun]

wortheOE

money-worth?c1430

valuation?c1520

money's worth1578

purchasing power1824

purchasing value1861

society > trade and finance > monetary value > [noun] > amount of specific value

wortheOE

eOE Laws of Ine (Corpus Cambr. 173) xlvi. §1. 110 Se agenfrigea..gecyðe, þæt hie þær oftor ne comen, be þæs ceapes weorðe [lOE Rochester wyrðe].

lOE Laws: Dunsæte (Corpus Cambr.) i. §1. 374 Gylde þæt yrfe oððe to ðam dæge underwed lecge, þæt sy ðæs orfes oðer healf weorð.

a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 31 Þet he nime þa ilke ehte oðer his wurð.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 7674 Þe king willam uorto wite þe wurþ of is londe Let enqueri streitliche..Hou moni plou lond..Were in euerich ssire.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. l. 1327 That al the gold of Cresus halle The leste coronal of alle Ne mihte have boght after the worth.

c1525 J. Rastell Of Gentylnes & Nobylyte ii. sig. B.ii^v Or by extort meanys they wyll them compell The land for half the worth to them to sell.

1598 J. Stow Suruay of London 326 Wherein was found..vessels of gold, and siluer vnpraiseable, and many pretious stones which would make al men wonder, if they knew the worth of them.

1642 D. Rogers Naaman 133 A pearle..makes all base, & to come under the worth thereof.

1695 J. Locke Further Considerations conc. Raising Value of Money 27 Rising and falling of Commodities is always between several Commodities of distinct worths.

1705 W. Forbes Treat. Church-lands & Tithes iv. 41 Patrons had also some indirect Interest in their Benefices, where the Ministers had modified Stipends Within the worth of their Benefices.

1761 T. Harper Accomptant's Compan. 110 What is the yearly Value of an Estate 8 Years to come, allowing the Purchaser 5 per cent, when the Present Worth amounts to 1342l 17s 1d½?

1781 W. Cowper Charity 133 The bark..Charg'd with a freight transcending in its worth The gems of India.

1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 189 Some poverty-stricken legatee,..selling his chance..for a twelfth-part of its worth.

1878 Implement & Machinery Rev. 2 Sept. 1772/1 Our shipments at the earlier date realised £185,868, while this July they have risen in worth to £227,780.

1913 C. H. Bullivant Stamp Collecting for Pleasure & Profit viii. 70 The worth of the different denominations ranges from five to twenty pounds.

1957 H. A. R. Gibb & H. Bowen Islamic Society & West I. ii. vii. 57 The exchange value of the medin remained much greater than its actual worth, since it was the principal coin in both wholesale and retail transactions.

2005 Time Out 7 Dec. 30/3 He grabbed the Arcadia group with £10 million of his own cash, watching its worth skyrocket to a massive £2,600 million.

a. Following a noun phrase expressing a sum of money: as much of something, esp. a commodity, as is valued at or may be bought for that sum of money.farthingsworth, halfpennyworth, money's worth, pennyworth, pounds worth, shillingsworth, etc.: see the first element.The noun phrase expressing a sum of money is usually in the genitive, although written without apostrophe, as though plural; however, in established compounds attributive use of an unmarked form is still sometimes found (especially in pennyworth).In quot. OE with both the commodity and the sum of money in the genitive.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > monetary value > [noun] > equivalent of a specific sum

worthOE

valora1483

the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [noun]

ordeOE

thresholdeOE

frumthc950

anginOE

frumeOE

worthOE

beginninga1225

springc1225

commencementc1250

ginninga1300

comsingc1325

entryc1330

aginning1340

alphac1384

incomea1400

formec1400

ingressc1420

birtha1425

principlea1449

comsementa1450

resultancec1450

inition1463

inceptiona1483

entering1526

originala1529

inchoation1530

opening1531

starting1541

principium1550

entrance1553

onset1561

rise1589

begin1590

ingate1591

overture1595

budding1601

initiationa1607

starting off1616

dawninga1631

dawn1633

impriminga1639

start1644

fall1647

initial1656

outset1664

outsettinga1698

going off1714

offsetting1782

offset1791

commence1794

aurora1806

incipiency1817

set-out1821

set-in1826

throw-off1828

go-off1830

outstart1844

start1857

incipience1864

oncome1865

kick-off1875

off-go1886

off1896

get-go1960

lift-off1967

OE West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) vi. 7 Nabbað hi genoh on twegera hundred penega wurþe hlafes [L. ducentorum denariorum panes].

a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) xiii. 69 Eche man..ȝer [beo] isuuore ant assised to armes..þat is to wite, to viftene pond worth of londe.

1393 in C. Innes Registrum Honoris de Morton (1853) II. 190 Fourty markys wrth of land within the Barony of Bwtyll.

1412 in H. M. Flasdieck Mittelengl. Originalurkunden (1926) 50 (MED) Thayre feffes..thay enfeffe..to sir Richard..On condicyoun yat..Richard..mary Jonet..tyll aman of xx markes worthe of lande.

c1439 in H. Anstey Epistolae Academicae Oxon. (1898) I. 184 (MED) A thousand pound worth and more of preciose bokez.

1508 Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 258/1 The malis..of the vi merkis worth of land of the Redecastell.

1590 E. Jeninges Briefe Discouery Damages 22 By the yearely abating of three hundred thousand poundes-worth of victualles there must of necessitie growe a great want of sufficient sustenance.

1622 ‘Jack Dawe’ Vox Graculi 51 Halfe a Crownes worth of Two-penny pasties.

1674 R. Godfrey Var. Injuries in Physick 39 Having Amalgamiz'd many pounds worth of Gold with Mercury.

a1687 W. Petty Polit. Arithm. (1691) viii. 108 If the Tradesmen..could do one Million worth of Work extraordinary.

1745 B. Franklin Let. 11 Dec. in Wks. (1888) X. 238 Our Library Company sends for about twenty pounds sterling worth of books yearly.

1770 E. Pendleton Let. 13 Sept. in Lett. & Papers (1967) I. 61 It abounds with such a quantity of white oak that it is thought 1000f. worth of plank and staves may be got off it.

1820 London Mag. June 631/1 Hump-backed giglots, scrimply arrayed in two guineas worth of trumpery British muslin.

1858 Jrnl. Royal Geogr. Soc. 28 197 If the capital be 1000 German crowns they take 400 worth of beads, iron, and brass wires [etc.].

1917 E. Hemingway Let. 11 Sept. (2011) I. 45 I will probably get 1st prize ($5.00 worth of fishing tackle).

1938 R. K. Narayan Dark Room ix. 144 He..worked himself up to his best canvassing technique—a gift which made him net a lakh's worth of policies a year.

2015 Daily Tel. 21 May 2/1 They still need to find billions of pounds worth of cuts this year.

b. In extended use: the amount or quantity of something (material or immaterial) that is associated with, corresponds to, or lasts for a specified period of time, a given space, etc.

ΚΠ

1593 tr. Articles accorded for Truce in France 6 The Leaders and cheefe of Horsemen..shall be acquitted for the halfe yeares woorth of their Reuenewe.

1789 Amer. Museum Dec. 477/1 We bought eight days' worth of happiness.

1847 Standard 2 Apr. He cannot get more than half-a-day's worth of labour from any labourer.

1867 Once a Week 17 Aug. 188/1 Five gaslights..supposed to illuminate about a quarter of a mile's worth of arches.., merely..exaggerate the depth of the gloom.

1923 Hutchinson (Kansas) News 18 June 5/3 I'll forgive you a whole lifetime's worth of sins.

1950 Notes 7 227 Yankee Doodle..has survived almost two centuries' worth of high-minded, well-made sonatas and string quartets.

1967 Los Angeles Times 30 July (Calendar section) 1/1 At its best, comedy can..be fuller of insights..than a shelf's worth of thoughtful books.

1993 Guardian 20 Apr. 15/2 (advt.) The Toledo's boot will swallow 550 litres worth of luggage.

2012 T. Wolfe Back to Blood iii. 110 To make up for his bald pate, he wore..about four weeks' worth of beard.

†3. Money, payment. Also: price. Obsolete.In quot. OE¹ figurative, with reference to Christ as the price by which the world was to be redeemed.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > money > [noun]

silverc825

feec870

pennieseOE

wortheOE

mintOE

scata1122

spense?c1225

spendinga1290

sumc1300

gooda1325

moneya1325

cattlec1330

muckc1330

reasona1382

pecunyc1400

gilt1497

argentc1500

gelta1529

Mammon1539

ale silver1541

scruff1559

the sinews of war1560

sterling1565

lour1567

will-do-all1583

shell1591

trasha1592

quinyie1596

brass1597

pecuniary1604

dust1607

nomisma1614

countera1616

cross and pilea1625

gingerbreada1625

rhinoa1628

cash1646

grig1657

spanker1663

cole1673

goree1699

mopus1699

quid1699

ribbin1699

bustle1763

necessary1772

stuff1775

needfula1777

iron1785

(the) Spanish1788

pecuniar1793

kelter1807

dibs1812

steven1812

pewter1814

brad1819

pogue1819

rent1823

stumpy1828

posh1830

L. S. D.1835

rivetc1835

tin1836

mint sauce1839

nobbins1846

ochre1846

dingbat1848

dough1848

cheese1850

California1851

mali1851

ducat1853

pay dirt1853

boodle?1856

dinero1856

scad1856

the shiny1856

spondulicks1857

rust1858

soap1860

sugar1862

coin1874

filthy1876

wampum1876

ooftish1877

shekel1883

oil1885

oof1885

mon1888

Jack1890

sploshc1890

bees and honey1892

spending-brass1896

stiff1897

mazuma1900

mazoom1901

cabbage1903

lettuce1903

Oscar Asche1905

jingle1906

doubloons1908

kale1912

scratch1914

green1917

oscar1917

snow1925

poke1926

oodle1930

potatos1931

bread1935

moolah1936

acker1939

moo1941

lolly1943

loot1943

poppy1943

mazoola1944

dosh1953

bickies1966

lovely jubbly1990

scrilla1994

eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) iv. x. 105 Swa lað wæs Pena folc Scipian.., swa, þeh þe he hie sume wið feo gesealde, ðæt he þæt weorð nolde agan þæt him mon wið sealde.

OE Blickling Homilies 89 Hire innoþ þu gefyldest nigon monaþ mid ealles middangeardes weorþe.

OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxvi. 9 Þis mihte beon geseald to myclum wurþe & þearfum gedæled.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 214 Spit him amit þe beart..Hwen he for se licht wurð [a1300 Caius wurd]..cheapeð þisaule.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5393 Þai had noþer worth ne ware þat þai moght for þair mete spare.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12390 (MED) Ioseph..was a parti wright..Treen beddes for to make, Was he wont for worth to take.

c1475 tr. C. de Pisan Livre du Corps de Policie (Cambr.) (1977) 98 (MED) He vndirstode by his connyng that the..nexte yer olyves shulde take gret wurthe.

4. With the.

a. In contemptuous comparisons: the equivalent value of a small or trivial thing (as the worth of a pin, bean, straw, etc.). Chiefly in negative constructions. Cf. worth adj. Phrases 1. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little worth > value of

worthc1300

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 1332 Haue þou nouth þer-offe douthe Nouth þe worth of one nouthe.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2017 (MED) Never to weld of worldes merþe þe worþ of a mite.

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. iv. l. 170 (MED) Ȝit ȝeue ȝe me neuere þe worthe of a russhe.

c1475 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Caius) l. 141 (MED) A theef..him wolde..ne shonde, Nor take fro him the worthe of a sloo.

1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue i. x. sig. D^v Beggyng of her booteth not the worth of a beane.

1599 T. Heywood 1st Pt. King Edward IV sig. I3 What haue ye saude now..by your hinching and your pinching, not the worth of a blacke pudding.

1602 L. Lloyd Stratagems of Ierusalem ii. 13 Abraham refused to take the worth of a shoe latchet at the king of Zodoms hand, least he should say I haue made Abraham rich.

1658 S. Rutherford Surv. of Surv. Church-discipline To Rdr. sig. A4^v I hugely differ from his esteem of these against whom he disputes, in putting them all to the worth of a straw, and every Pen to a nihil dicit.

1717 D. Defoe Mem. Church of Scotl. iii. 268 I had not the worth of a Spur Whang of any Man's, but was mounted of Horse and Arms of my own.

a1758 A. Ramsay Poems (1961) III. 299 They left na the worth of a snishing But stoury floor and bare partition.

1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan II. x. 47 I wadna gie the worth of a deaf nit for the truth o' the intelligence.

1894 T. D. English Select Poems 462 Though not a bullet bored hole in a skin, It did not diminish the worth of a pin, The glory the white man was destined to win.

1919 Lebanon (Pa.) Daily News 1 Apr. I feel from the treatment accorded me you are not deserving or entitled to as much as the worth of a pin.

1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand i. 15 Mac began to equate him..to matter lower than whale shit, which if once surfaced and dried would have the consummate worth of a fart in a maelstrom.

b. The equivalent in money or some other commodity of something. Also following to (see to prep. 14a). Now rare.

ΚΠ

1537 Bible (Matthew's) 3 Kings xxi. A Yf it playse the I will geue the the worthe of it in syluer.

1583 T. Stocker tr. Tragicall Hist. Ciuile Warres Lowe Countries iv. f. 55^v This victualler had about him in Gold to the Worth of 20. Florins.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) iii. iii. 22 I'de rather then the worth of thrice the summe, Had sent to me first.

1627 Treasurer's Almanacke (ed. 2) sig. B6 The Operation of the worth of 30 li. Annuitie for 6 yeares.

1762 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting II. iii. 131 It would be a very long time before the worth of 200l. in ultramarine could be employed in miniatures.

1781 W. Cowper Table Talk 85 The worth of his three kingdoms I defy, To lure me to the baseness of a lie.

1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 67 ‘Take Five horses and their armours;’..‘My lord, I scarce have spent the worth of one!’

1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer I. xxiii. 308 He always gets the worth of his money.

1913 F. H. Burnett T. Tembarom xxiv. 305 How thoroughly New Yorkish it was that he should march into a fashionable shop and see that he got..the worth of his money!

1984 G. Jones Hist. Vikings (rev. ed.) iii. i. 148 He commanded no wergeld, but in England if you killed him you had normally to pay his owner the worth of eight cows.

5. The amount of money or possessions a person has; possessions, property, assets. See also net worth n. at net adj. Compounds.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > possessions > [noun] > a person's collective property or substance

thingOE

chattela1240

cattlec1275

i-wonc1275

moneya1325

tilea1325

statec1330

thrifta1350

substancea1382

chevance1477

graith?a1513

estate1563

wortha1586

thrive1592

fortune1596

store1600

boodle1699

circumstancea1704

the mind > possession > wealth > [noun] > degree of

wortha1586

wealth1607

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) iii. sig. Gg4^v Bending her self towards him, (like the clyent that committes the cause of all his worth to a well trusted aduocate).

1598 J. Manwood Treat. Lawes Forrest xvi. f. 90^v Euery Gentleman, Husbandman, Farmer & householder of any worth.

1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. v. 32 They are but beggers that can count their worth .

1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 206 They..generally loue play: so that..they will hazard all their worth, themselues, wiues, children and other substance.

1714 B. Mandeville Fable Bees i. 166 A Carrier may have more Horses than a Man of ten times his worth.

1749 W. Ellis Compl. Syst. Improvem. Sheep ii. i. 121 A Man of considerable Worth, that he came at by renting a large dry Farm many Years.

1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison II. xxii. 225 She gave in an estimate of her worth; To what amount the ladies know not.

1812 G. Crabbe Tales xvii. 314 To legal claims he yielded all his worth.

1895 R. Home Columbian Sketches xxxii. 309 Further investigation might have discovered his worth at £17,000,000.

1924 Legal Aid Rev. Oct. 3/1 The employer of a client, easily worth the amount of the bail in the case, offered to go bail, but his ‘worth’ was in ordinary business assets, and we could not avail ourselves of his offer.

1979 W. Styron Sophie's Choice ii. 27 I counted my money and reckoned my total worth at something less than fifty dollars.

2011 C. Burns Searching for Beauty ii. 10 Twain had unwisely invested almost his entire worth in an unsuccessful enterprise to construct a typesetting machine.

II. Senses relating to value in respect of quality, importance, usefulness, etc.

a. The character or standing of a person in respect of his or her qualities, abilities, or (in early use) social rank; a person's merit, excellence, or (especially in early use) worthiness.See also Phrases 1 and self-worth n.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > worth > [noun]

worthOE

worthfulnessOE

price?c1225

savour?c1225

aughtshipc1275

dearworthinessc1325

worthiness1372

preciousnessc1390

richesa1400

preciosity1402

valeur1433

valurec1440

preciousheadc1450

vail1471

paragea1475

valour?a1475

availa1522

vailance1532

validity1593

carat1600

condignity1605

valiant1606

esteeming1609

self-worth1610

telling1636

valuableness?1649

worthship1664

treasurableness1898

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > good repute > reputability or honourableness > [noun]

worshipeOE

worthOE

dignity?c1225

worthsc1225

mund?c1250

pricea1325

worthfulheada1325

valourc1330

dignesse1399

value?a1400

honesty1418

worthiheadc1425

honourabilityc1426

worthihood?1457

sadnessa1513

honourableness1553

respect1567

worshipfulty1589

ingenuity1598

creditableness1647

honorificabilitudinity1656

worshipfulness1663

reputability1792

creditability1805

OE Blickling Homilies 163 Se godspellere..þæs fæder & þære modor godcund mægen beforan wrat þæt be þære cennendra gefyrhtum [probably read gewyrhtum] þæs bearnes weorþe ongyten wære.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1481 (MED) Hu mochel worȝ leste [c1300 Otho worþ holdist] þu me to walden kineriche.

c1390 Talkyng of Love of God (Vernon) (1950) 8 Aller þing louelokest, þi worþ and þi worschupe, ne may no tonge telle.

1422 in A. T. Bannister Reg. Thome Spofford (1919) 252 (MED) Youre worth and holy labores in the consele generall of Pyes and Constawncie.

c1450 God Þou Haue Mercy (Add. 31042) l. 15 in Medium Ævum (1988) 57 53 (MED) And as þou arte of my werthe þe well, My wikkede werkes þou wasche away.

1562 A. Brooke tr. M. Bandello Tragicall Hist. Romeus & Iuliet f. 32 That kinsmans blood, Which for his woorth and loue to me most in my fauour stood.

1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iii. iii. 109 By the worth and honor of himselfe,..His comming hither hath no further scope, Then for his lineall roialties.

1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 19 He was a iust Prince, full of worth and magnanimitie.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. iv. 100 His worth is warrant for his welcome hether.

1621 R. Brathwait Natures Embassie Ded. sig. A2 The accomplished mirror of true worth, Sr. T. H. the elder.

1655 S. Ashe Funeral Serm. Gataker 46 To favour the Son very highly for his own worth and work in the Ministry.

1728 E. Young Love of Fame: Universal Passion (ed. 2) iii. 265 How hard for real worth to gain its price?

1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison I. xvi. 103 I regard him..for his own worth's sake, and for his Uncle's.

1788 J. Hurdis Village Curate 14 The down-cast eye of modest worth, That shrinks at its own praise.

1827 R. Southey Funeral Song Princess Charlotte 21 Henry, thou of saintly worth.

1861 Amer. Agriculturist Jan. 22/1 The man who appreciates her worth, and makes her the mistress of his home and of his affections.

1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 3 Each did much to raise the measure of worth..of mankind.

1919 A. B. Cunningham Chron. Old Town xii. 159 I thought we had been placed in a ‘backward’ community. I thought the people lacked worth.

1919 Times 2 May 3/6 (advt.) Advertiser desires an opportunity to prove his worth... He'd like a five-minute interview with you.

1978 Ebony Apr. 98/1 Develop pride in yourself and a strong sense of inner worth that is not dependent on how successful or unsuccessful you may be.

1989 J. Hersey Life Sketches (1991) 71 Except by a handful of friends and a few New York cognoscenti who knew his worth, he was soon forgotten.

1991 Times Educ. Suppl. 4 Jan. 14/1 She or he needs to recognise that all members have worth and need to feel motivated.

2001 Premiere Apr. 64/1 I don't want to superficialize something that has..meant a lot to me, because it diminishes your worth as a person.

†b. In plural in same sense: a person's merit or excellence. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > good repute > reputability or honourableness > [noun]

worshipeOE

worthOE

dignity?c1225

worthsc1225

mund?c1250

pricea1325

worthfulheada1325

valourc1330

dignesse1399

value?a1400

honesty1418

worthiheadc1425

honourabilityc1426

worthihood?1457

sadnessa1513

honourableness1553

respect1567

worshipfulty1589

ingenuity1598

creditableness1647

honorificabilitudinity1656

worshipfulness1663

reputability1792

creditability1805

c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) l. 619 (MED) Ich..luuie þe to leofmon luuewende lauerd þet hauest se muche for me iwraht wið ute mine wurðes.

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. ii. sig. P1^v How can you him vnworthy then decree, In whose chiefe parte your worthes implanted be?

1594 C. Marlowe & T. Nashe Dido iii. iv. 1037 If that you maiestie can looke so lowe, As my despised worths.

1616 T. Scot 2nd Pt. Philomythie sig. C3 If either of you, thinke you can, Out of your owne worths, proue more fit.

1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 116 Honourably preferred, and prouided for according to their worthes.

1722 G. Sewell Verses to Lord Carteret 6 O Son of martial Fire, Smile on the Raptures that your Worths inspire!

a1757 T. Edwards Canons Crit. (1758) xx. 300 No longer let thy youthful years consume In shy retirement; Thee long since behov'd..To shew those worths, which bloom so fair at home.

a. The relative value of a thing in respect of its qualities (as opposed to its monetary value); importance, usefulness, merit. Also: high quality, excellence. See also Phrases 1.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > worth > [noun] > of thing

worshipa1200

worth1340

value1379

valuec1380

emprisea1393

worthinessa1398

valure1470

valor1579

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 82 Hit sseweþ þet þe wordle is ydel, ine byinge vyl, ine worþ biter.

c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 91 Þer-fore þe by-houeþ godes helpe, Þat he hyt wolde arace, So þat þou ne teldest no worþ Of [emended in ed. to of here] blandynge face.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. l. 636 (MED) Of Selver that was overforth Schal ben a world of lasse worth.

c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) l. 2887 (MED) Tebes..was cite of mest werþe, Of alle þat weren in erþe.

1563 L. Humphrey Nobles or of Nobilitye i. sig. a^v Ignoraunt..is he to be demed, who sweteth most in toyes: where..the worthe of the thing matcheth not his sweate.

1595 E. C. Emaricdulfe xv. sig. B3 Her other parts (proud Cupids countermate) Exceed the world for worth, the heauens for state.

1599 T. Storer Life & Death Wolsey sig. C3 A man made old to teach the worth of age.

1605 W. Camden Remaines ii. 42 This bad inscription, which I insert more for the honor of the name, then the worth of the verse.

1617 J. Taylor Three Weekes Obseruations sig. D2^v A paire of such Organs, which for worth and workemanship are vnparalelld in Christendome.

1660 R. Allestree Gentlemans Calling vi. 113 Any thing that carries the stamp of antient worth and Nobility.

1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 67 Nor do the bold'st attempts bring forth Events still equal to their worth.

1746 P. Francis tr. Horace Art of Poetry 526 Let them not come forth, 'Till the ninth ripening Year mature their Worth.

1782 F. Burney Cecilia V. ix. iii. 47 I knew not..the full worth of steadiness and prudence till I knew this young man.

1857 F. D. Maurice Epist. St. John i. 4 He made me see the worth of habits, the worth of acts, the worth of moral purposes.

1877 J. C. Geikie Life & Words Christ I. xxxi. 528 The worth of man's homage to God does not depend on the place where it is paid.

1929 J. B. Priestley Good Compan. i. i. 4 A critic.., ready in a second to estimate the worth of a well-judged pass.

1954 Michigan Law Rev. 52 1127 Some questioned the military worth of large-yield thermonuclear devices.

1965 New Scientist 2 Dec. 658/1 Organometallics have already amply proved their worth as catalysts.

1989 B. Ashcroft et al. in D. Walder Lit. in Mod. World (1990) 300 The need to incorporate cultural context into any assessment of literary worth.

1997 P. Martin Shortstop's Son p. xvi Good criticism is antidemocratic and judgmental. It believes in right and wrong, in worth and worthlessness.

2002 Times 27 June (T2 section) 9/4 It took a while for doctors to understand its worth.

b. In plural in same sense: worthy qualities or things. Somewhat rare.

ΚΠ

1599 T. Moffett Silkewormes 34 So both in Art and Nature tis most cleere, That greatest worths in smallest things appeare.

1630 B. Goodall Tryall Trauell (title page) The Wonders in Trauell.., The Worthes of Trauell.., The Way to Trauell.

1792 J. Fennell Rev. Proc. at Paris 12 The happiness and prosperity of a nation..are intrinsic worths.

1899 Outlook 25 Nov. 732/2 Give us Christ—more of his spirit of sincerity and truth..; more of his estimates on the worths of this life.

1974 P. A. Johnsgard Song of North Wind ix. 85 What, indeed, are the worths of a wild river running full, of birds flying free?

Phrases

P1.

a. of —— worth: having a specified value, merit, usefulness, or importance. Frequently with a quantifier, as of great worth, of little worth, of no worth, etc. Cf. of —— value at value n. Phrases 2.

ΚΠ

c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 6758 (MED) Þer comen vp fer bi norþ Ten riche soudans of gret worþ.

c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) l. 1651 Hij weren kniȝttes of grete werþe.

1548 A. Scoloker tr. H. Sachs Goodly Dysputacion (new ed.) sig. bvii^v Thynke ye then that our syngyng and Readyng is of no worth?

1575 G. W. in G. Gascoigne Poesies sig. ¶¶¶¶ Now weedes of little worth, are culde from out the rest.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. iii. sig. P^v A goodly Ladie..That seemd to be a woman of great worth.

1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxii. 146 As the sacrament it selfe is a gift of no meane woorth.

a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) v. iv. 153 Euerie day Men of great worth resorted to this forrest.

1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 70 Seeing resistance of no worth, [they] fled.

1725 M. Davys Lady's Tale in Wks. II. 129 He was..a Person not only of great worth, but Master of a finer Estate than some Noblemen cou'd boast.

1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 952 Forgive him, then, thou bustler in concerns Of little worth.

a1822 P. B. Shelley Homer's Hymn to Mercury xxx, in Posthumous Poems (1824) 305 Caldrons and tripods of great worth.

1843 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. in Heath's Bk. Beauty 194 A man of highest worth.

1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess ii. 44 And two dear things are one of double worth.

1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. IV 41 Of little worth Was all the gear that hall did hold.

1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 278 It is hard and wiry and of little worth as food for stock.

1944 Sci. Monthly June 424/2 There are already more than a dozen basic plastic materials of proven worth.

2006 B. Watson tr. Tales of Heike ix. 87 A mere retainer, a person of no worth at all!

b. of worth: valuable, useful, important; of high merit or excellence; worthy. Cf. of value at value n. Phrases 1.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective]

faireOE

bremea1000

goodlyOE

goodfulc1275

noblec1300

pricec1300

specialc1325

gentlec1330

fine?c1335

singulara1340

thrivena1350

thriven and throa1350

gaya1375

properc1380

before-passinga1382

daintiful1393

principala1398

gradelya1400

burlyc1400

daintyc1400

thrivingc1400

voundec1400

virtuousc1425

hathelc1440

curiousc1475

singlerc1500

beautiful1502

rare?a1534

gallant1539

eximious1547

jolly1548

egregious?c1550

jellyc1560

goodlike1562

brawc1565

of worth1576

brave?1577

surprising1580

finger-licking1584

admirablea1586

excellinga1586

ambrosial1598

sublimated1603

excellent1604

valiant1604

fabulous1609

pure1609

starryc1610

topgallant1613

lovely1614

soaringa1616

twanging1616

preclarent1623

primea1637

prestantious1638

splendid1644

sterling1647

licking1648

spankinga1666

rattling1690

tearing1693

famous1695

capital1713

yrare1737

pure and —1742

daisy1757

immense1762

elegant1764

super-extra1774

trimming1778

grand1781

gallows1789

budgeree1793

crack1793

dandy1794

first rate1799

smick-smack1802

severe1805

neat1806

swell1810

stamming1814

divine1818

great1818

slap-up1823

slapping1825

high-grade1826

supernacular1828

heavenly1831

jam-up1832

slick1833

rip-roaring1834

boss1836

lummy1838

flash1840

slap1840

tall1840

high-graded1841

awful1843

way up1843

exalting1844

hot1845

ripsnorting1846

clipping1848

stupendous1848

stunning1849

raving1850

shrewd1851

jammy1853

slashing1854

rip-staving1856

ripping1858

screaming1859

up to dick1863

nifty1865

premier cru1866

slap-bang1866

clinking1868

marvellous1868

rorty1868

terrific1871

spiffing1872

all wool and a yard wide1882

gorgeous1883

nailing1883

stellar1883

gaudy1884

fizzing1885

réussi1885

ding-dong1887

jim-dandy1888

extra-special1889

yum-yum1890

out of sight1891

outasight1893

smooth1893

corking1895

large1895

super1895

hot dog1896

to die for1898

yummy1899

deevy1900

peachy1900

hi1901

v.g.1901

v.h.c.1901

divvy1903

doozy1903

game ball1905

goodo1905

bosker1906

crackerjack1910

smashinga1911

jake1914

keen1914

posh1914

bobby-dazzling1915

juicy1916

pie on1916

jakeloo1919

snodger1919

whizz-bang1920

wicked1920

four-star1921

wow1921

Rolls-Royce1922

whizz-bang1922

wizard1922

barry1923

nummy1923

ripe1923

shrieking1926

crazy1927

righteous1930

marvy1932

cool1933

plenty1933

brahmaa1935

smoking1934

solid1935

mellow1936

groovy1937

tough1937

bottler1938

fantastic1938

readyc1938

ridge1938

super-duper1938

extraordinaire1940

rumpty1940

sharp1940

dodger1941

grouse1941

perfecto1941

pipperoo1945

real gone1946

bosting1947

supersonic1947

whizzo1948

neato1951

peachy-keen1951

ridgey-dite1953

ridgy-didge1953

top1953

whizzing1953

badass1955

wild1955

belting1956

magic1956

bitching1957

swinging1958

ridiculous1959

a treat1959

fab1961

bad-assed1962

uptight1962

diggish1963

cracker1964

marv1964

radical1964

bakgat1965

unreal1965

pearly1966

together1968

safe1970

bad1971

brilliant1971

fabby1971

schmick1972

butt-kicking1973

ripper1973

Tiffany1973

bodacious1976

rad1976

kif1978

awesome1979

death1979

killer1979

fly1980

shiok1980

stonking1980

brill1981

dope1981

to die1982

mint1982

epic1983

kicking1983

fabbo1984

mega1985

ill1986

posho1989

pukka1991

lovely jubbly1992

awesomesauce2001

nang2002

bess2006

amazeballs2009

boasty2009

daebak2009

beaut2013

1576 G. Gascoigne Steele Glas 215 Words of worth, and worthy to be wayed.

c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme xlv. 1 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 38 My harte endites an argument of worth.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iii. i. 107 She..is promis'd by her friends Vnto a youthfull Gentleman of worth .

1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 38 Rings and Iewels of Gold inammeld and set with stones of worth and lustre.

1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World v. ii. §16. 469/2 A covetous Pelagian, and one that had nothing of worth in him.

1686 tr. J. Chardin Coronation Solyman 84 in Trav. Persia All the Kaanas or Governments of Persia were likewise bestow'd upon persons of worth.

1740 A. Hill Gen. Hist. Ottoman Empire sig. Ll1^v/1 Hither resort both Turks and others, who would purchase any thing of worth, for only here they can procure it.

1766 J. Fordyce Serm. Young Women I. Pref. p. vi Women of worth and sense are to be found every where.

1816 L. Hunt Story of Rimini iv. 391 Her thin white hand, that wore a ring of worth.

1825 W. Scott Betrothed xi, in Tales Crusaders II. 208 The sordid wretches..conceive those temptations too powerful for men of worth.

1895 Public-school Jrnl. June 549/2 We change our conceptions of what is of worth to us as our education advances, but we always have interest in what we deem of worth.

1944 J. R. R. Tolkien Lett. (1995) 101 I knew I had written a story of worth in ‘The Hobbit’.

2003 Independent 29 July i. 13/6 A kind of Stalinist social realism without passion or historical purpose, that produced nothing of worth.

†P2. to take in (good) worthand variants: to receive or take (something) in good part, to accept without complaint or offence, to be content with; to take (something) at its true or proper value. Similarly with other prepositions and verbs, such as to take at (also of, to) worth, to have (also accept, bear, etc.) in worth. Cf. to take aworth at aworth adv. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pleasure > contentment or satisfaction > be content or satisfied with [verb (transitive)]

restc1300

to take in (good) wortha1382

sufficec1390

to have (also accept, bear, etc.) in wortha1456

stay1549

to take up with1609

to settle for1959

the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > estimate [phrase] > at true value

to take in (good) wortha1382

to have (also accept, bear, etc.) in wortha1456

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Psalms l. 21 Þanne þou shalt taken at worth sacrifise of riȝtwisnesse offryngis & brent sacrifises.

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xii. l. 125 Take we her wordes at worthe for here witnesse be trewe.

c1450 ( J. Walton tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Linc. Cathedral 103) 64 (MED) If þou appreue in thyn opinioun Þat Sche [sc. Fortune] is good and all to þy plesaunce, Lo take in worth þan hire condicioun.

a1456 Balade of Compleynte (BL Add. 16165) in W. W. Skeat Compl. Wks. Geoffrey Chaucer (1894) I. 415 Beseching yowe in my moste [emended in ed. to yow in my most] humble wyse Taccept in worthe this litel pore dyte [emended in ed. to Taccepte in worth this litel povre dyte], And for my trouthe my service not despice [emended in ed. to nat despyse].

1483 Vulgaria abs Terencio (T. Rood & T. Hunte) sig. nij I thanke the that thou tokist it to worthe.

c1500 Young Children's Bk. (Ashm. 61) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 23 Be it gode or be it badde, Yn gud worth it muste be had.

?1526 R. Hyrde in M. Roper tr. Erasmus Deuout Treat. Pater Noster sig. a.iii He wyll nat suffre ones to be offended hym selfe by her neuer so lytell: where he wolde that she shulde take his dedes all well in worthe.

c1528 Everyman (1961) 903 This morall men may haue in mynde..Ye herers, take it of worth.

a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Ei And so as ye se it wyll be no better Take it in worthe suche as ye fynde.

1534 W. Turner tr. J. von Watt Of Olde God & Newe sig. Oj Yf greate abbottes wolde take my salutation in good worthe: it sholde be redy for theym.

1564 Briefe Exam. sig. Aiiij I trust your most Reuerende fatherhood wyll beare all these thynges well in worth.

1636 R. Baker tr. Cato Variegatus 16 When a poore friend, a small gift gives to thee: Take it in worth: and let it praysed be.

1642 T. Fuller Holy State i. vi. 16 He compounds with his father to accept in good worth the utmost of his endeavour.

1668 W. Voile Glasse & Salve for Professors 86 To mind one another of sins and duties,..as also to take admonitions and reproofs well in worth, and in good part, one from another.

P3. for all one's worth: with one's best effort; as vigorously or assiduously as one can. [Perhaps arising from reanalysis of for all it's worth at worth adj. Phrases 5. In some early instances with its the reference of the pronoun is uncertain (as e.g. quot. 1917, where its could potentially refer to either the bird or its song).]

ΚΠ

1878 Detroit Free Press 23 Jan. Strike for all your worth when you hit him!

1907 Evening News 14 Feb. 4/2 A moment later the ‘Daily Mail’ man was fighting for all his worth to cleave a passage through the human pack.

1917 Irish Monthly May 275 The bold yellow-hammer unblushingly intrudes its humble, monotonous stave for all its worth.

1931 Musical Times May 454/1 The ordinary symphonic orchestra..plays away for all its worth.

1941 News (Adelaide) 21 June 2/2 Our job is to..pull together for all our worth for the common good.

1986 Guardian 6 Mar. 13/4 At times Streep appears to be playing for all her worth over Redford's left shoulder.

2000 J. Boyne Thief of Time (2007) 60 ‘All romances are complicated,’ I said cheerily, seventeen years old.., and behaving for all my worth like a man of the world.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

worthn.²

Brit.

/wəːθ/, U.S.

/wərθ/

Forms: Old English word (Northumbrian), Old English worþ (Mercian), Old English worð (Anglian), early Middle English werthe (in surnames), early Middle English worde (in surnames), early Middle English wortis (only in quot. a1275), early Middle English wurde (in surnames), 1500s woorthe, 1500s woorthe, 1500s–1600s (1800s– historical) worth, 1600s woorth.

Origin: Apparently a word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Apparently cognate with Old Frisian wurth , worth raised ground (for protection from flooding) which forms the plot of a homestead, terp, Old Dutch wurth , wirth (in place names) inhabited mound (Middle Dutch woert plot of a homestead, Dutch woerd enclosed piece of land, area of raised ground used as a refuge from flooding, terp), Old Saxon wurth raised ground which forms the plot of a homestead (Middle Low German wurt , wort raised ground which forms the plot of a homestead, terp, enclosed plot of a dwelling and associated buildings), Old Icelandic urð heap of stones, probably < an extended form of the Germanic base of were v. Compare worthine n. and see discussion at that entry.Some aspects of the early English evidence are uncertain and disputed. Old English (Anglian) worþ perhaps shows the zero-grade of the Germanic base (apparently also reflected by the Germanic cognates), with regular lowering of u to o . However, it could alternatively show a different ablaut grade of the base, an original e -grade, with retraction due to initial w . This seems less likely, in view of the early attestation of the stem form worþ- in the derivatives (West Saxon) worðig and (Mercian) worðign- (see worthine n.), but the possibility is suggested by the attestation of a variety of related forms, especially in compounds and derivatives and particularly in place-name evidence. Some of these are more difficult to explain as the reflex of an original stem form with zero-grade. The most frequent by-form is Old English wyrþe, which is apparently attested only in charters in the sense ‘homestead surrounded by land’ and chiefly as a place-name element. It evidently represents a suffixed form with i-mutation. Beside this, the stem form weorþ, weorþe is attested in derivatives and compounds, as weorðig (variant of worðig) and weorþapeldre farm apple tree, weorþehege farm hedge (both in an early Middle English copy of an Anglo-Saxon charter), and as a place-name element, e.g. in tunles weorþ, Surrey (947; now Tollsworth), Gyxeweorðe, Suffolk (first half of 11th cent.; now Ixworth); additionally (although the evidence is late and of doubtful interpretation) the stem form wierðe is apparently attested as a place-name element in æscmeres wierðe (956). While wyrþe could show the i-mutation of u, the zero-grade of the stem, the other less common forms, despite some problems with the evidence, suggest that wyrþe may at least partly show a reflex of early Old English *wirþe (from the e-grade of the base, with Germanic raising of e to i), which would regularly develop to early West Saxon wierþe, late West Saxon wyrþe. Thus, it seems possible that more than one ablaut grade is represented in the English evidence. The later English evidence perhaps continues only the Old English stem form worþ-, but some spellings of the Middle English place-name evidence suggest that reflexes of wyrþe also persist. For a recent discussion of the implications of Old English worþ, wyrþe, and the synonymous derivative worþig when used to denote a landholding or homestead in Anglo-Saxon England, see J. English in Landscape Hist. 24 (2002) 45-51.

historical in later use.

An enclosed place; spec. (a) a place surrounded by buildings, as a courtyard, court, or street; (b) a homestead surrounded by land.Frequently as a place name or as the second element in place names (cf. discussion in etymology).Interpretation of quot. a1275 as showing this word is not entirely certain.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > a dwelling > a house > [noun] > house with dependent buildings

worthOE

homestead1610

werf1818

lapa1909

OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Matt. xii. 19 Neque audiet aliquis in plateis uocem eius : ne geheres ænig mon in worðum stefn his.

OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Mark xiv. 54 Petrus autem a longe secutus est eum usque in atrium summi sacerdotis : petrus ðonne fearre fylgende wæs hine wið on worðe ðæs hehsacerdas.

a1275 Body & Soul (Trin. Cambr. B.14.39) l. 143 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 146 In wortis & in haule, in an wreche clut, Of alle his riche cloþis, ne hauet he na more scrud.

1557 in J. Hasler Wookey Manor & Parish 1544–1841 (1995) 20 Elizabeth Lyde widdowe holdeth oon mesuage withe a curtillage and all landes tenementes medowes fedinges and pastures to the sayde mesuage lying called the Woorth of olde astre and a cotage conteyning fyve acres withe the appurtenances lying in the Worthe of the same astre.

1582 in D. M. Herridge Surrey Probate Inventories, 1558–1603 (2005) 176 A loade of woodd of Billett a hundred and a half without at the gate 3 Ladders A hande barrow, a whele barrow and a busshe sythe One graye Mare One baye Nagge In the Woorthe One Acre of Rye, an Acre and a halff of barlye.

1898 I. Taylor Names & their Hist. (ed. 2) 72/2 Bosworth, a worth or ‘small estate’ on which stood a boose..a dialect word meaning a ‘cow-stall’ or ‘ox-stall’.

1917 Q. Rev. Oct. 338 Probably the ‘worths’ were farms on clearings made later than the original settlements.

2011 P. Cullen et al. Thorps in Changing Landscape vii. 144 Tūns, worths and throps may..have been settlements too small and insignificant to attract mention.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

† worthn.³

Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps formed within English, by clipping or shortening. Etymon: worthing n.²

Etymology: Origin uncertain. Probably either shortened, or a back-formation, < worthing n.²

Obsolete. rare.

Manure. Cf. worthing n.²

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > fertilizing or manuring > [noun] > fertilizer or manure

fatnessc1420

amendment1483

manure1532

manuring1577

battling1600

dressing1600

worth1609

sucken1615

folding1626

fertilizera1661

sumen1662

recuperativec1679

field dressing1743

top-dressing1744

sweetener1765

settera1793

mendment1798

side dressing1819

substratum1822

manurer1829

liquid manure1837

soil amendment1915

side dress1920

Growmore1944

soil conditioner1952

1609–10 Act 7 James I c. 18 in Statutes of Realm (1963) IV. ii. 1172 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.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2021).

worthadj.

Brit.

/wəːθ/, U.S.

/wərθ/

Forms: Old English weorþ, Old English wyrþ, Old English wyrð, Old English–early Middle English weorð, Old English (rare)–early Middle English (in copy of Old English charter) werð, Old English (Northumbrian)–early Middle English worð, Old English–early Middle English wurð, early Middle English wrd, early Middle English wrid (perhaps transmission error), early Middle English wurd, early Middle English wurh, early Middle English wurhere (comparative), early Middle English wurhþ, early Middle English wurhð, early Middle English wurrþ ( Ormulum), Middle English werth, Middle English word, Middle English worght, Middle English worȝ, Middle English worþ, Middle English worþe, Middle English worye, Middle English wourþe, Middle English wowrth, Middle English wrathe (transmission error), Middle English wrȝ, Middle English wrth, Middle English wrþ, Middle English wurþ, Middle English wurþe, Middle English wuyrth, Middle English wuyrthþe, Middle English wuyrþe, Middle English–1500s wurght, Middle English–1500s wurth, Middle English–1500s wurthe, Middle English–1600s woorth, Middle English–1600s wourth, Middle English–1700s worthe, Middle English– worth, late Middle English woth (transmission error), late Middle English wrz (transmission error), late Middle English wurght, 1500s–1600s woorthe; English regional 1800s wirth (Westmorland), 1800s woth, 1800s wuth (southern); Scottish 1800s wort (Orkney), 1800s– wirt, 1900s– wurth; U.S. regional (chiefly southern) 1700s– wuth, 1800s wort, 1800s wuf, 1800s wuff, 1800s– wut.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian werth , Old Saxon werth (Middle Low German wert ), Old Dutch werth (Middle Dutch wert , Dutch waard ), Old High German werd (Middle High German, German wert ), Old Icelandic verðr (Icelandic verður ), Norwegian verd , Swedish värd , Old Danish værth (Danish værd ), Gothic wairþs , of uncertain origin; perhaps < the same Germanic base as worth v.¹ Compare wurthe adj., worth n.¹Form history. The later development of the word chiefly reflects the influence of initial w- already seen in the retraction of the stem vowel in Old English (Northumbrian) worð and late West Saxon wurð . Merger with wurthe. In some forms the word is difficult to distinguish from wurthe adj. already in Old English; in the course of the Middle English period the two adjectives merge. Old English forms such as wyrð , wyrþ in particular can be interpreted either as alterations after wurthe adj. or inverted spellings. Compare further discussion at wurthe adj. Uninflected Old English and early Middle English variants with final -e have been treated at wurthe adj., and those without at the present entry. Inflected forms in senses of branch III. are covered at wurthe adj., because unambiguous forms of worth adj. in these senses (which are typical of wurthe adj.) have not been found.

Chiefly (and now only) in predicative use, or following a noun as part of a qualifying phrase. In modern English worth is non-gradable and sometimes regarded as a preposition.

I. Having a specified value.

1. Having a specified monetary or material value. Also with to (or, formerly, simple complement) specifying the person to whom something is of value.

(a) With noun or noun phrase as complement. Of the value of a specified amount or sum; equivalent in material value to something specified.In Old English with the complement in the genitive.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > monetary value > [adjective]

wortheOE

beara1393

valuable1539

money-worth1601

society > trade and finance > monetary value > [adjective] > of specified value

wortheOE

worthy1387

of value1395

of (great, little, etc.) valoura1450

of (great, etc.) valor1467

valiant1590

eOE Laws of Ine (Corpus Cambr. 173) lviii. 114 Oxan horn bið x pæninga weorð.

OE Handbk. for Use of Confessor (Corpus Cambr. 201) in Anglia (1965) 83 31 Eac man mæg twelf monða fæsten alysan mid xxx scillinga, oððe ænne man gefreoge þe þæs feos wurð sy.

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 1633 A gold ring drow he forth anon, An hundred pund was worth þe ston.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xxiii. 15 Þe erþ þat þou askist is worþ fourehundreþ sycles [L. siclis] of syluer.

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 11174 Som riche robes worth many pondȝ.

a1450 (a1400) Athelston (1951) l. 391 Now is my goode hors forlorn,..He was wurþ an hundryd pounde.

a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 712 At the beddes hed he fond A swerd, worthe an Erllys lond.

1528–30 tr. T. Littleton Tenures (new ed.) f. xxix Thoughe the horse..be not the twenty parte worth in value of the some of money.

1580 T. Tusser Fiue Hundred Pointes Good Husbandrie (new ed.) f. 19 A rottenly mould, is land woorth gould.

1632 in S. R. Gardiner Rep. Cases Star Chamber & High Comm. (1886) 160 He said the first oath should stand and that it should be worth her 100^li.

1639 J. Clarke Paroemiologia 45 A penny at a pinch is worth a pound.

1686 tr. J. Chardin Coronation Solyman 83 in Trav. Persia Which Employment was worth to him about fifteen thousand pounds yearly.

1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 28 It [sc. the statue] is esteem'd worth its weight in Gold.

1779 J. Warner in J. H. Jesse G. Selwyn & his Contemp. (1844) IV. 285 He [sc. a horse] would be worth a mint of money, and make one of the best hunters in the kingdom.

1839 E. W. Lane tr. Thousand & One Nights I. 80 It is worth ten pieces of gold.

1869 J. Ruskin Queen of Air §122 The money of all nations is worth, at its maximum, the property of all nations, and no more.

1901 Chicago Tribune 23 Sept. 6/7 While his own vote is worth only $5, a ‘block’ of ten votes is worth not $50.

1960 Economist 15 Oct. 241/1 The United States now ‘sells’ abroad each year surplus farm products worth more than $1 billion, taking in exchange..‘clam shells, coloured buttons and other forms of local currency’.

1987 E. Newby Round Ireland in Low Gear (1988) iv. 54 Hemmed in by an equally impenetrable hedge reinforced with old cast iron bedsteads, worth a bomb to any tinker with a pair of hedging gloves.

2000 Adv. Driving (Inst. Adv. Motorists) Summer 48/1 Make sure the specification exactly matches the UK model, or it could be worth less when you come to sell it.

2015 Oxf. Times 21 May 12/2 Oliver stole 15 packs of scratch cards before cashing in prizes worth £1,635.

(b) With what, how much, etc., as complement, esp. in direct and indirect questions.

ΚΠ

lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1085 He lett gewritan..hwæt oððe hu mycel ælc mann hæfde þe landsittende wæs innan Englalande on lande oððe on orfe & hu mycel feos hit wære wurð.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 77 Þe wyse chapman..ouer al him knauþ, huet ech þing is worþ.

a1425 Rule St. Benet (Lansd.) (1902) 37 Loke what it is wrz [read wrþ], þat ye ne sette na felun price þar-on.

1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope f. cxlii^v [The Dene sayd] I pray yow what is this benefyce worth to yow a yere.

a1492 W. Caxton tr. Vitas Patrum (1495) ii. f. clxxxvi^v/2 The marchaunt..wolde not by it withstandynge this that he knewe not how moche it myght well be worth.

1528 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 19 A Fyne..whych amountyth nygh asmoche as the sayd landes..be worth clyerly to be solde.

1583 T. Tymme tr. A. Marlorat Catholike & Eccles. Expos. Gospell Marke & Luke 78 This Description was made to the ende it might be known how much euery one was worth.

1605 P. Erondelle French Garden sig. K5^v There is a fayre Diamond, what is it worth?

1683 Minutes Hudson's Bay Co. (1946) II. 160 Ordered the Warehouse Keeper Deliver 2 rabbit Skins to two Severall Furriers to be tryed what they are worth.

1701 F. O. Law-French Dict. sig. D2/2 Combien vaillant, how much are they worth?

1790 J. Anthony Answers to Queries on Fisheries in T. Jefferson Papers (1974) XIX. 197 What is such a Vessel worth with her provisions, advanced wages, and fishing implements?

1839 F. Marryat Diary in Amer. I. 195 I asked how much his office was worth, and his answer was six hundred dollars, besides stealings.

1870 Chambers's Jrnl. 9 July 448/1 ‘What would it be worth?’ ‘A flim, Sam.’

1905 ‘G. Thorne’ Lost Cause ii. 37 What'll it be worth when it is reaped?

1992 Harper's Mag. July 32/1 The parolees give Roger shit about his cans. ‘What's that load worth, ten dollars?’

2010 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 22 June b2/4 The difference between what they owed and what their former house was worth.

2014 Time Out London 2 Dec. 97/4 Oh I couldn't possibly say how much my company is worth! Okay it's £10 million.

†b. With preceding adverb of quantity, as much worth, more worth, nothing worth, etc.: of great (greater, no, etc.) monetary or material value; of much (more, no, etc.) worth. Obsolete. well worth: of full value.little worth, nothing worth, nought worth: see the first element.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > worth > [adjective] > well worth

wellOE

well wortha1200

well worthyc1390

OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 444 Hi magon ðær findan swa deorwurðne goldhord, þæt heora dyre gold ne bið nahte wurð wið þa foresædan maðmas.

OE Homily: Apocalypse of Thomas (Corpus Cambr. 41) in Anglia (1955) 73 20 Gold & seolfor ne bið nohtte weorð.

a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 213 Þe sullere loueð his þing dere and seið þat it is wel wurð, oðer betere. Ðe beger..seið þat hit nis noht wurð.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. i. 1109 Swynes fleissh is good in springyng tyme and lasse worþ in heruest and lest worþ in wynter.

c1425 Myrour to Lewde Men & Wymmen (Harl.) (1981) 133 (MED) For he is noght payed at þe day, [he] wiþholdiþ þe wed for euere, for it is more worth þan þe lone.

1482 W. Cely Let. 3 Sept. in Cely Lett. (1975) 174 As ffor a gossehawke I can gett non here yett, ffor..my Lordd Chamberleyn beyth hem vpp and they be anythyng wurth.

1558 Bp. T. Watson Holsome Doctr. Seuen Sacramentes xviii. f. cix^v Bye me one or twoo of the best of them and leaste woorthe.

1568 Newe Comedie Iacob & Esau ii. iv. sig. C.iv^v Ah sir, when one is hungry, good meat is much worth.

1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. iii. f. 18^v It may rightly be sayd..that the feathers are more worth then the byrde.

1618 W. Lawson New Orchard & Garden iii. 7 Fruit blown vnripe, are small worth.

1672 T. Manley Νομοθετης: Cowell's Interpreter sig. Zz2 Nihil or Nichil, is a word which the Sheriff answers, that is apposed concerning Debts illeviable, and that are nothing worth.

1718 Entertainer No. 19. 126 A Carbunkle is more worth than a Rock.

1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 79 My Time or Labour was little worth, and so it was as well employ'd one way as another.

1796 R. Broome Observ. Mr. Paine's Pamphlet 8 It could not be expected that any person in his senses would give real and valuable property for a bit of paper, which might be nothing worth the next day.

1898 Vanity Fair 24 Mar. 196/1 To-day those £100 may be more worth to him than £500 six months hence.

a. With noun or noun phrase as complement. Equivalent to something else in terms of importance, usefulness, desirability, or some other subjective value.Frequently in proverbs such as an ounce of good luck is worth a pound of wisdom (see good luck n., int., and adj. Phrases 4), an ounce of mother wit is worth a pound of clergy, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (see ounce n.¹ 1c), a picture is worth a thousand words (see picture n. Phrases 2), one volunteer is worth ten pressed men (see pressed adj.² 1), etc.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > worth > [adjective] > of specified or certain worth

worthc1175

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 1156 Mare wass hiss bede wurrþ Þann alle þeȝȝre lakess.

a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 99 Husel..is wurð al þe wereld. and betere þene al þe wereld. þis is þe holi manne þe ure drihten sende alse snow sleðrende.

c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. Prol. l. 75 Weore þe Bisschop..worþ boþe his Eres, Heo scholde not beo so hardi to deceyue so þe peple.

a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 8550 Þy lyfe hym þynkeþ ys wurþ no þyng.

c1450 (c1350) Alexander & Dindimus (Bodl.) (1929) 261 For riht wisdam is worþ al þe world riche.

1526 C. Mery Talys sig. Diii^v [I pray y^e teche me my] Pater noster, and by my truthe I shall therfore teche the a songe of [Robyn h]ode that shall be worthe .xx. of it.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iii. sig. C5^v A dram of sweete is worth a pound of sowre.

1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 248 I thought an howers rest worth a Kings ransome.

1638 W. Chillingworth Relig. Protestants i. iii. §26. 139 Neither is this deduction worth any thing.

1683 Popish Politicks Unmaskt 1/2 With them one Bird in Hand's worth two i'th' Bush.

1713 J. Addison Cato ii. 20 A Day, an Hour of virtuous Liberty, Is worth a whole Eternity in Bondage.

1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor i, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. III. 11 A night-cowl of good claret is worth all the considering caps in Europe.

1837 F. B. Head Narrative (1839) viii. 208 What could they be worth to him but a hempen neck-cloth?

1842 W. Wordsworth Borderers ii, in Poems Early & Late Years 313 A thought that's worth a thousand worlds!

1849 E. Bulwer-Lytton King Arthur (new ed.) I. vi. lxxx. 276 But one live dog is worth ten lions dead.

1867 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest I. vi. 574 The judgement of a competent tribunal is always worth something.

1894 Solicitors' Jrnl. 39 2/1 In a matter of this kind a grain of common sense is worth a peck of scientific hair-splitting.

1921 Printers' Ink 8 Dec. 96 (heading) One look is worth a thousand words.

1951 P. Larkin Let. 13 Mar. in Sel. Lett. (1992) 170 In reality you are worth a dozen of such a two-timing neurotic.

1974 Country Life 6 June 1407/2 Real music, even if it be only a music hall song..will be worth all the off-scourings of the classics.

2011 V. S. Ramachandran Tell-tale Brain (2012) vii. 215 If an elaborate theory cannot predict what your grandmother knows using common sense, then it isn't worth much.

b. With preceding adverb of quantity, as much worth, more worth, nothing worth, etc.: of much (more, no, etc.) merit, usefulness, or importance. Now archaic and rare.little worth, nothing worth, nought worth: see the first element.

ΚΠ

c1225 (?c1200) Sawles Warde (Bodl.) (1938) 18 (MED) Of al his strengðe ne drede we nawiht for nis his strengðe noht wurð bute hwer se he ifindeð eðeliche.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13254 Nis noht wurð [c1300 Otho þreat] þratte buten þer beo dede æc.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 2318 His sacringe was lute worþ & naþeles it was ydo.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. l. 629 That figure..Betokneth how the world schal change And waxe lasse worth and lasse.

?a1425 Constit. Masonry (Royal 17 A.i) l. 663 in J. O. Halliwell Early Hist. Freemasonry in Eng. (1844) 36 Hyt ys so muche worthe,..The vertu therof no mon telle may.

1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope i. xii. f. xxxv^v Better worthe is to lyue in pouerte surely, than to lyue rychely..euer in daunger.

1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes (new ed.) f. 79 Of all good frutes the world brought forth. A faithfull frende is thing most worth.

1568 W. Cecil in Cal. State Papers Ireland 1509–73 (1860) Pref. p. viii Marry! an ounce of advise is more worth to be executed aforehand than in the sight of perrills.

1579 B. Googe tr. I. Lopez de Mendoza Prouerbes Noble Souldier 32 That wisedome is more woorth then the weapons of the mightie.

a1626 F. Bacon Hist. Reigne Henry VIII (1629) 137 Thinking, that the King..would draw them all vnto him, that were anything worth.

1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. 37 Their prayers for them is more worth then the means of sustenance which they receive from them.

1672 A. Marvell Rehearsal Transpros'd i. 19 I do not think it so much worth to gain his approbation.

1781 C. Johnstone Hist. John Juniper II. 173 A blessing that is more worth than all the wealth of which the Jews have ever cheated honest men.

1792 W. Vincent Disc. addressed to People of Great-Britain 15 We may give all our goods to the poor, and yet if we have not charity of heart, it is nothing worth.

1834 R. Southey Let. 29 Oct. in Corr. R. Southey with C. Bowles (1881) 311 He will have..a living lesson, better worth than Divines could teach.

1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust II. ii. iii. 148 Little worth is woman's beauty, So oft an image dumb we see.

1894 A. T. de Vere Alexander (new ed.) vi. 110 Are you happy? Ars. Is happiness much worth? I am at peace.

1908 J. Payne Carol & Cadence 199 Life and Death, Leave your battle for my breath! Both I hold you nothing worth.

1960 D. Hoffman Little Geste 72 But now my sermons all are nothing worth.

3. With complement. Of a person: having income or property amounting to a specified sum or value.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > [adjective] > possessing > possessing in respect of property or income

worth1460

1460 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 92 Enquere of hym wher his goode is and what he is wurthe.., for I vndre-stande that he is wurthe in money v c marke.

1531–2 Act 23 Henry VIII c. 2 in Statutes of Realm (1963) III. 364 Everye suche personne..beyng worth in moveable substaunce the clere value of twentie pounde or above.

1551 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Edward VI (1914) 59 Gentlemen that..wolde not be seen in london so..disgysed for asmoche as they ar worthe or hope to be worthe.

1567 T. Harman Caueat for Commen Cursetors (new ed.) sig. Eii The troth is..she would wekely be worth vi. or seuen shyllinges, with her begging.

c1613 ( in T. Stapleton Plumpton Corr. (1839) 123 She is called worth m^li beside hir land.

1655 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1892) II. 257 S^r Theodore Mayerne is dead and left his dawghter wourth a hundred thousand pounds in ready mony.

1676 G. Etherege Man of Mode iii. iii. 47 You are for Masks, and Private meetings; where Women engage For all they are worth I hear.

1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 260. ⁋1 If..all my Securities are good, I shall be worth Fifty thousand Pound.

1778 F. Burney Evelina III. xxi. 248 She assures me..that I shall be sole heiress of all she is worth.

1823 C. Lamb Old Benchers in Elia 198 He was master of four or five hundred thousand pounds; nor did he look..worth a moidore less.

1867 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighbourhood III. ix. 204 She will be worth something when she is married.

1913 W. J. Locke Stella Maris xi. 149 ‘Was she an heiress?’ ‘Worth billions.’

1937 Amer. Home Apr. 87/3 (advt.) It makes no difference if you are worth half as much today as you were then.

2007 Independent on Sunday 12 Aug. (New Review) 19/1 She has put money into ‘microcredit schemes’ for the poor..which, when you are worth tens of millions, seems the least you can do.

4. With complement. Of a thing: having a specified value according to a particular system of scoring, assessment, or judgement; deserving a specified number of points, marks, etc.

ΚΠ

1719 R. Seymour Court Gamester 76 Every Tierce is worth three Points, the Quart four, the Quintes fifteen, [etc.].

1775 ‘Connoisseur’ Ann. Gaming xiv. 213 The carte blanche at this game is worth fifty points.

1894 Globe (Toronto) 3 Dec. 6/1 Hitherto a goal got from a penalty kick scored four points. In future it will be only worth two points.

1900 Baily's Mag. Oct. 259/2 An ace is worth one trick, a king about two-thirds of a trick, a queen about half a trick.

1911 in Univ. of Sheffield Calendar 1911–12 II. 507 All the questions are of equal value except No. 7, which is worth more marks than any of the others.

1978 Guardian 24 Apr. 8/1 Lowe..was tried for offences worth 20 years inside.

2013 M. Fox Video Games Guide 33/1 Special fizzing bombs on each screen..are worth double the points of normal bombs.

II. Worthy, valuable.

5. Of a person: of account or importance; entitled to respect or honour; worthy. In later use chiefly Scottish and U.S. (in African-American usage, in the areas of South Carolina and Georgia where Gullah is spoken).In quot. OE in comparative with dative in sense ‘held in higher esteem on account of (a precious gift)’.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [adjective] > worthy of notice > other

wortheOE

oughtworth1556

supereminent?1563

sight-worthy1606

painsworthy1675

the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > worth > [adjective] > specifically in non-material respects

wortheOE

precious?a1300

richc1300

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > good repute > reputability or honourableness > [adjective]

faireOE

wortheOE

worthlyeOE

worthfulOE

menskful?c1225

toldc1275

digne1297

of price?a1300

worshiply1340

worthya1350

menska1375

thriftyc1374

worshipfula1375

worthilya1375

honesta1382

honourablec1384

unshamedc1384

sada1387

of reputationc1390

well-nameda1393

reverent1398

worthy (worshipful, wise) in wanea1400

celebrable?c1400

honouredc1400

worshipablec1425

substantialc1449

undefameda1450

unreviled?1457

honorousa1500

reputed?1532

well-thought-ona1533

well-spoken1539

credible1543

undespised?1548

imitable1550

famous1555

undistained1565

undefame1578

untarred1579

well-reputed1583

unsoiledc1592

dishonourless1595

well-deemed1595

nameworthy1598

regardful1600

indisgraced1606

credenta1616

undishonoureda1616

unscandalized1618

unscandalous1618

unslandered1622

untainted1627

dignousa1636

undisparaged1636

considerable1641

unbranded1641

glorifiable1651

reputable1671

unsullied1743

unstigmatized1778

undisgraced1812

unstained1863

well-thought-of1865

uncompromised1882

scandal-proof1904

cred1987

eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) (2009) I. xxviii. 515 Ic næfre ne geseah..nænne wisne mon þe ma wolde bion wrecca..and forsewen þonne welig and weorð and rice and foremære on his agnum earde.

OE Beowulf (2008) 1902 He þæm batwearde bunden golde swurd gesealde, þæt he syðþan wæs on meodubence maþma [read maþme] þy weorþre [read weorþra], yrfelafe.

lOE Laws: Gerefa (Corpus Cambr.) v. §1. 454 A swa he gecneordra swa bið he weorðra, gyf he wið witan hafoð his wisan gemæne.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 5020 & tu þe sellf narrt rihht nohht wurrþ. Wiþþ utenn godess hellpe.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 15470 Þer neoren eorles no wurðer [c1300 Otho worþere] þene cheorles.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 23 Þet byeþ þe heȝe men and þet byeþ mest worþ.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2498 He wan a-ȝen to william & to his worþ make.

c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xi. l. 310 Þe more a man may do.., The more is he worth and worthi.

a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xiv. l. 104 (MED) Whanne Manarcus here-Offen herde telle That with that worth knyht he scholde Melle, [I]n herte he was bothe glad & blithe.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Prov. xvi. D He that can rule himselfe, is more worth then he y^t winneth a cite.

1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique ii. f. 60 God hath raised suche worthe Preachers in this our tyme, that their Godly, and learned dooynges, may be a moste iuste example for al other to folowe.

1587 T. Hughes Certaine Deuises v. 43 See (worthest King) the hope of all your Realme, Had not his lust to rule preuented all.

1614 A. Taylor Encomiasticke Elogies sig. A6 Not a Queene so worth as shee, The world did, nor could nurse.

1693 G. Stepney tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires viii. 165 Their Countries Doom, they by their own, retriev'd, Themselves more worth than all the Host they sav'd.

1723 Marquis of Tullibardine Let. 20 Mar. in Jacobite Corr. Atholl Family (1840) App. v. 230 The worthest people may unextricably mistake their truest old friends.

1871 A. C. Swinburne Songs before Sunrise 217 Yea, they are dead, men much more worth than thou.

1909 S. Atlantic Q. Jan. 42 [In Gullah] 'E yent wut is He is worthless.

1922 A. E. Gonzales Black Border 175 She developed a fine scorn for the opposite sex. ‘Dem ent wut,’ she thought, and ‘dem ent wut,’ she said, whenever men were mentioned.

1931 M. C. Oemler Flower of Thorn vii. 145 ‘Dat boy ain't wut,’ he grumbled to himself. ‘No-suh, he ain't wut! Dat boy ain't de right sort o' boy fuh our Miss Sally.’

1934 W. W. Gill Manx Dial. 142 It's well known Donald is hardly worth, he's so full of queer notions.

1977 W. S. Graham Let. 1 Dec. in Nightfisherman (1999) 333 Maybe you wonder why I am giving you this. It is because nobody worth would get it if I went away.

6. Of a thing: of value; valuable, useful. In later use Scottish and U.S. (in African-American usage, in the areas of South Carolina and Georgia where Gullah is spoken). Sc. National Dictionary (at cited word) records this sense as still in use in Shetland, Orkney, Caithness, Angus, and Perthshire in 1974.In early use also: †worthy; powerful, strong; (of an argument) valid (obsolete).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > advantage > [adjective]

fremefulc1000

i-duȝea1250

hendyc1275

begetela1325

profitablea1325

speedful1340

worth1340

speedyc1380

behoveful1382

fructuousc1386

fruitfulc1386

vailable1390

availantc1420

availingc1420

commodious1420

commodous?1440

available1474

behovablea1475

advantageousc1485

profitly1485

beneficiala1513

advantageable1548

sanative1548

gainful1555

vantageable1570

vantageous?1572

gainy1573

comfortable1576

conducent1578

advantageous1591

bootful1594

availful1598

conducible?1611

commoditous1621

conducing1624

conduceful1635

proficuousa1642

proficaciousa1660

beneficenta1676

conducive1710

benefactory1744

benignant1791

sanatorya1832

beneficiary1836

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 90 Zaynte paul..heþ hyer ynemned þe meste gentile guodes þet man may do and þet mest were ywoned to by worþ and profiti.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. v. 13 To no thing it [sc. salt] is worth ouer, no bot that it be sent out, and defoulid of men.

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 325 And therfore this afore sett answere is not worth.

a1500 (?a1400) Morte Arthur (1903) l. 2545 To Ryde A-ȝeyne hem All bydene Or ther worthe walles holde.

a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 196 Hit is noȝt wourth the Science and Iugementes of the Sterrys.

1572 J. Bossewell Wks. Armorie iii. f. 8 His regalitie in ye fielde, standing in the worthest mettall of all other, gouerned of the Sunne.

a1722 J. Lauder Jrnls. (1900) 64 Colinton..told me that Colinton hous had not a hall that was worth, whence he would take the pattern of that.

1838 C. Gilman Recoll. Southern Matron xvii. 121 And jus look how Miss Anna fling down she bracelet, like it an't wort.

1840 R. Selby Rhymes 42 in Eng. Dial. Dict. (1905) VI. 547/2 It had nae crupper, nor a girth, And just ae stirrup that was worth.

1897 Shetland News 13 Nov. Her sight is no muckle wirt wi' daylicht, lat alane da glim o' da lamp.

1995 M. E. Orso Crab Lover's Bk. 3 The African Americans of South Carolina's coastal islands have the following retort to the above British attitude: ‘Crab got tuh walk een duh pot demself or day ain' wut.’

†7. With anticipatory it as subject and infinitive as complement. Worthwhile. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > advantage > [adjective] > worthwhile

worthc1405

substantial?a1425

worthwhile1565

rewarding1570

tantia1593

c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 785 Vs thoughte it was nat worth to make it wys..And bade hym seye his voirdit as hym leste.

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 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 forto vndirstonde thes..reulis.

?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton Scale of Perfection (Harl. 6579) i. lxxvi. 53^v (MED) Tarie no lenger..for it is nouȝt worþ for to don so.

a1500 (?a1425) tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 65 Yt is mekyl worth to knowe þingys before, ffor men mowe bettyr thole hem.

1678 Alarm to Judgement 90 Though some..recovered, Yet it is worth to mark, where th' error bred.

III. That deserves something.

a. In a positive sense. Of sufficient merit; worthy, deserving.

†(a) With infinitive as complement, specifying what one is deserving of. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > morality > dueness or propriety > [adjective] > deserving (good or ill)

wurtheeOE

worthc1175

wrightfula1325

worthy1340

dignec1386

condigna1513

meritorious1561

meriting1605

society > morality > dueness or propriety > [adjective] > deserving (good or ill) > deserving by merit

worthyOE

worthc1175

well worthyc1390

well-deserving1545

deserving1576

desertful1583

desertive1596

deserveda1616

well-deserveda1616

society > morality > dueness or propriety > [adjective] > deserving (good or ill) > of sufficient merit > to be, do, or have

worthc1175

worthyc1175

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2357 Þær þurrh wass ȝho wel wurrþ to ben. Swa wurrþedd her onn erþe.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1481 Hu mochel worȝ leste þu me [c1300 Otho hu mochel worþ holdist þou me] to walden kineriche.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 231 Naȝt ne is worþ to habbe maidenhod of bodye þet heþ wyl to by y-spoused.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 1927 (MED) I trowe ther be noman..That halt him lasse worth thanne I To be beloved.

c1480 (a1400) St. Peter 332 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 17 He..mad hym byschope; for þat he ves worth to haf sic degre.

a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) v. l. 4502 He was worthe to wyn wictorys.

a1500 ( Vision E. Leversedge (1991) 122 (MED) My saule..was not worthe..to lift up ons his hed to that tyme that she had gifen powere..to lyft vp his hed.

1656 A. L. Fox tr. F. Würtz Exper. Treat. Surg. iii. xxi. 286 Therefore I say this, that Alchymie is worth to be praised.

1716 M. Davies Diss. Physick 29 in Athenæ Britannicæ III Manto or Daphnes..who writ or paraphras'd in such excellent Strains, some of the..Oracles at the Temple of the Delphians, that they were worth to be plagiariz'd by Homer himself.

(b) With noun or noun phrase as complement. Deserving or worthy of (something).See also (to be) worth one's salt at salt n.¹ 2g.

ΚΠ

a1325 St. Patrick (Corpus Cambr.) l. 95 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill S. Eng. Legendary (1956) 88 Þe bissop bigan to chide him..And sede he hade ybe man worst forto sunegy so Þat me nemiȝte him do so muche wo þat he nere worþ more.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 12302 Þe childes frendes fro þat houre helde ihesu worþe honoure.

a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 358 Ȝour place is ordeyned in hevene after þat ȝe ben worþe.

a1450 Rule St. Benet (Vesp.) (1902) l. 922 (MED) Than es þer wark worth mikyl mede.

1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. dii^* Ilkane be werk and be will Is worth his rewarde.

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 158 Now loke if þis lede soche longyng be worthe As þou writis in þi wordes.

1618 W. Lawson New Orchard & Garden vii. 20 And it is hardly possible to misse in Graffing so often, if your Gardiner be worth his name.

1705 W. Dawes Nature & Necessity Christian Conversat. 23 When the boldest and most daring Sinner, that ever liv'd, shall..be ready to give Ten Thousand Worlds, if he could be worth them.

1736 A. Hill in tr. Voltaire Alzira Ded. p. viii I have little to say, worth the Honour of your Royal Highness's Notice.

1873 R. Browning Red Cotton Night-cap Country iii. 194 He will have recognised..how much that's good in man..makes Monsieur Léonce Miranda worth his help.

1920 Z. Grey Mysterious Rider ix. 151 But I know him. He's not worth you! No man is—and he the least.

1924 N.Y. Herald Tribune 19 June 2/5 To point with pride to the American flag [is] a desire..that springs eternal in the breast of any politician worth his soap box.

1951 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 18 Aug. 3 (headline) Not worth the prize. From a critical viewpoint, none of the Commonwealth Jubilee Open Art Competition entries justifies the £500 first prize.

1973 Ruston (Louisiana) Daily Leader 24 Dec. 4 (advt.) Why buy the most expensive haircolor in the world? Because you're worth it.

1996 Prospect Mar. 37/1 You cannot have a common foreign policy worth the name without majority voting.

†b. In a negative sense. Deserving of blame, punishment, or misfortune. Frequently with infinitive or of specifying the blame, punishment, or misfortune. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > morality > dueness or propriety > [adjective] > deserving (good or ill) > deserving by demerit

worthya1300

wortha1400

a1400 (?c1300) Lay Folks Mass Bk. (Royal) (1879) l. 73 In worde, & werk I am to wite and worth to blame.

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 7104 Wel were it worth to bene brent.

1618 W. Attersoll Comm. Fourth Bk. Moses xix. 718/2 Some [sins] are greater & some lesser, some worther of greater punishment and some of lesser.

9. Sufficiently valuable or important to be treated or regarded in the way specified; deserving of the time or effort spent.Frequently used to make recommendations, and often modified by well (see well adv. 16b).

a. With simple noun or pronoun as complement, as worth the effort. In later use frequently in to be worth it: having, or likely to have, an outcome that justifies the time or effort spent.Recorded earliest in worth the while at while n. 3b.Formerly occasionally with of (e.g. quot. 1866).

ΚΠ

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 355 (MED) The queene..beet Iudas ful ofte, but al for nouȝt, ffor it was not worþ þe while.

a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1882) v. l. 882 The which right sore wolde a-þynken me That ye for ony wight þat dwelleth þere Sholde spille a quarter of a tere..it is nought worth þe while.

1556 M. Huggarde Displaying of Protestantes (new ed.) f. 40 It shall be worth the traueill to say somwhat therein.

1642 C. Saltonstall Navigator (ed. 2) 65 They [sc. the Theorems] will give you so great a light..that it will be well worth your labour.

1660 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1920) IV. 231 He is acquainted with diuers things worth the knowledge.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 262 To reign is worth ambition though in Hell.

1711 W. King tr. G. Naudé Polit. Considerations Refin'd Politicks iii. 107 That the crown of France was well worth the trouble of hearing one mass.

1744 M. Bishop Life Matthew Bishop 137 I..was very inquisitive in asking about every particular Thing that was worth my Observation.

1772 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra II. lxviii. 316 It is worth the reader's attention to observe.

1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) iii. 33 ‘They are not worth your notice,’ said the dismal man.

1866 J. M. Neale Sequences & Hymns 23 Ye, who sometimes think the glory Of the labour scantly worth.

1877 T. H. Huxley Physiography 76 The rusting of this particular metal is worth closer study.

1912 G. R. Parkin Rhodes Scholarships vi. 159 Some care in organizing time may be required, and some resoluteness of purpose; but the goal is worth the effort.

1938 G. Greene Brighton Rock vii. ix. 346 They looked up and moued to each other, as much as to say—‘Oh well, she wasn't really worth the trouble.’

1952 G. H. Dury Map Interpr. xi. 100 Canal names are worth particular attention.

1978 New Scientist 28 Sept. 962/2 So, was it worth it? Has it started a ‘debate’ so loved of the chat shows and the current affairs jamborees?

1991 Connecticut May 46/2 Recent studies..have indicated that it may be worth the wait.

1992 R. Graef Living Dangerously i. 47 I won't get into a stolen car, it's not worth it.

2002 Sound & Vision May 76/1 So if you have a DTV, or are thinking of getting one soon, it's well worth a look.

†b. With infinitive as complement. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 785 Vs thoughte it was nat worth to make it wys And graunted hym with outen moore avys.

1559 R. Clough in J. W. Burgon Life & Times Sir T. Gresham (1839) I. 255 It was sure a sight worth to go 100 myles to see it!

c. With verbal noun or gerund as complement.

(a) With verbal noun preceded by the or other determiner, as worth the trying.

ΚΠ

1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. clxx. f. cxcv^v Than Aymergote auewed the place to se if it were worthe the fortifyenge therof.

1540 J. Palsgrave tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus iv. vii. sig. Xij^v My corne..was not worth the cuttyng downe.

1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias i. v. 13 (margin) Three smal Ilands discouered not worth the entering.

1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 32 A Tower..worth the seeing, for the antiquity and building.

1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 112 All histories will tell you, it is a point worth the looking into.

a1672 Earl of Sandwich tr. A. A. Barba Art of Metals (1674) i. 129 It is very well worth ones making a journey purposely to see them.

1692 R. L'Estrange Fables cccxliii. 300 Hang 'em All up..they are not Worth the Begging.

1701 N. Grew Cosmol. Sacra iv. 199 The Jewes..were as well worth the Regaining, as his Predecessor thought them worth the Keeping.

1798 W. Wordsworth Peter Bell iii. 815 An Ass like this was worth the stealing!

1832 T. H. Lister Arlington II. 252 You may think it little worth the telling,..but you shall know every thing.

1885 H. M. Milner Turpin's Ride to York i. ii. 4/2 It's time to see if these pigeons are worth the plucking.

1908 Times 10 Oct. 4/4 All the codlins, pippins, pearmains, greenings and russets that are worth the growing.

1975 New Yorker 22 Dec. 55/1 The herring are what are known as ‘spents’—thin, indolent, not worth the catching.

1991 Metropolitan Home May 121/3 The hot, superhot..and surprisingly savory ‘no pepper’ kind..seem particularly worth the chawing.

(b) With unmodified verbal noun or gerund, as worth trying.

ΚΠ

1561 B. Googe tr. ‘M. Palingenius’ Zodiake of Life (new ed.) iv. sig. k.vii^v Tellyng of some pleasant tale, though new, or olde it be (If it be woorth declaryng) tel some worthy history.

1595 E. Spenser Colin Clouts come Home Againe sig. A4^v Well I weene it worth recounting was.

1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 28 Viewing round about all what was worth seeing in so famous a place.

1686 W. Hopkins Hist. Diss. iii. p. liv, in tr. Ratramnus Bk. of Bertram conc. Body & Blood of Lord It is worth observing..that the Adoration of the Sacrament sprang not up till some Ages after.

1751 D. Hume Enq. Princ. Morals vii. 153 [He] soon lost his Iron Lamp, the only Furniture he had worth taking.

1782 F. Burney Cecilia IV. viii. vii. 294 That the affair is somewhat spread..is now not to be helped, and therefore little worth thinking of.

1826 E. Darwin Let. 9 Mar. in C. Darwin Corr. (1985) I. 34 I went this morning & dawdled an hour or so over the Hunterian Museum which is well worth going to.

1836 Hints on Etiquette (ed. 2) 15 If a man be worth knowing, he is surely worth the trouble to approach properly.

1889 T. A. Trollope What I Remember III. 285 I have then, as at all times, found life eminently ‘worth living’.

1915 J. Turner Let. 3 May in C. Warren Somewhere in France (2019) 10 That my actions have your approval dear, is precious: may I do something one day worth approving.

1932 Blue Valley Farmer (Oklahoma City) 4 Feb. 8/4 No country worth fighting for was ever built on slacker's devotion or gold-bricker's patriotism.

1943 Boys' Life Aug. 8/1 That's worth knowing. I jotted it down in my book.

1975 G. Anderson Coring vii. 128 Most discussions on wireline logs define shale as a nonporous rock.., a point worth remembering in geological discussions with petrophysicists and the like.

1990 Which? Dec. 701/1 If you want to find out more about a company, it's worth reading the annual report.

2015 Saga Mag. Apr. 143/1 Standard painkillers are usually ineffective, but one group of drugs..used for chronic pain could be worth trying.

†10. Fitting, suitable, proper. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adjective] > fitting or proper

methelyeOE

ylikeeOE

fairOE

i-meteOE

rightOE

becomelyc1175

proper?c1225

featc1325

conablea1340

rightful1340

worthyc1350

pursuanda1375

covenable1382

dignec1385

convenablec1386

thriftyc1386

sittingc1390

comenablea1400

gainlya1400

meeta1400

wortha1400

convenientc1400

meetlya1425

suinga1425

fitc1440

tallc1440

worthyc1450

good1477

dueful?a1527

beseeminga1530

fitting1535

straighta1538

decent1539

answerable1542

becoming1565

condecent1575

becomed1599

respective1605

befittinga1612

comely1617

decorous1664

shape-like1672

beseemly1737

farrantly?1748

fitly1840

in order1850

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7515 It es noght worth, leif sir king, þat man in godd haue mistrouing.

a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Harl. 4866) (1897) l. 441 Certes to blame ben þe lordes grete,..þat hir men lete Vsurpe swiche a lordly apparaille, Is not worþ.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvi. 526 It is weill worth, forouten weyn, That thar namys for euirmar, That in thar tyme so worthy war..Be lestand ay furth in lovyng.

a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox, Wolf, & Cadger l. 2012 in Poems (1981) 78 For and I did, it wer weill worth that ȝe In ane rude raip had tyit me till ane tre.

Phrases

P1. In comparisons, with noun or noun phrase as complement.

a. Used in chiefly contemptuous comparisons: equivalent in value to something small or trivial. Chiefly in negative constructions as not worth a straw: of little or no value, worthless.For further examples see button n. 1b, cress n. 2, fas n. 2, fig n.¹ 4a, fly n.¹ 1d, haw n.² 2, leek n. 3, mite n.² 1b, pease n. 2b, pin n.¹ Phrases 2a(a), preen n. 1b, rush n.¹ Phrases 2, turd n. 2, etc.With not worth a damn (cf. quots. 1910, 1942) cf. not worth a tinker's damn and similar phrases at tinker n.¹ Phrases 2.

ΚΠ

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 293 Cesares freolec. Alisandres hereword. Moysese heale..alle somed aȝein mibodi nebeoð naut wurð [a1300 Caius wurh] anelde.

a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 70 Hit nere on ende wrþ on heryng.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 1652 (MED) To hasten is noght worth a kerse.

a1425 (c1333–52) L. Minot Poems (1914) 2 Þai fled,..And all þaire fare noght wurth a flye.

c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) l. 597 For all the baytys that ye for hym haue leyde..be nat worth a peere.

1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 8^v Whereas in maters not woorth a blewe point..wee will spare for no cost.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VII f. vii She knewe it to be but a feigned & peinted mattre & not woorth two strawes.

1580 W. Fulke Discov. Daungerous Rocke in Retentiue 181 Therfore these three differences are not worth three chippes.

1602 W. Watson Decacordon Ten Quodlibeticall Questions 72 I would say they [sc. the Jesuits] had no scholerisme worth a blew button amongst them.

1662 R. Brathwait Chimneys Scuffle 3 That those whose Fortunes are not worth a straw Should be thus pounc'd to Mummie.

1715 A. Pennecuik Curious Coll. Scotish Poems in Geogr., Hist. Descr. Tweeddale App. 97 When I sell I will make ruiss, Of that whilk is not worth a plack.

1798 W. Sotheby tr. C. M. Wieland Oberon ii. xxix. 53 Oh, fly, Sir! or your life's not worth a song!

1823 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto VII iv. 67 Who knew this life was not worth a potato.

1860 Bentley's Misc. Jan. 632 ‘At the sight of the whip I grow restive.’ ‘So does anybody worth a button.’

1895 J. K. Bangs House-boat on Styx iii. 32 Really your last argument isn't worth a stewed icicle.

1910 H. G. Wells New Machiavelli (1911) iv. iii. 336 No ph'losophy worth a damn ever came out of excesses of love.

1942 Amer. Mercury July 90 Dat what you shooting ain't worth a damn!

1978 M. McLaverty Coll. Short Stories 145 He's not worth a dead match, so he's not.

1982 P. Redmond Brookside (Mersey TV transmission script) (O.E.D. Archive) Episode 5. 41 Gizzmo. I know what happened to them cookers. Damon. Nicked probably. Gizzmo. Who by? They're not worth a carrot.

2004 B. Dylan Chronicles I. v. 271 It's a matter of life and death and our friendship ain't worth a bo diddley.

b. Used in adverbial phrases qualifying a negative statement to express a lack of ability to do something: at all, in any way.

ΚΠ

c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. viii. l. 54 (MED) Schal no deuel at his deþ-day deren him worþ a Myte.

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. 5005 Þou fisshes not worþe a leke, rise & go þi ways.

a1450 Castle Perseverance (1969) l. 2226 (MED) Go hens, ȝe do not worthe a tord.

?1565 Smyth that forged New Dame sig. A.i^v Moche boste gan he blowe And sayd he had no felowe that coud worke worth a strawe.

1601 N. Breton No Whippinge, nor Trippinge sig. D3 Many a Scholler happly learnes to spell, That can not put together worth a rush.

1680 T. Shadwell Woman-captain iii. 39 These words of Command stick in my Throat, and I cannot swear worth a farthing.

1739 ‘Philocles’ Let. to Noble Lord 17 I have heard of a Parson, who could not preach worth one Farthing, unless he had some Silver in his Pocket.

1789 C. Smith Ethelinde IV. viii. 182 I knew she could not ride worth a farthing.

1863 Battle-fields of South I. iv. 65 Just as I taught! can't shoot worth a bad five-cent piece! Now's de time, boys!

1882 Cent. Mag. May 131/2 He ought to stick to his pen, and not try to lecture, for he can't lecture worth a blank!

1918 G. M. Knocker Diary 31 Oct. in Diary & Lett. World War I Fighter Pilot (2008) 222 None of them can fly worth a damn.

1982 T. Heath Last Hiding Place i. i. 13 Neither of them could see worth a hoot.

2000 J. M. Gray Gift for Little Master 195 But it'll never mean jack because you can't think worth a shit.

c. Used, chiefly in negative constructions, to emphasize the worth or worthlessness of an enterprise by comparing it to the expense of the materials needed for its fulfilment.Earliest in the game (play, etc.) is not worth the candle at candle n. Phrases 6.

ΚΠ

1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. ii. xvii. 374 The play is not worth the candle.

1614 J. White Def. Way True Church liv. 509 When they are a little taken downe, they thinke it not worth inke and paper to proceed any further.

1712 C. Hornby Caveat against Whiggs: 4th Pt. 103 All the Aids, Subsidies and Contributions from the conquer'd Countries on that Side, were to go into their Pockets, as if not worth the Powder and Shot, which the Towns cost in taking.

1761 Case of Late Resignation set in True Light 14 Proofs in abundance are at hand in the papers themselves... But the game is not worth the shot.

1828 C. White Almack's Revisited II. xvii. 239 All I can do, is to hope that you will run the fellow to ground, though he is not worth the powder.

1896 Printers' Ink 11 Nov. 32/1 I don't believe that stuff like the following is worth the ink that it takes to print it.

1937 T. E. O'Quinn in J. F. Dobie & M. C. Boatright Straight Texas 246 A man who isn't worth the powder and lead it would take to kill him.

2015 Irish News (Nexis) 7 Dec. 19 If it was a horse you'd shoot it but it's barely a donkey and hardly worth the bullet.

P2.

a. to be as much as one's life is worth: to be liable to cost one one's life. Also similarly with nouns other than life. Frequently in hyperbolic use.See also as much as one's ears are worth at ear n.¹ Phrases 3b(b).

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > equality [phrase] > the equivalent of

to be as much as one's life is worth1599

1599 S. Harsnett Discov. Fraudulent Pract. I. Darrel iv. ii. 228 Affirming, that the boye being in his bed, and in his fittes, to vncouer him, was as much as his life was worth.

1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue i. viii. 69 Let me intreat you, Sir, not to put me to that trouble, seeing it is as much as my life is worth, considering the weakenesse wherein I now am.

1694 J. Collier Misc. iv. 21 If he promises so [sic] set a Town on Fire, 'tis as much as his Eschutcheon and Pedigree is worth to fail in the Performance.

1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 24. ⁋4 It is as much as my Life is worth, if she should think we were intimate.

1850 G. Cupples Green Hand iv. 48/2 To haul on a wind was as much as her spars were worth.

1898 H. S. Canfield Maid of Frontier 176 It was as much as a man's life was worth to say ‘durn’ out loud.

1929 M. Lowry Let. 12 Mar. (1995) I. 63 Although I have had a certain amount of youthful success as a writer of slow and slippery blues it is as much as my life is worth to play anything in the house.

2001 Courier Mail (Queensland) (Nexis) 26 Nov. 13 It would be as much as her job is worth to let a designated intellectual slip through.

b. more than one's life is worth: liable to be fatal or very dangerous; (hence in hyperbolic use) not worth the risk; likely to have bad or unpleasant consequences. Also with nouns other than life, in the same sense.See also more than one's ears are worth at ear n.¹ Phrases 3b(b), to be more than one's job's worth at job n.² Phrases 13.

ΚΠ

1645 J. Maynard Serm. to House of Commons 9 Take fast hold of instruction.., for she is thy life. If thou lose her, it is more than thy life is worth.

1676 tr. H. C. Agrippa Vanity Arts & Sci. xcvi. 328 Now, if a man slip into the least Errour, 'tis much more than his life is worth.

1732 Fate of Corsica v. 60 It would be more than my Life's worth should I stir from my Post.

1823 Morning Chron. 22 Sept. It would have been more than their lives were worth to have presumed to award such a disproportionate punishment.

1869 Turf, Field, & Farm 19 Nov. 321/2 The situation threatened literally to become more than his neck was worth.

1937 Macleay Chron. (Kempsey, New S. Wales) 10 Mar. 7/1 She will give me a hiding if I tell. It would be more than my life is worth.

1985 Guardian 15 June 6/7 It would be more than your head is worth..to suggest to Saddam Hussein that we are not on the winning team.

2012 C. Ould Knock Down 204 The screen lit up, but wanted a PIN. Dee Jarvis shook her head when Holly asked if she knew it. ‘More than my life's worth to look at her phone,’ she said.

P3. Proverb. If a thing (also job) is worth doing, it's worth doing well and variants: if a task is worth undertaking at all, one should approach it seriously and make a good job of it.

ΚΠ

1746 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 10 Mar. in Lett. to Son (1774) I. 187 Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.

1864 E. H. Dewart Select. from Canad. Poets p. xvi The adage, that ‘whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well,’ has a special application here.

1930 E. Waugh Vile Bodies viii. 143 My private schoolmaster used to say, ‘If a thing's worth doing at all, it's worth doing well.’

1983 Newsweek (Nexis) 20 June 30 ‘If a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing well,’ Thatcher says frequently.

1993 ‘A. McNab’ Bravo Two Zero (1994) iii. 33 For Chris, if a job was worth doing it was worth doing excellently, so in typical fashion he signed up first with the Paras because he wanted a solid infantry background.

2001 A. Taylor Death's Own Door (2002) xiii. 92 They haven't scrimped, either, I'm glad to say. If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well.

P4. for what it's worth and variants: used to indicate that a piece of information is of uncertain or little value. Frequently used parenthetically to acknowledge uncertainty about the likely value or impact of the accompanying remark. Cf. FWIW adv. at F n. Additions.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > [adverb] > to a limited extent

as (also so) far as it goes1533

a kind of?1565

not to say1590

in his (also her, etc.) way1700

for what it's worth1830

kinda1834

1830 Amer. Monthly Mag. (Boston) June 151 This is my authority, and I give it to you for what it is worth.

1861 Amer. Agriculturist July 202/3 This is about the pith of public sentiment up here among the old folks, and I send it down for what it is worth.

1888 J. Ross Three Generations 228 There is my opinion; I give it for what it is worth.

1922 F. Harris My Life & Loves I. xv. 327 However, the fact is so peculiar that I insert it here for what it may be worth.

1952 M. Norton Borrowers xx. 157 ‘Well,’ she conceded at last. ‘I'll tell you. For what it's worth.’

1962 A. 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.

1979 J. 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.

1995 E. Toman Dancing in Limbo vi. 142 I'll tell you what I heard, for what it's worth.

2003 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 19 Feb. a29/5 For what it's worth, I do not support a war with Iraq unless we all..ultimately agree that it is the only way to make the world safer.

P5. Originally U.S. for all it's worth and variants: to the fullest extent. Similarly for all one is worth: with all one's energy or resources. Cf. for all one's worth at worth n.¹ Phrases 3.Frequently collocated with milk v. 10 (e.g. quots. 1950 and 1991).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > [phrase] > with all one's might

(at, by, with) all one's mightOE

by (also by one's) powerc1300

with or by (all one's) might and mainc1330

at (also at all, after) one's power1384

upon one's powerc1400

to (the best of, the uttermost of, the extent of) one's power?a1425

tooth and naila1535

with tooth and naila1535

with both hands1549

with teeth and alla1600

horse and footc1600

with all one's force1677

for all it's worth1864

the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > greatly or very much [phrase] > in or to the greatest degree

never solOE

with (also mid) the mostc1275

for the masteryc1325

to the bestc1390

to the uttermostc1400

at the hardest1429

to the utmostc1450

to the skies (also sky)1559

at float1594

all to nothing1606

to the height1609

to the proofa1625

to the last degree1639

to the welkin?1746

(the) worst kind1839

for all it's worth1864

as —— as they make them?a1880

in the highest1897

to the nth (degree, power)1897

up to eleven1987

1864 Boston Post 27 Jan. Virginia had been used for all it was worth.

1883 Sunday Mercury (N.Y.) 18 Mar. 7/1 Scalchi, to use a side-walk phrase, played Siebel for all the character was worth.

1884 Boston (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.

1889 A. C. Gunter That Frenchman! xxi. 298 [The steamer] is driving, for everything she is worth, down the waters of the Finnish Gulf.

1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 197 We spun round and round..I steering the whole time for all I was worth.

1936 ‘J. Curtis’ Gilt Kid v. 58 It was obvious that she was playing little girlishness for all that she was worth.

1950 A. Huxley Let. 15 Nov. (1969) 631 My feeling about the story is that you have got hold of something big, but have not yet milked it for all it is worth.

1991 Amer. Square Dance May 13/1 Have you milked the opportunity for all it's worth?

2004 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 19 May c19/2 He was fighting a holding action, filibustering for all he was worth.

P6. to be worth one's ears: see ear n.¹ Phrases 1p; not worth the paper it's written on: see paper n. 1d; not worth an hour's purchase: see purchase n. 10b; not worth the time of day: see time n., int., and conj. Phrases 1a(c); a trick worth two of that: see trick n. Phrases 1; more trouble than it's worth: see trouble n. Additions; worth the whistling: see whistling n. 1c; not worth the king's unlaw: see unlaw n. Phrases; to be worth one's weight in gold: see weight n.¹ 9.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

worthv.¹

Brit.

/wəːθ/, U.S.

/wərθ/

Forms: 1. Present stem. a.

α. early Old English uueortha (Northumbrian), Old English wærþan (Mercian, in prefixed forms, rare), Old English wearþan (Mercian, rare), Old English weordan (rare), Old English weorþan, Old English weorðan, Old English werþan (rare), Old English wiorðan, late Old English wearðan, late Old English weorthan, late Old English werðan (Kentish), late Old English wiorþan (Kentish, in prefixed forms), early Middle English þeorþe (singular subjunctive, transmission error), early Middle English weorthe, early Middle English weorþe, early Middle English weorðe, Middle English werþe, late Middle English wer (perhaps transmission error); Scottish pre-1700 werth. eOE (Northumbrian) Bede's Death Song (St. Gallen) 5 To ymbhycggannae..huaet his gastae godaes aeththa yflaes aefter deothdaege doemid uueorthae.OE Beowulf (2008) 2526 Nelle ic beorges weard oferfleon fotes trem, ac unc [feohte] sceal weorðan æt wealle, swa unc wyrd geteoð.OE Lacnunga (2001) I. cxl. 98 Gif nægl of honda weorðe.c1175 ( Homily in A. O. Belfour 12th Cent. Homilies in MS Bodl. 343 (1909) 126 Þenne is us mucel neod..þet we ne weorþæn aweorpen on þa deopestæ helles grunde.c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 1171 Swiche no miȝt y neuer werþe.1494 Loutfut MS f. 33^v, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Worth The schell..will werth sa hard that he may nocht ply it.

β. Old English wurþan, Old English wurðan, early Middle English wrðe, early Middle English wurde, early Middle English wurh (3rd singular subjunctive), early Middle English wurrþenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English wurþu (imperative, with personal pronoun affixed), early Middle English wurðe, Middle English uurþe, Middle English wrthe, Middle English wrþe, Middle English wurth, Middle English wurþ, Middle English wurþe, 1800s wuth (English regional (Yorkshire)). OE Daniel 115 Wearð him on slæpe soð gecyðed, þætte rices gehwæs reðe sceolde gelimpan, eorðan dreamas, ende wurðan.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 492 Þatt nan ne shollde wurrþenn. Þa sett to wurrþenn prest.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 619 Þar-on þu scalt wrþan sæl. ▸ c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 434 Waried wrthe he.a1450 Ministry & Passion of Christ (St. John's Cambr.) (1984) l. 2364 Iudas..went hym forþ & lete hym wurþe þo he had herd his dom.1876 C. C. Robinson Gloss. Words Dial. Mid-Yorks. 'Od wuth!.., an imprecatory phrase.

γ. Old English wyrdan (rare), Old English wyrþan, Old English wyrðan, late Old English wyrþðan (in prefixed forms), early Middle English wyrþe (in prefixed forms), early Middle English wyrðe (in prefixed forms). OE Andreas (1932) 182 Þær sceall feorhgedal, earmlic ylda cwealm, æfter wyrþan.?a1200 (?OE) Peri Didaxeon (1896) 43 Þæt hy næfre forþan forwyrþan.]

δ. Old English worðan, early Middle English þorþe, early Middle English wort (imperative, before þ), early Middle English worþu (2nd singular subjunctive, with personal pronoun affixed), early Middle English worðe, Middle English worde (northern), Middle English worȝe, Middle English wortht (imperative, before þ), Middle English worþ, Middle English worþe, Middle English–1500s worthe, Middle English– worth, late Middle English vorthym (3rd singular subjunctive, with personal pronoun affixed), 1800s woth (English regional (Yorkshire)); also Scottish pre-1700 word. OE Homily (Somerset Rec. Office: DD/SASC/1193/77) in Anglo-Saxon Eng. 33 (2004) 152 Þæt ge ne worðen fordemde [L. et non iudicabimini].lOE King Ælfred tr. St. Augustine Soliloquies (Vitell.) (1922) i. 21 Gyf ic æfre swa wis worðe swa hi sint.a1275 Body & Soul (Trin. Cambr. B.14.39) f. 29^v Wo worþe þe so swikel.a1275 (?c1200) Prov. Alfred (Trin. Cambr.) (1955) 131 Wel worþe þe wid.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 22489 Þe sternes..sal..worde al blak sum ani col.c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. ii. l. 47 Lat hem worth til lewte be iustice.?c1450 in Anglia (1896) 18 324 Ȝif on be in poynt to worthyn wood.1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Passion ii. 199 Wo worth the tyme that euer we synned.a1665 W. Guthrie Serm. Regen. (1709) 14 What will word of my Wife?1736 A. Ramsay Coll. Scots Prov. (1776) 74 Well worth a' good takens.1870 J. R. Lowell My Study Windows 244 Woe worth the hour that I beheld thee born.1953 Classical Jrnl. 49 74/1 If, however, we muff the opportunity, then woe worth mankind.

ε. Old English wirþan (in prefixed forms, rare), Old English wirðan (in prefixed forms); Scottish pre-1700 wird, pre-1700 1800s wirth, 1900s wirt (Orkney). OE Arundel Psalter cxviii. 92 Tunc forte perissem in humilitate mea : þonne wenunga ic forwirþe on eadmodnesse minre.lOE King Ælfred tr. St. Augustine Soliloquies (Vitell.) (1922) i. 47 Ne gelyfe ic na þæt hyt æfre geweorðe..buton an ðing gewirðe.] ▸ ?a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 135 Wo wirth the fruct..And wo wirth him.1568 Balnevis in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) III. 21 And wirdis to be sweir And makis a stop quhen thay suld hop.1816 J. Duff Poems 11 Wae-wirth that whingin' whig, profession.1911 in A. W. Johnston & A. Johnston Old-lore Misc. IV. 186 Yea, wirt o' tha bit a skitter broltie hid was dere!

ζ. 1600s warth. 1634 T. Heywood & R. Brome Late Lancashire Witches iii. sig. H.iii^v Wa warth the day that ever I wadded a Downought.

b. 2nd singular indicative. (i).

α. Old English wyrst, Old English wyrðest. OE Andreas (1932) 483 Gif ðu lidwerigum larna þinra est[e] wyrðest.OE Ælfric Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Laud) iii. 19 Ðu eart dust & to duste wyrst [perh. read wyrþst; OE Claud. gewyrst].

β. Old English wurþest, early Middle English wurst, early Middle English wurðæst (in prefixed forms). OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 142 Þu wurþest hal sona.a1225 ( Ælfric's Homily De Initio Creaturae (Vesp. A.xxii) in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 221 Þu wurst deaðlic, ȝef þu þes trowes westm ȝeetst.

γ. early Old English weorðesð, Old English weorðest, Old English wiorðest, Middle English werst. OE Vercelli Homilies (1992) xiii. 235 Þæt ic eom nu, þæt ðu wiorðest eft.OE Paris Psalter (1932) lviii. 5 Ne þu hweðere on mode milde weorðest.c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 1887 Wel heȝe þou werst an honge.

δ. Middle English woest (transmission error), Middle English worst, Middle English worthyst, Middle English worþes, Middle English worþest, late Middle English wroth. c1300 Life & Martyrdom Thomas Becket (Harl. 2277) (1845) l. 2039 King thu woldest beo in his stede; thu ne worst nevermo.c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) 407 Þou worþest tohewen.a1450 Seven Sages (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) l. 1505 Certys, syre, thow worst schent.a1500 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Trin. Dublin) l. 810* Held on with a hale here þar hersound þou wroth.

(ii). With personal pronoun affixed early Middle English worste, early Middle English wurstu, Middle English worstow, Middle English worstu, Middle English worþestou. c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 324 Hennes þu go, þu fule þeof, Ne wurstu me neure more leof.c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. vi. l. 102 Þe boldnesse of þi benfes blendeþ þin eiȝen, And so worþestou [B text c1400 Laud 581 worstow; Z text ?c1400 Bodl. 851 woest thow] I-driuen out and þe dore I-closet. c. 3rd singular indicative. (i). Unsyncopated.

α. early Old English uuiurthit (Northumbrian), Old English wirþeþ, Old English wirþeð (in prefixed forms), Old English wyrþeþ, Old English wyrþeð, Old English wyrðeþ, Old English wyrðeð, Old English wyrðyð (in prefixed forms), late Old English wyrþeh, late Old English–early Middle English wyrtheth, early Middle English þyrþeh (transmission error), early Middle English wirþeh (perhaps transmission error), early Middle English wyrdeð, early Middle English wyrþaw (transmission error). After Old English only in late copies of quot. eOE.eOE (Northumbrian) Bede's Death Song (St. Gallen) 1 Fore th'e [probably read thaem] neidfaerae naenig uuiurthit [c1200 Digby wyrþeþ, a1325 Trin. Cambr. R.7.3 wirþeh] thoncsnotturra, than him tharf sie.OE Andreas (1932) 972 Wolde ic eow on ðon..bysne onstellan, swa on ellþeode ywed wyrðeð.

β. early Old English weorðed (Mercian, in prefixed forms), Old English weorþeþ, Old English weorþeð, Old English weorðæd (Mercian, in prefixed forms, rare), Old English weorðæð, Old English weorðeþ, Old English weorðeð, Old English weorðyð (in prefixed forms), Old English werdað (Mercian, in prefixed forms), Old English werþeð, Old English wiorðað, Old English wiorðeð, Old English woerdað (in prefixed forms), late Old English weordeð (Kentish, in prefixed forms), late Old English wiorðæþ (Kentish, in prefixed forms). OE Vercelli Homilies (1992) vii. 137 On þære grepe he wiorðeð to meoxe.OE Crist III 877 Him weorþeð blæd gifen!lOE Laws of Æðelberht (Rochester) xxxiv. 5 Gif banes blice weorðeþ, iii scillingum gebete.

γ. Old English uorðes (Northumbrian, in prefixed forms), Old English worðes (Northumbrian), Middle English worthes, Middle English worthis, Middle English worþeȝ, Middle English worþeh, Middle English worþeþ, Middle English worþis; Scottish pre-1700 vorthis, pre-1700 wordis, pre-1700 worthis, pre-1700 worthys, pre-1700 wourdis, pre-1700 wourthis. OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Luke i. 34 Quomodo fiet istud : huu worðes ðis?a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 38 Hit worþeþ al to wyn.c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1106 Hit worþeȝ to youreȝ.a1425 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (Pierpont Morgan) vi. v Þe ouir party..worþeþ more lyȝte, and þe neþer parties..worþen more heuy.1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 706 Ȝone is Wymond, I wait, it worthis na weir.

δ. Old English wurðaþ (in prefixed forms), Old English wurðeþ, Old English wurðeð, Old English wurðyþ (in prefixed forms), Old English wurðyð (in prefixed forms), Old English (early Middle English in copy of Old English charter) wurþeð, Old English (in prefixed forms)–early Middle English wurþeþ, late Old English wurþað (Kentish, in prefixed forms), early Middle English wurðæþ, early Middle English wurððeð. OE Paris Psalter (1932) cxviii. 96 Ealre þysse worulde wurðeð ende.c1175 ( Ælfric Homily in A. O. Belfour 12th Cent. Homilies in MS Bodl. 343 (1909) 6 Of þam flæsclice heo wurðæþ gastlice & Godes bearn ihaten.

(ii). Syncopated.

α. early Old English wierð, Old English wirþ (in prefixed forms), Old English wirð, Old English wyrþ, Old English wyrð. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xvii. 111 He wierð self to ðæs onlicnesse.OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Exod. (Claud.) vii. 9 Nym ðine gyrde & wurp hi beforan Pharaone, & heo wyrð to næddran.lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) (2009) I. iv. 246 Þonne he betwux us and hire wyrð.

β. Old English weorþ, Old English weorð, Old English werþ, Old English werð. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) Epil. 469 Wæter..tofloweð æfter feldum, oð hit to fenne werð.lOE Laws of Æðelberht (Rochester) lxv. 7 Gif he healt weorð, þær motan freond seman.

γ. Old English–early Middle English wurð, late Old English wurðð (in prefixed forms), early Middle English wrð, early Middle English wurh, Middle English wrth, Middle English wurþ, Middle English wurþe. OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) Pref. i. 2 Gif se oðer nolde, hu wurð he elles gelæred?a1225 (?OE) MS Vesp. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 235 Fram þa forme man to þa latst þe wrð et þes wrldes ende.a1300 (?c1200) Prov. Alfred (Jesus Oxf.) (1955) 113 And selde wurþ he blyþe and gled.a1450 Ministry & Passion of Christ (St. John's Cambr.) (1984) l. 992 Al þat ȝe in erþe vnbynde, in heuene it wurþe ondo.

δ. early Middle English wort, Middle English worht, Middle English worth, Middle English worþ, Middle English worþe. a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 82 Ne wort ne god þer unforgulde, ne non uuel ne worth unboukt.c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 1570 So is þe stude icluped nou & euere worþ.c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B v. l. 160 Dame Peronelle, a prestes file, Priouresse worth she neuere.

2. Past tense. a. Strong. (i). Originally 1st and 3rd singular indicative.

α. early Old English uuard, early Old English uueard, early Old English (runic) Middle English warþ, Old English uarð (Northumbrian, in prefixed forms), Old English wæarð, Old English wærþ, Old English weard (in prefixed forms, rare), Old English–early Middle English warð, Old English–early Middle English wærð, Old English–early Middle English wearþ, Old English–early Middle English wearð, early Middle English uuard, early Middle English warrþ ( Ormulum), early Middle English wart, early Middle English wharrþ ( Ormulum), early Middle English wharð, Middle English ward, Middle English warhtȝ, Middle English warth, Middle English warþe. OE Andreas (1932) 1343 Hwæt wearð eow swa rofum, rincas mine, lindgesteallan, þæt eow swa lyt gespeow?OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 102 Þa wærð Martianus and eac seo modor dreorige on mode.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 10960 Þær affterr warrþ itt efft to nohht.c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 4723 Opon a mule sche warþ anon.c1450 (?a1400) T. Chestre Sir Launfal (1930) l. 131 He ward yn greet dette.

β. Old English weorð (rare), Old English–early Middle English werð, Old English–Middle English werþ, early Middle English wert, Middle English werth, Middle English werþe. OE tr. Chrodegang of Metz Regula Canonicorum (Corpus Cambr. 191) liv. 287 Neorxnawoncges bigencga..weorð of his gecyndan are þurh Euan his wif utadræfed.lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Tiber. B.iv) anno 1080 [for: 1130] Her werþ Anagus ofsleien fram Scotta eere & þer werþ micel weell ofsleigen mid him.lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1129 Þa hit eall com forð, þa weorð hit eall of earcedæcnes wifes.a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 133 Sum [seed]..werð to-treden. ▸ a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 277 At þe laste he werþe sike.a1400 (a1325) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Trin. Cambr.) (1887) App. G. 793 Noble he werþ & riche.

γ. early Middle English wurd, early Middle English wurð, early Middle English wurðe. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 99 Þat bred wurð to fleis.a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1197 Ghe wurd wið childe.

δ. Middle English worthe, Middle English worþ, Middle English worþe, Middle English–1500s worth, 1500s worde (northern); Scottish pre-1700 word, pre-1700 worde, pre-1700 worth, pre-1700 wourde, pre-1700 wourth, pre-1700 wrocht, pre-1700 wroth, 1800s oord, 1800s wot (transmission error). a1300 in R. Morris Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 144 Þat folk worþ eft wroþe i-spild. ▸ a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1882) VIII. 5 Lowys..worþe sike.1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iii. l. 13 Wictaill worth scant.1570 in J. Raine Depositions Courts Durham (1845) 137 He knewe not..what worde of them.1830 J. Hogg in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 896/2 Ye'll mind your eldest brother weel eneugh. Did ye ever ken what oord o' him?

(ii). Plural.

α. Old English wurdan, Old English wurdun, Old English wurþan (rare), Old English wurðan, Old English (early Middle English in prefixed forms) wurþon, Old English–early Middle English wurdon, Old English–early Middle English wurðen, Old English–early Middle English wurðon, late Old English–early Middle English wurden, late Old English–early Middle English wurþen, early Middle English wurrdenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English wurthen. OE West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) xxiii. 12 And on þam dæge wurdun Herodes & Pilatus gefrynd.?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1135 Wurþen men suiðe ofuundred.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 3343 Þeȝȝ wurrdenn swiðe offdredde.a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 667 Ðo wurðen he frigti and a-grisen.

β. Old English wyrdun (Mercian), Old English–early Middle English wyrdon, early Middle English wyrden. OE (Mercian) Rushw. Gospels: Matt. xiv. 20 Et manducauerunt omnes et saturati sunt : & etun alle & fulle wyrdun.c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 61 Næs he blind acenned for his aȝene synnum..ac ðæt Godes wyndræ wyrdon on him iswytelode.c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 63 Heo heom asæton þet heo wyrden iutlaȝede of ðare ȝesamnunge.

γ. Old English wordon (in prefixed verbs), Middle English worden; Scottish pre-1700 vorth, pre-1700 worth. OE tr. Defensor Liber Scintillarum (1969) xvi. 157 Qui interierunt per linguam suam : þa þe forwordon þurh tungan hyra.] c1175 ( Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 169 Heo [sc. stars] þa for þon worden heoræ beorhtnes muceles dæles benumene.1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 33 Thus worden my teeth al blody.1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid v. xi. 86 The myndis worth agast.c1610 (?a1450) tr. A. de Varennes Florimond of Albany l. 125 in R. Purdie Shorter Sc. Medieval Romances (2013) 90 Thay wox and worth bayth fair and wicht.

b. Weak early Middle English wurðede, Middle English worthid, Middle English worthit (north-west midlands, in a late copy), Middle English worþed, Middle English wrohede (probably transmission error), Middle English wurthed, Middle English–1600s worthed, late Middle English worthrede (transmission error); Scottish pre-1700 werthit, pre-1700 wordit, pre-1700 worthed, pre-1700 worthede, pre-1700 worthid, pre-1700 worthit, pre-1700 worthyd, pre-1700 worthyde, pre-1700 worthyt, pre-1700 wourthit. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2946 Ðe fisses..wurðeden dead.c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 485 Til worþed an ende.1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xiii. 354 Thame worthit, magre thairis, abyde.1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. cv Thus wourthit schir gawyne wraith.1669 Hist. Sir Eger 5 My steed before me had good sight, Cast up his head, and worthed light. 3. Past participle. a. Strong.

α. early Old English gewarden, Old English geuorden (Northumbrian), Old English geweorden (rare), Old English gewoerden (Northumbrian), Old English gewordan, Old English geworden, Old English gewordon, Old English gewordyn, Old English giworden (Northumbrian), Old English giwordon (Northumbrian), Old English uorden (Northumbrian, in prefixed forms (not ge-)), Old English wordæn (Northumbrian, in prefixed forms (not ge-)), Old English worden, Old English–early Middle English geworðen, late Old English geweordon, late Old English geworþan, late Old English geworþen (Kentish), late Old English wordon (Kentish, in prefixed forms (not ge-)), early Middle English ȝeworden, early Middle English iworden, early Middle English iwordon, early Middle English iworþen, early Middle English iworðen, early Middle English worðen, Middle English iworþe, Middle English worde (northern), Middle English worth, Middle English worthe, Middle English worthen, Middle English worthyn, Middle English worþen, 1500s woorde (northern); Scottish pre-1700 vorthyn, pre-1700 worde, pre-1700 wordine, pre-1700 worthin, pre-1700 worthine, pre-1700 worthing, pre-1700 worthyn, pre-1700 wourthin, 1800s word, 1800s wort. OE Daniel 124 Wearð he on þam egesan acol worden, þa he ne wisse word ne angin swefnes sines.OE Blickling Homilies 223 Þæt oft gelamp, þonne man hwylcne dæl his hrægles to untruman men brohte, þæt he ðonne þurh þæt sona wearð hal geworden.c1200 ( West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Hatton) viii. 26 Þær warð geworðen mychel smoltnyss. ▸ a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 187 Þe Parthes þat were i-worþe rebel. ▸ c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 516 Lete se what schulde haue worthe of the men.1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay sig. Dv^v That God is wordine mane.1629 Z. Boyd Last Battell Soule (new ed.) 425 (Jam.) What can bee worde of such a..professor.1818 J. Hogg Brownie of Bodsbeck I. iii. 38 What could be wort of a' the sheep.

β. Old English gewurden, late Old English gewurðen (Kentish), early Middle English iwurden, early Middle English iwurðe, early Middle English iwurðen, early Middle English wurrþenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English wurðen, Middle English iwurþe, Middle English iwurþen, Middle English wurthen, Middle English wurþe, Middle English yworthe. OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxvii. 45 Fram þære sixtan tide wæron gewurden þystru ofer ealle eorðan.lOE Canterbury Psalter lxii. 8 Quia factus es adiutor meus : forðæn þu gewurðen ært felstend min.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 3873 Godess sune..Wass wurrþenn mann.a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 219 Also suteliche swo it wurþe were.c1330 Otuel (Auch.) (1882) l. 612 Hou is þe and þis man iwurþe?c1450 tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Lyfe Manhode (Cambr.) (1869) 131 On horse he is wurthen up.

b. Weak early Middle English iwereþit (perhaps transmission error), Middle English worthed, Middle English worþed, Middle English wurthed; Scottish pre-1700 worthit, pre-1700 worthyd. c1250 in Englische Studien (1935) 70 238 Herode þe kinc, to rome he moste ware; stronke he hauit iwereþit to þe caisare..is kincdom is him binomen.c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 678 A duk to haue worþed.?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 112 Þe whilk was baptized and worthed till a worthy and a..Cristen man.c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1905) II. 307 What at wurthed of þe bodie cuthe neuer man tell.a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Royal) viii. l. 399 He suld hawe worthyd [a1500 Nero worthit] rede for schame.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian wertha (West Frisian wurde ), Old Dutch werthan (Middle Dutch werden , werden , Dutch worden ), Old Saxon werthan (Middle Low German werden ), Old High German werdan , werthan (Middle High German werden , German werden ), early Scandinavian (runic: Sweden) verða , Old Icelandic verða (Icelandic verða ), Norwegian (Nynorsk) verte , Old Swedish varþa , værþa (Swedish varda ), Old Danish varthe (Danish vorde ), Gothic wairþan , and further with Sanskrit vartate turns, rolls, classical Latin vertere to turn, Lithuanian versti to fell, throw down, overthrow, Tocharian B wärt- (probably) to turn, and (with different ablaut grade: zero-grade) Old Church Slavonic vrĭtitŭ sę (reflexive) turns around, Russian vertet′ to turn, Old Prussian wīrst becomes, Lithuanian virsti to fall, tumble, overturn, the apparent original sense ‘to turn’ having developed in Germanic to ‘to turn into, to become’. Compare -ward suffix < an ablaut variant of the same Germanic base. Compare also yworth v.Form history. In Old English a strong verb of Class III; strong forms are continued in Middle English. The inherited inflectional pattern, after the operation of Verner's Law, yielded alternation in the stem-final dental consonant; stem forms with stem-final -d- in the past tense plural and the past participle preserve the reflex of the voiced alternant. Such stem forms survive into Middle English, although occasionally in Old English and Middle English forms d may be a scribal form (or error) for ð . Forms of the word throughout its history have been repeatedly subject to assimilatory sound changes (affecting the stem vowel) caused by the initial w- (either in isolation or in combination with the following r plus consonant). Syntactical functions. The word is sometimes used as auxiliary with the passive; compare discussion at sense 2b. The word also shows characteristic use with future time reference in some senses ( 1a(b), 2a(b), 2b(b), 3a(b), 3b(b)); for a discussion of this use see B. Mitchell Old Eng. Syntax (1985) §§ 672, 755, T. F. Mustanoja Middle Eng. Syntax (1960) I. 439, 495, 615–16. Prefixed forms. In Old English the prefixed form geweorþan yworth v. is also attested; compare also aweorþan aworth v., (Northumbrian) foreweorþa to determine beforehand, predestine (compare fore- prefix 1), forweorþan forworth v., and misweorþan to turn out amiss (compare mis- prefix¹). It is unclear whether Old English and Middle English prefixed past participle forms represent the prefixed or the unprefixed verb, i.e. worth v.¹ or yworth v. (the latter remained current, although increasingly less common, until the end of the Middle English period), as formally they may belong to either. For this reason all Old English and Middle English prefixed past participle forms have been repeated in the Forms sections of both entries; in allocating illustrative quotations for senses, decisions have been made on the basis of the currency of less ambiguous forms for each sense. There is also a great deal of semantic overlap between the two words. While the unprefixed verb is more frequent, prefixed yworth v. seems to be preferred in some constructions, and is also attested earlier in certain senses (e.g. senses 1b, 3e).

Obsolete except in woe worth (a person or thing) at Phrases 2a(a).

a. intransitive. To come to be, come to pass, come about, happen, take place.

(a) In any tense. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)]

becomec888

i-tidec888

falleOE

ywortheOE

i-limp975

belimpOE

i-timeOE

worthOE

tidea1131

goa1200

arearc1275

syec1275

betide1297

fere1297

risea1350

to come aboutc1350

overcomea1382

passa1393

comea1400

to come in (also to, on, etc.) placea1400

eschew?a1400

chevec1400

shapec1400

hold1462

to come (also go) to pass1481

proceed?1518

occura1522

bechance1527

overpass1530

sorta1535

succeed1537

adventurec1540

to fall toc1540

success1545

to fall forth1569

fadge1573

beword?1577

to fall in1578

happen1580

event1590

arrive1600

offer1601

grow1614

fudge1615

incur1626

evene1654

obvene1654

to take place1770

transpire1775

to go on1873

to show up1879

materialize1885

break1914

cook1932

to go down1946

OE Genesis A (1931) 2548 Hlynn wearð on ceastrum, cirm arleasra cwealmes on ore, laðan cynnes.

a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 147 He spec of þat þe sholde wurðe.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3081 (MED) Sore me longes it to se, ȝif it miȝt so worþe.

a1425 (?c1350) Northern Passion (Harl. 4196) 410 Or þe kok haue krawin thrise, Sall it worth opon þis wise.

a1500 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Trin. Dublin) l. 3090 (MED) Wele ȝe wate of all þat was & worth here byfore.

a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 38 Aftyr this, worth gret spech yn-to all þe lond.

c1600 (?c1395) Pierce Ploughman's Crede (Trin. Cambr. R.3.15) (1873) l. 493 Eft he seyde to hem-selfe ‘wo mote ȝou worþen’.

1818 Scots Mag. Oct. 329 Brichter it grew, While it wot [read wort] till a flude o' day.

(b) In the present tense, with reference to the future. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Luke i. 34 Quomodo fiet istud quoniam uirum non cognosco : huu worðes ðis forðon wer ne conn ic?

OE Andreas (1932) 1383 Þær wæs yfles or, ende næfre þines wræces weorðeð.

lOE tr. Vindicta Salvatoris (Vesp.) in B. Assmann Angelsächsische Homilien u. Heiligenleben (1889) 194 Ne wurð of heom næfre cyng ne ealdor ofer land ne ofer burh.

a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 67 (MED) Dauid minegeð us..to beregen us..wið þe eiseliche shame..þat alle synfulle men shule þolen on domes dai..er þan al mankin þe was and wurh and nu is cumen to one mote and ure louerd ihesu crist..shodeð þe gode fro þe iuele.

a1300 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Jesus Oxf.) l. 141 in R. Morris Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 63 (MED) Swiþe grimlych stench þer is and wurþ wyþ-vten ende.

c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) l. 401 (MED) Jch habbe biȝeten on þee a kyng Þat shal be Philippes maisterlyng; On erþe worþe non hym yliche.

b. transitive. In the subjunctive, with a person as object (in early use in the dative): expressing a wish for something to happen to (someone). Occasionally also intransitive. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xv. 28 Gewurþe þe ealswa þu wylle.]

a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 153 (MED) Iþonked wurðe him.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 2317 (MED) Hail wurh [c1300 Otho beo] þu, Belin king.

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 2221 He let his oth al ouer-go, Euere wurþe him yuel and wo.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2567 ‘I ne wot in wat wise to worche be best.’ ‘Nor ich, i-wisse,’ sede william, ‘but worþe god wiþ alle.’

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) 25633 Gabriel..said, ‘leuedi! ful of blis, ai worth þe wel!’

a1450 (?a1390) J. Mirk Festial Suppl. (Claud.) (1905) 295 (MED) Þe dor tyneth on hym for euermore, and so eurelasting farewel..worthe hym and hys werkys!

a. With noun or adjective complement: to become or come to be (what is expressed by the complement).

(a) intransitive. In any tense. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > change > change [verb (intransitive)] > pass into state, become

yworthOE

worthOE

goOE

becomec1175

come?a1200

waxc1220

charea1225

aworthc1275

makea1300

fallc1300

breedc1325

grow1340

strikea1375

yern1377

entera1382

turna1400

smitec1400

raxa1500

resolvea1500

to get into ——?1510

waxen1540

get1558

prove1560

proceed1578

befall1592

drop1654

evade1677

emerge1699

to turn out1740

to gain into1756

permute1864

slip1864

OE Blickling Homilies 175 Þa þa hwile þe he þær stod, he wearþ færinga geong cniht, & sona eft eald man.

?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1154 Þat ilce dæi þat Martin abbot of Burch sculde þider faren, þa sæclede he & ward ded.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 160 Oþre unnfæwe shulenn ec Full glade. & bliþe wurrþenn.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 16028 Þenne scullen i Bruttene blissen wurðen riue.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 2806 Louerd he worþ of france.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 189 Scheepe þat drynkeþ of þat oon [river] schulle worþe blak, and schepe þat drynkeþ of þat oþer schul worþe whyte.

c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 42 For dout yat thai worth proude and hautayn of thair office.

a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) viii. l. 401 He sulde haf worthit rede for schaym, A fre kynrik swa til defame.

1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid iv. Prol. 245 O lust,..Thyself consumyng worthis insaciable.

1669 Hist. Sir Eger 5 My steed before me had good sight, Cast up his head, and worthed light.

(b) intransitive. In the present tense, with reference to the future. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

eOE (Northumbrian) Bede's Death Song (St. Gallen) 1 Fore th'e [probably read thaem] neidfaerae naenig uuiurthit thoncsnotturra, than him tharf sie.

lOE tr. Honorius Augustodunensis Elucidarium in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 142 Bute heo [sc. þa yfele mænn] gecerren, heora pine wurð þa mare.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 4382 (MED) Ȝet heo wurððeð [c1300 Otho worþeh] þe laðe þe me fulsteð nu to dæðe.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 2232 Þou worst þer king anon.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2534 He mai gete so moche gold þat pore worþ he neuer.

a1425 (a1400) Titus & Vespasian l. 1491 in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1904) 112 29 But ȝe knowe wel þe feiþ, Thou worþest neuer hole aryȝt While þou lyuest, day ne nyȝt.

b. With past participles of transitive verbs, equivalent to an auxiliary of the passive: = be v. 16a. [It is unclear how far an underlying sense ‘to become, to come to be’ is reflected in use as auxiliary of the passive in Old English. In some Old English texts, at least, there appears to be a tendency to prefer forms of be v. as passive auxiliary when the passive denotes or implies a state, in contrast to use of worth v.¹ when the passive denotes or implies an action, reflecting the respective core senses of the two verbs. However, not all uses of worth v.¹ as passive auxiliary may imply such a distinction. For further discussion see B. Mitchell Old Eng. Syntax (1985) §§786–801, D. Denison Eng. Hist. Syntax (1993) 417–9, and compare developments in the history of the passive in German.]

(a) intransitive. In any tense. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

OE Beowulf (2008) 7 Oft Scyld Scefing..monegum mægþum meodosetla ofteah.., syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden.

OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 392 Þæt cweartern wearð afylled mid fulum adelan, and butan ælcum leohte atelice stincende.

c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 61 Næs he blind acenned for his aȝene synnum..ac ðæt Godes wyndræ wyrdon on him iswytelode.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 347 Þatt streon. þatt wass..lac to wurrþenn offredd her. O rode treowwess allterr.

c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) l. 846 (MED) Hit shal wrþe wel isene Þat þu hauest muchel iloȝe.

a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 81 Þe mon þat her no god ne sowet, wen oþer repen he worth bikakt.

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 1738 (MED) Departed is þy pryncipalte, depryved þou worþes.

c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 1817 (MED) Quat lake lyse in vs, lord, if it be ȝoure will, Þus causeles for oure kynge encumbird to worthe?

(b) intransitive. In the present tense, with reference to the future. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

eOE (Northumbrian) Bede's Death Song (St. Gallen) 5 To ymbhycggannae aer his hiniongae huaet his gastae godaes aeththa yflaes aefter deothdaege doemid uueorthae.

OE Ælfric Homily (Trin. Cambr. B.15.34) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1968) II. 559 Lytel þing is geteald þises lifes ryne wið ða ecan worulde, þe ne wurð na geendod.

c1175 ( Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 171 Ðenne on domes dæȝ wurð ȝeiscead atwa alle soðfeste men and synfullæ.

a1250 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 5 Swete Godes moder..þin iliche neuer nes ne neuer more ne wurð iboren.

c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) l. 1776 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 157 Ȝif þou comest a-mong heom ovȝt þov worst a-slawe a-non.

c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 1871 If þou tarie longe her-wyþ þou worst y-schent Heȝe þow worst an honge.

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xix. l. 404 But þow lyue by lore of spiritus iusticie,..ysaued worstow neure.

a1450 Ministry & Passion of Christ (St. John's Cambr.) (1984) l. 992 (MED) Al þat ȝe in erþe vnbynde, in heuene it wurþe ondo.

a1500 (c1400) St. Erkenwald (1977) l. 340 (MED) Blessid þou worthe.

a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 124 Al the contrey forth ther-aftyr worth so I-storbet, that [etc.].

c. intransitive. With past participles of intransitive verbs. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xxii. 169 Of ðæm treowe, ðe is haten sethim, ðæt ne wyrð næfre forrotad.

OE Beowulf (2008) 823 Denum eallum wearð æfter þam wælræse willa gelumpen.

OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) viii. 26 Ða aras he & bebead þam winde & þære sæ, & þær wearð geworden mycel smyltness.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 831 (MED) Ðo wurðen waxen so wide and spred Pride and giscinge of louerd-hed.

3. intransitive. With prepositional or adverbial complements.

a. To come to be, attain to being (in a particular place or condition).

(a) In any tense. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 298 He..wearp þa ut his net, and þær wearð oninnan an ormæte leax.

lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) (2009) I. iv. 246 Se mona..hwilum þa sunnan heore leohtes bereafaþ þonne he betwux us and hire wyrð.

c1300 St. Dunstan (Laud) l. 12 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 19 Seint Dunstones moder taper a-fuyre werth a-non.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. iv. iv. 141 By gedrynge of bemes and liȝt in aer and mirþe [read in erþe] schulde be so gret bredinge of hete and of drynes þat þe aier schulde worthe afire.

a1425 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 1900) (1879) VII. 505 The strete werth a fuyre.

a1450 (c1385) G. Chaucer Complaint of Mars (Tanner 346) (1871) l. 248 He wende anon to worth oute of his mynde.

c1450 (?a1400) T. Chestre Sir Launfal (1930) l. 131 So sauragelych [read sauagelych] hys good he besette Þat he ward yn greet dette.

1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. cvi^v Lat it worth at my wil y^e wourschip to wale.

(b) In the present tense, with reference to the future. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

OE Crist III 1028 Þonne eall hraðe Adames cynn onfehð flæsce, weorþeð foldræste eardes æt ende.

b. To turn or be converted to (also till) something; to change in status to.

(a) In any tense. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > change > change to something else, transformation > be transformed [verb (intransitive)]

wortheOE

awendOE

golOE

turnc1275

changec1300

runc1384

to run into ——c1384

fare1398

writhea1400

transmewc1400

returnc1475

transume1480

convert1549

transform1597

remove1655

transeate1657

transmute1675

make1895

metamorphose1904

shapeshift1927

metamorphize1943

metamorphosize1967

morph1992

eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xxxviii. 279 Oft ðonne ðæt hefige mod glit niðor & niðor.., oð hit mid ealle afielð, & to nauhte wirð.

OE Beowulf (2008) 2203 Hear[dr]ede hildemeceas under bordhreoðan to bonan wurdon.

OE Homily: Be rihtan Cristendome (Hatton 113) in A. S. Napier Wulfstan (1883) 145 We syndon deadlice menn and to duste sceolon on worulde wurðan wurmum to æte.

lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough interpolation) anno 870 Hi..macedon hit þa þet ær wæs ful rice, þa hit wearð to nan þing.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 6976 Þatt steorrne..Warrþ all to nohht..Affterr þatt crist wass fundenn.

a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 99 Þat bred wurð to fleis and þe drinke to blod.

c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Laud) (1901) 467 Þou art so fayr and briycte, Þou schalt worþe to knyte.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5889 (MED) It [sc. a wand] sal til a nedder worth.

c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 198 Sa yat bot gif thare war a souerane..all the warld, wald worth to nocht.

c1600 (?c1395) Pierce Ploughman's Crede (Trin. Cambr. R.3.15) (1873) l. 746 And ich a beggers brol..worþ to a writere.

(b) In the present tense, with reference to the future. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

OE Genesis A (1931) 1034 Me to aldorbanan weorðeð wraðra sum.

OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Exod. (Claud.) vii. 9 Nym ðine gyrde & wurp hi beforan Pharaone, & heo wyrð to næddran.

c1175 ( Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 138 Gyf þu eart Godes Sune, hat þæt þæs stanes to lafes wurðen.

c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1106 Quat-so-euer I wynne in þe wod, hit worþeȝ to youreȝ.

c. To get on (also upon) a horse. Also: (with up) to mount a horse. Also in extended use. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride a horse (or other animal) [verb (intransitive)] > mount

worthOE

mountc1330

lighta1450

horse1535

to get up1553

to get on1613

to take horse1617

saddle1834

to saddle up1849

OE Wærferð tr. Gregory Dialogues (Hatton) (1900) i. x. 82 He..aras of þam bedde & wearð uppon his horse [OE Corpus Cambr. eode to his horse].

lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1048 Ða wearð Eustatius uppon his horse & his gefeoran uppon heora.

c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) 1164 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 139 Þe holi Man..werth op..and rod him forth wel faste.

c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 4723 (MED) Opon a mule sche warþ anon.

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. vii. l. 91 (MED) Many of ȝow ne wedde nouȝt þe wommen þat ȝe with delen, But as wilde bestis with wehe worthen vppe and worchen, And bryngeth forth barnes þat bastardes men calleth.

c1422 T. Hoccleve Tale of Jerelaus (Durh.) in Minor Poems (1970) i. 175 Shee wasshith..the flessh of the filthes of synne, clothynge it with goode vertues, & makynge it ascende, and worthe vp-on the steede of charitee.

a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 628 (MED) He..worthe on hys sted.

?1537 Hugh of Caumpedene tr. Hist. Kyng Boccus sig. S.iij For thy the kyng Boccus anon Toke hors and worthed there vpon.

d. To pass away; to go hence. Also: (with after) to remain behind. Obsolete.In quot. OE with reflexive pronoun in the dative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > absence of movement > [verb (intransitive)] > remain as opposed to go

bidec893

yleaveOE

leaveOE

wonc1000

abideOE

worthOE

beliveOE

atstutte-nc1220

stuttea1225

atstuntc1230

astinta1250

beleavea1325

lasta1325

stounda1325

stinta1340

joukc1374

restaya1382

to leave over1394

liec1400

byec1425

onbidec1430

keep1560

stay1575

delay1655

to wait on1773

stop1801

to sit on1815

to hang around1830

to stick around1878

to sit tight1897

remain1912

stay-down1948

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go or move away specifically of things

forgoc950

worthOE

atgoc1175

alithec1275

withdraw1297

lenda1350

withgoa1400

to go farewellc1400

voidc1400

startc1405

overdrawa1450

recedec1450

sinkc1450

remove1481

regress1552

to-gang1596

elongate1646

abscede1650

discede1650

to take a walk1871

OE Ælfric Old Test. Summary: Maccabees (Julius) in W. W. Skeat Ælfric's Lives of Saints (1900) II. 80 Mathathias..towearp þæt deofolgild, and wearð him awege.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2355 Wende listly hennes & late me worþ after.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 19110 Þe lastand dede sal worþe awai.

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 33 Þou shalt have þat I hete & þou hent worth.

e. With of: to become of, to happen to. Obsolete. [In quot. OE apparently showing yworth v. in similar use with by.]

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)] > become of

betidea1400

worthc1400

befall1470

become of1535

society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > mount (a horse or other animal)

to win upona1400

worthc1400

takea1438

mountc1540

to get upon ——1561

to get on ——1572

back1594

OE Wærferð tr. Gregory Dialogues (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) ii. xxxv.172 He onbead þam æwfæstan were Theoprobo þæt..þæt he sylf ongeate & eft þider gebude, hwæt geworden wære be Germane þam biscope.]

c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 243 (MED) What-so worþed of þat wyȝe fro he in water dipped, Hit were a wonder to wene, ȝif holy wryt nere.

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 516 Lete se what schulde haue worthe of the men in these ȝeeris, if thei hadden not be mad religiose.

a1500 (?a1400) Morte Arthur (1903) l. 1817 (MED) Launcelot, what shall worthe of vs twoo!

?1542 M. Coverdale tr. Supplicacion vnto Kyng Ferdinandus To Rdr. Lorde what shall worth of vs then, that hauyng such delite in oure old wicked conuersacion, shame not to refuse all honest amendment of lyuinge?

1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie 4th Serm. sig. Mvi What wyll worth, what wyl be the end of this man?

c1570 in J. Raine Depositions Courts Durham (1845) 150 He knew not from whence they came, or what worde of them.

1629 Z. Boyd Last Battell Soule (new ed.) 425 (Jam.) Then many shall wonder what can bee worde of such a blazing professor.

a1665 W. Guthrie Serm. Regen. (1709) 14 What will word of my House? And what will word of my Goods and Gear.

1818 J. Hogg Brownie of Bodsbeck I. iii. 38 I was..considering what could be wort of a' the sheep.

1830 J. Hogg in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 896/2 Ye'll mind your eldest brother weel eneugh. Did ye ever ken what oord o' him?

4. transitive. With pronoun as object (in early use in the dative). To be had, got, or experienced by (a person); to belong to or be available to. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1119 Se arcebiscop of Uiana wearð to papan gecoren, þam wearð nama Calixtus.

a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 123 (MED) Se ðe her godes mildsce ne beȝett, ne wurð hie him naure mo ealles hwer.

a1250 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 16 Hu sore him wiket þar in one stunde oþer two wurh him pine euere-mo.

c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 225 While ich wot he is oliue Conseyl worþ ȝou of me non.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 74 (MED) Huo hier him demþ, zoþliche him ne worþ non hede to by uorlore ate daye of dome.

c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. iv. l. 98 (MED) Suche a wynnynge hym warth þorw wordes of hus grace.

5. transitive. Scottish. Impersonal with preceding object (or with non-referential it and following object) and infinitive. To behove, need, be necessary (e.g. him worthit abyde ‘it was necessary for him to abide’). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > necessity > condition of being necessary > be necessary [verb (intransitive)]

needa1398

worth1424

requirea1500

fault1502

1424 State Papers Edinb. Reg. House No. 15 As langand ȝhure custumes vs worthis to vndirly, the ordonance of ȝhure noble depute.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) iv. 194 Him worthit, magre his, abyde In till ane hamelat neir thair-by.

1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iii. l. 271 Schir Amar said, ‘Trewis it wordis tak’.

Phrases

†P1. to let (a person or thing) worth: to leave (a person or thing) alone; = to let (a person or thing) yworth at yworth v. Phrases. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > permit [verb (transitive)] > permit by non-intervention

let971

tholec1070

to let (a person or thing) worthlOE

to let (a person or thing) yworth?c1225

sufferc1290

seea1400

assuffera1530

tolerate1533

sustain1541

comport1620

to let something ride1908

lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1090 He..forlet swa his man þone eorl Rodbeard & his land & ferde ongean to France & let heom swa weorðan.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 2330 Þer fore he was so prout & þe king nas him sulf bote as a ssade, & let im worþe al out.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3597 ‘Lat me worþ’, quaþ william, ‘þat schal i wite sone’.

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. Prol. l. 187 For-þi I conseille alle þe comune to lat þe catte worthe.

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 6037 Late ladies worthe with her thyngis.

a1500 (?c1450) Merlin iii. 58 Than seide Merlyn, ‘Let me worthen ther-with, and I shall a-quyte me of the comenaunt [emended in ed. to couenaunt] that I made’.

c1600 (c1350) Alisaunder (Greaves) (1929) l. 1184 (MED) Soone hee leapes on-loft and lete hym worthe, To faire as hym lyst.

P2.

(a) woe worth (a person or thing): may evil or misfortune beset (a person); may a curse be on (a person or thing). Frequently in woe worth the day (also time, etc.). Now archaic and rare.

ΚΠ

c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) l. 384 Wa wurðe þet cheaffeare.

a1275 Body & Soul (Trin. Cambr. B.14.39) l. 114 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) l. 141 Wa uurþe þe time þat tu boren was.

c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) (1963) l. 3995 Wo worþe onread.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 4118 Ȝif i wrong seie any word, wo worþ me euer.

c1440 (?a1400) Sir Perceval (1930) l. 139 ‘Wo worthe wykkyde armour!’ Percyuell may say.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 145 Wo worthe this swerde! for by hit I have gotyn my deth.

1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iv. l. 748 Allace! That I was maide wa worthe the courssit cas.

a1542 T. Wyatt Coll. Poems (1969) viii. 139 Thou toke her streight from me, that wo worth thee!

1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Passion ii. 199 May we not iustly crye wo worth the tyme that euer we synned?

1567 R. Crowley Opening of Wordes Prophet Ioell sig. D.v^v Then may we say, Woe worth the day And houre of our first birthe.

1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. v. xlviii. 211 Wo worth men conquered, and downe with them still.

1647 R. Herrick Widdowes Teares in Noble Numbers 43 Woe worth the Time, woe worth the day, That reav'd us of thee Tabitha.

1684 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 2nd Pt. ii. 7 Then they all wept again, and cryed out: Oh, Wo worth the day.

1718 A. Ramsay Elegies (ed. 2) 6 Wae worth Death, our Sport's a' lost, Since Maggy's dead.

1798 Descr. Remarkable Vision Thomas Webster 10 For woe worth the time, and woe worth the sorrow.

a1801 R. Gall Poems & Songs (1819) 30 Wae worth ye, sir! it sets ye ill To talk to me in sic a style.

1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 12 Woe worth the chase, woe worth the day, That costs thy life, my gallant grey!

1816 J. Duff Poems 11 Wae-wirth that whingin' whig, profession.

1870 J. R. Lowell My Study Windows 244 Woe worth the hour that I beheld thee born.

1916 Washington Post 19 Sept. 6/1 A Boston citizen—woe worth the day!—comes forward with a suggestion for doing away with the human spellbinder.

1937 V. D. Scudder On Journey i. i. 2 I dabbled all my youth.., woe worth the day.

1953 Classical Jrnl. 49 74/1 We have discoveries to make, and if we make them wisely and well a better day will dawn for mankind; if, however, we muff the opportunity, then woe worth mankind.

†(b) woe worth me: = woe is me at woe int., adv., n., and adj. Phrases 2. Obsolete (archaic in later use).

ΚΠ

1540 J. Palsgrave tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus iv. vi. sig. X Haye to me .i. wo to me, or wo worth me, or woo is me (that euer I was borne).

1581 T. Rogers tr. Pretious Bk. Heauenlie Medit. v. 29 Wo worth me wretch that I neuer marked, how I became nothing when I forsooke thee.

a1625 J. Fletcher Womans Prize v. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) 120 I strewd the staires with pease, as he past down; And the good Gentleman (woe worth me for't)..Fell to the bottome.

1781 Public Advertiser 30 Oct. Woe worth me!..if ever I thought your honour had been so far read.

1891 A. Conan Doyle White Company ix Wo worth me when Agatha the tire-woman sets eyes upon it!

†(c) woe worth: (as interjection) = woe int. Obsolete (archaic after 17th cent.).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [interjection] > oaths other than religious or obscene > imprecations

woeOE

dahetc1290

confoundc1330

foul (also shame) fall ——c1330

sorrow on——c1330

in the wanianda1352

wildfirea1375

evil theedomc1386

a pestilence on (also upon)c1390

woe betide you (also him, her, etc.)c1390

maldathaita1400

murrainc1400

out ona1415

in the wild waning worldc1485

vengeance?a1500

in a wanion1549

with a wanion1549

woe worth1553

a plague on——a1566

with a wanion to?c1570

with a wanyand1570

bot1584

maugre1590

poxa1592

death1593

rot1594

rot on1595

cancro1597

pax1604

pize on (also upon)1605

vild1605

peascod1606

cargo1607

confusion1608

perditiona1616

(a) pest upon1632

deuce1651

stap my vitals1697

strike me blind, dumb, lucky (if, but—)1697

stop my vitals1699

split me (or my windpipe)1700

rabbit1701

consume1756

capot me!1760

nick me!1760

weary set1788

rats1816

bad cess to1859

curse1885

hanged1887

buggeration1964

1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique i. f. 43 Wo worthe, thei are dedde.

1598 J. Marston Scourge of Villanie i. i. sig. B6^v Woe worth when trees drop in their proper kinde!

1613 W. Leighton Teares or Lament. sig. *3^v All (alas, woe worth) doe me disdaine.

1906 C. M. Doughty Dawn in Brit. VI. xxi. 34 Woe-worth! the old hind mourns.

†b. well worth: (followed by noun or pronoun) may good fortune betide; good luck to. Cf. well adj. 1. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > prosperity > in prosperous condition [phrase] > fortunately > wish for another's good fortune

well worthc1275

winc1400

fair fall ——c1430

wally fall1568

more power to a person (also a person's elbow, arm)1831

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 6528 Wel wurðe [c1300 Otho worþe] þe Vortiger þat þu ært icumen her.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) 155 Wel wurðe his migt lefful ay Ðe wroutis on ðe ferðe day!

c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 2127 Wel worth þe, wyȝe, þat woldeȝ my gode.

a1425 Dialogue Reason & Adversity (Cambr.) (1968) 9 (MED) Wel worth þe wand þat makiþ wilde childer tame.

a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox & Wolf l. 648 in Poems (1981) 28 Weill worth the, father, that send me to the lair.

a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 242 ‘Weill worth the, sister’, said Considerance, ‘And I sall help for to mantene the dance.’

1736 A. Ramsay Coll. Scots Prov. (1776) 74 Well worth a' good takens.

1870 A. Hislop Prov. Scotl. (ed. 3) 313 Weel worth a' that gars the plough draw. Anglice, Good luck to everything by which we earn money.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

† worthv.²

Forms: Old English uorðia (Northumbrian), Old English wearðian (Anglian), Old English weorþian, Old English weorðian, Old English wiorðian (rare), Old English worðian (chiefly Northumbrian), Old English wurþian, Old English wurðian, Old English wyrþian, Old English wyrðian, late Old English wiorþian (Kentish), early Middle English vurge, early Middle English weorðie, early Middle English worþe, early Middle English worðe, early Middle English wrþi, early Middle English wrþie, early Middle English wurche, early Middle English wurdgi, early Middle English wurge, early Middle English wurgi, early Middle English wurhȝie, early Middle English wurrþenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English wurþe, early Middle English wurþi, early Middle English wurþie, early Middle English wurð, early Middle English wurðche, early Middle English wurðe, early Middle English wurðe (past tense, perhaps transmission error), early Middle English wurðge, early Middle English wurðgi, early Middle English wurðȝe, early Middle English wurði, early Middle English wurðie, early Middle English wyrðie, Middle English worth, Middle English worþi.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Cognate with Old High German werdōn to value, to honour, Gothic wairþon to value < the same Germanic base as worth adj. Compare i-worth v. and the Germanic forms cited at that entry. Compare also later worthy v.In Old English a weak verb of Class II. A corresponding Class I weak verb is also attested; compare (prefixed) gewierþan to value, appraise, and probably also Northumbrian (rare) wyrþa to irrigate, to manure (apparently showing a specific sense development; compare worthing n.²); compare Middle High German wirden to honour, value, Old Icelandic virða to place a value on, evaluate, and (with prefix) Old Saxon giwerthon to value, prize. In Old English the prefixed form geweorþian i-worth v. is also attested; compare also beweorþian to adorn (compare be- prefix), misweorþian to dishonour (compare mis- prefix¹), unweorþian unworth v., (Northumbrian) toweorþia to adore (compare to- prefix¹). Notes on forms. Forms in -ch- probably reflect secondary association with worship v. Some Middle English forms could perhaps alternatively be interpreted as showing earlier forms of worthy v.

Obsolete.

a. transitive. To honour (a person or thing); to treat with honour or respect.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [verb (transitive)] > show respect for

wortheOE

to do worship to (also till, for)OE

honourc1275

worshipc1300

to make feasta1325

to do (a person or thing) honourc1330

observec1390

reverencec1400

weigh1423

honourable1455

worthya1500

honorify1606

to rise up to (also unto)1621

eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xvii. 123 Ðu weorðasð [L. honorasti] ðine suna ma ðonne me.

OE Blickling Homilies 11 Weorþian we eac þa claþas his hades, of þæm wæs ure gecynd geedneowod.

OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xv. 8 Þis folc me mid welerum wurþað & hyra heorte ys feorr fram me.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2358 Þær þurrh wass ȝho wel wurrþ to ben. Swa wurrþedd her onn erþe.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 6699 Þas cnihtes weoren an hirede. hæhliche iwurðed.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) 262 Ihesus..Ros fro ded on ðe sunenday, Ðat is forð siðen worðed ay.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3503 Wurð ðin fader and moder so, Ðat ðu hem drede.

c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 2124 I wald more worth..a wyse man disc[i]ple, Þan þe honour þat Acheles aȝt.

b. transitive. To show reverence to (God or a god); to worship.

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > worship > [verb (transitive)]

heryc735

wortheOE

hallowa1000

blessOE

worshipa1200

servec1225

anourec1275

adorec1300

glorify1340

laud1377

magnifya1382

praisea1382

sacre1390

feara1400

reverencec1400

anorna1425

adorn1480

embrace1490

elevatea1513

reverent1565

god1595

venerate1623

thanksgivea1638

congratule1657

doxologizea1816

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > honour > give honour to [verb (transitive)]

wortheOE

i-worthOE

menskc1225

athelec1275

aworthyc1275

honoura1325

furtherc1374

honesta1382

worship1389

gloryc1400

dignifya1530

worthy1532

endue1565

enhonour1571

to do (a person or thing) the honour?1572

deign1579

honorify1606

famous1622

blazon1815

to do a person proud1819

eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) iv. iv. 87 Þa diofla þe hie an simbel weorþedon hi amirdon.

OE Blickling Homilies 27 Þas ealle ic þe sylle, gif þu feallest to me & me weorþast.

a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 45 Ure hlouerd ihesu crist..heged and wurðed bie he.

a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 11 Hine ȝe scule wurþian and hersumen and luuian mid al euwer heorte.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 583 Heo wurðeden [c1300 Otho worþede] þat anlicnes þe Scucke hit on-feng.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1845 Wið newe alter wurðed he wel Ðe strong god of ysrael.

?c1335 in W. Heuser Kildare-Gedichte (1904) 115 (MED) Þe first comondement is þis..His name wiþ wirssip to worþi.

2. transitive. To raise to honour or distinction; to endow.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > transfer of property > settlement of property > settle (property) [verb (transitive)] > endow

worthOE

goodOE

dow1297

allowc1400

rentc1400

endowc1440

enduec1440

seizec1450

empossessc1500

revestc1500

indot1520

endote1528

dotatec1540

estate1609

instate1614

portion1663

vest1748

fortune1838

OE Cynewulf Elene 1195 Bið þæt beacen gode halig nemned, ond se hwæteadig, wigge weorðod, se þæt wicg byrð.

OE Waldere i. 22 Weorða ðe selfne godum dædum, ðenden ðin god recce.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1308 Al his cun he wurðede [c1300 Otho worþede] richen & wrecchen.

a1400 (a1325) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Trin. Cambr.) (1887) App. G. 792 Þeos foure weyes on þis lond, king belin..Made & worþede ham wiþ gr[et] franchise.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

n.¹eOE

n.²OE

n.³1609

adj.eOE

v.¹eOE

v.²eOE

单词	worth
释义	worthn.¹ Brit. /wəːθ/, U.S. /wərθ/ Forms: early Old English wiorð (Kentish), Old English weorþ, Old English weorþe (rare), Old English weorð, Old English worð (Northumbrian), Old English wurh (probably transmission error), Old English wyrþ, Old English wyrð (rare), Old English–early Middle English wurð, Old English–Middle English wurþ, late Old English wiorþ (Kentish), early Middle English weord, early Middle English worȝ, early Middle English wurd, Middle English werthe, Middle English werþe, Middle English worrth, Middle English worþ, Middle English worz, Middle English–1500s wurthe, Middle English–1600s woorth, Middle English–1600s worthe, Middle English– worth, 1500s woorthe, 1500s wourthe, 1500s–1600s wourth, 1500s–1600s wurth; also Scottish pre-1700 uort, pre-1700 virth, pre-1700 vord, pre-1700 vorth, pre-1700 vortht, pre-1700 vyrt, pre-1700 warth, pre-1700 wirth, pre-1700 worcht, pre-1700 wortht, pre-1700 wortth, pre-1700 wourcht, pre-1700 wrocht, pre-1700 wrth, pre-1700 wyrth, pre-1700 wyrtht. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian werth , Old Saxon werth (Middle Low German wert ), Old High German werd (Middle High German wert , German Wert ), Old Icelandic verð , Norwegian verd , Old Swedish værþ (Swedish värde ), Old Danish wærth (Danish værd ), Gothic wairþ < the same Germanic base as worth adj.In Old English a strong neuter. The Middle English form worz appears to show south-western z for þ . Compare also (rare) Old English wyrðu (strong feminine) honour, dignity (apparently originally a Germanic īn -stem, cognate with Old High German wirdī , werdī (Middle High German wirde , wierde , German Würde ) < the same Germanic base as worth adj.). I. Senses relating to monetary value. 1. The material or monetary value of something; the amount at which something may be estimated in terms of a medium of exchange, such as money or goods. See also Phrases 1. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > monetary value > [noun] wortheOE valuea1325 cost1340 valourc1350 valure1440 valora1483 valoir1496 valor1496 valuation1549 valent1765 vallidom1790 money value1848 money-worth1854 society > trade and finance > money > value of money > [noun] wortheOE money-worth?c1430 valuation?c1520 money's worth1578 purchasing power1824 purchasing value1861 society > trade and finance > monetary value > [noun] > amount of specific value wortheOE eOE Laws of Ine (Corpus Cambr. 173) xlvi. §1. 110 Se agenfrigea..gecyðe, þæt hie þær oftor ne comen, be þæs ceapes weorðe [lOE Rochester wyrðe]. lOE Laws: Dunsæte (Corpus Cambr.) i. §1. 374 Gylde þæt yrfe oððe to ðam dæge underwed lecge, þæt sy ðæs orfes oðer healf weorð. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 31 Þet he nime þa ilke ehte oðer his wurð. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 7674 Þe king willam uorto wite þe wurþ of is londe Let enqueri streitliche..Hou moni plou lond..Were in euerich ssire. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. l. 1327 That al the gold of Cresus halle The leste coronal of alle Ne mihte have boght after the worth. c1525 J. Rastell Of Gentylnes & Nobylyte ii. sig. B.ii^v Or by extort meanys they wyll them compell The land for half the worth to them to sell. 1598 J. Stow Suruay of London 326 Wherein was found..vessels of gold, and siluer vnpraiseable, and many pretious stones which would make al men wonder, if they knew the worth of them. 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 133 A pearle..makes all base, & to come under the worth thereof. 1695 J. Locke Further Considerations conc. Raising Value of Money 27 Rising and falling of Commodities is always between several Commodities of distinct worths. 1705 W. Forbes Treat. Church-lands & Tithes iv. 41 Patrons had also some indirect Interest in their Benefices, where the Ministers had modified Stipends Within the worth of their Benefices. 1761 T. Harper Accomptant's Compan. 110 What is the yearly Value of an Estate 8 Years to come, allowing the Purchaser 5 per cent, when the Present Worth amounts to 1342l 17s 1d½? 1781 W. Cowper Charity 133 The bark..Charg'd with a freight transcending in its worth The gems of India. 1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 189 Some poverty-stricken legatee,..selling his chance..for a twelfth-part of its worth. 1878 Implement & Machinery Rev. 2 Sept. 1772/1 Our shipments at the earlier date realised £185,868, while this July they have risen in worth to £227,780. 1913 C. H. Bullivant Stamp Collecting for Pleasure & Profit viii. 70 The worth of the different denominations ranges from five to twenty pounds. 1957 H. A. R. Gibb & H. Bowen Islamic Society & West I. ii. vii. 57 The exchange value of the medin remained much greater than its actual worth, since it was the principal coin in both wholesale and retail transactions. 2005 Time Out 7 Dec. 30/3 He grabbed the Arcadia group with £10 million of his own cash, watching its worth skyrocket to a massive £2,600 million. 2. a. Following a noun phrase expressing a sum of money: as much of something, esp. a commodity, as is valued at or may be bought for that sum of money.farthingsworth, halfpennyworth, money's worth, pennyworth, pounds worth, shillingsworth, etc.: see the first element.The noun phrase expressing a sum of money is usually in the genitive, although written without apostrophe, as though plural; however, in established compounds attributive use of an unmarked form is still sometimes found (especially in pennyworth).In quot. OE with both the commodity and the sum of money in the genitive. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > monetary value > [noun] > equivalent of a specific sum worthOE valora1483 the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [noun] ordeOE thresholdeOE frumthc950 anginOE frumeOE worthOE beginninga1225 springc1225 springc1225 commencementc1250 ginninga1300 comsingc1325 entryc1330 aginning1340 alphac1384 incomea1400 formec1400 ingressc1420 birtha1425 principlea1449 comsementa1450 resultancec1450 inition1463 inceptiona1483 entering1526 originala1529 inchoation1530 opening1531 starting1541 principium1550 entrance1553 onset1561 rise1589 begin1590 ingate1591 overture1595 budding1601 initiationa1607 starting off1616 dawninga1631 dawn1633 impriminga1639 start1644 fall1647 initial1656 outset1664 outsettinga1698 going off1714 offsetting1782 offset1791 commence1794 aurora1806 incipiency1817 set-out1821 set-in1826 throw-off1828 go-off1830 outstart1844 start1857 incipience1864 oncome1865 kick-off1875 off-go1886 off1896 get-go1960 lift-off1967 OE West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) vi. 7 Nabbað hi genoh on twegera hundred penega wurþe hlafes [L. ducentorum denariorum panes]. a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) xiii. 69 Eche man..ȝer [beo] isuuore ant assised to armes..þat is to wite, to viftene pond worth of londe. 1393 in C. Innes Registrum Honoris de Morton (1853) II. 190 Fourty markys wrth of land within the Barony of Bwtyll. 1412 in H. M. Flasdieck Mittelengl. Originalurkunden (1926) 50 (MED) Thayre feffes..thay enfeffe..to sir Richard..On condicyoun yat..Richard..mary Jonet..tyll aman of xx markes worthe of lande. c1439 in H. Anstey Epistolae Academicae Oxon. (1898) I. 184 (MED) A thousand pound worth and more of preciose bokez. 1508 Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 258/1 The malis..of the vi merkis worth of land of the Redecastell. 1590 E. Jeninges Briefe Discouery Damages 22 By the yearely abating of three hundred thousand poundes-worth of victualles there must of necessitie growe a great want of sufficient sustenance. 1622 ‘Jack Dawe’ Vox Graculi 51 Halfe a Crownes worth of Two-penny pasties. 1674 R. Godfrey Var. Injuries in Physick 39 Having Amalgamiz'd many pounds worth of Gold with Mercury. a1687 W. Petty Polit. Arithm. (1691) viii. 108 If the Tradesmen..could do one Million worth of Work extraordinary. 1745 B. Franklin Let. 11 Dec. in Wks. (1888) X. 238 Our Library Company sends for about twenty pounds sterling worth of books yearly. 1770 E. Pendleton Let. 13 Sept. in Lett. & Papers (1967) I. 61 It abounds with such a quantity of white oak that it is thought 1000f. worth of plank and staves may be got off it. 1820 London Mag. June 631/1 Hump-backed giglots, scrimply arrayed in two guineas worth of trumpery British muslin. 1858 Jrnl. Royal Geogr. Soc. 28 197 If the capital be 1000 German crowns they take 400 worth of beads, iron, and brass wires [etc.]. 1917 E. Hemingway Let. 11 Sept. (2011) I. 45 I will probably get 1st prize ($5.00 worth of fishing tackle). 1938 R. K. Narayan Dark Room ix. 144 He..worked himself up to his best canvassing technique—a gift which made him net a lakh's worth of policies a year. 2015 Daily Tel. 21 May 2/1 They still need to find billions of pounds worth of cuts this year. b. In extended use: the amount or quantity of something (material or immaterial) that is associated with, corresponds to, or lasts for a specified period of time, a given space, etc. ΚΠ 1593 tr. Articles accorded for Truce in France 6 The Leaders and cheefe of Horsemen..shall be acquitted for the halfe yeares woorth of their Reuenewe. 1789 Amer. Museum Dec. 477/1 We bought eight days' worth of happiness. 1847 Standard 2 Apr. He cannot get more than half-a-day's worth of labour from any labourer. 1867 Once a Week 17 Aug. 188/1 Five gaslights..supposed to illuminate about a quarter of a mile's worth of arches.., merely..exaggerate the depth of the gloom. 1923 Hutchinson (Kansas) News 18 June 5/3 I'll forgive you a whole lifetime's worth of sins. 1950 Notes 7 227 Yankee Doodle..has survived almost two centuries' worth of high-minded, well-made sonatas and string quartets. 1967 Los Angeles Times 30 July (Calendar section) 1/1 At its best, comedy can..be fuller of insights..than a shelf's worth of thoughtful books. 1993 Guardian 20 Apr. 15/2 (advt.) The Toledo's boot will swallow 550 litres worth of luggage. 2012 T. Wolfe Back to Blood iii. 110 To make up for his bald pate, he wore..about four weeks' worth of beard. †3. Money, payment. Also: price. Obsolete.In quot. OE¹ figurative, with reference to Christ as the price by which the world was to be redeemed. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > money > [noun] silverc825 feec870 pennieseOE wortheOE mintOE scata1122 spense?c1225 spendinga1290 sumc1300 gooda1325 moneya1325 cattlec1330 muckc1330 reasona1382 pecunyc1400 gilt1497 argentc1500 gelta1529 Mammon1539 ale silver1541 scruff1559 the sinews of war1560 sterling1565 lour1567 will-do-all1583 shell1591 trasha1592 quinyie1596 brass1597 pecuniary1604 dust1607 nomisma1614 countera1616 cross and pilea1625 gingerbreada1625 rhinoa1628 cash1646 grig1657 spanker1663 cole1673 goree1699 mopus1699 quid1699 ribbin1699 bustle1763 necessary1772 stuff1775 needfula1777 iron1785 (the) Spanish1788 pecuniar1793 kelter1807 dibs1812 steven1812 pewter1814 brad1819 pogue1819 rent1823 stumpy1828 posh1830 L. S. D.1835 rivetc1835 tin1836 mint sauce1839 nobbins1846 ochre1846 dingbat1848 dough1848 cheese1850 California1851 mali1851 ducat1853 pay dirt1853 boodle?1856 dinero1856 scad1856 the shiny1856 spondulicks1857 rust1858 soap1860 sugar1862 coin1874 filthy1876 wampum1876 ooftish1877 shekel1883 oil1885 oof1885 mon1888 Jack1890 sploshc1890 bees and honey1892 spending-brass1896 stiff1897 mazuma1900 mazoom1901 cabbage1903 lettuce1903 Oscar Asche1905 jingle1906 doubloons1908 kale1912 scratch1914 green1917 oscar1917 snow1925 poke1926 oodle1930 potatos1931 bread1935 moolah1936 acker1939 moo1941 lolly1943 loot1943 poppy1943 mazoola1944 dosh1953 bickies1966 lovely jubbly1990 scrilla1994 eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) iv. x. 105 Swa lað wæs Pena folc Scipian.., swa, þeh þe he hie sume wið feo gesealde, ðæt he þæt weorð nolde agan þæt him mon wið sealde. OE Blickling Homilies 89 Hire innoþ þu gefyldest nigon monaþ mid ealles middangeardes weorþe. OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxvi. 9 Þis mihte beon geseald to myclum wurþe & þearfum gedæled. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 214 Spit him amit þe beart..Hwen he for se licht wurð [a1300 Caius wurd]..cheapeð þisaule. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5393 Þai had noþer worth ne ware þat þai moght for þair mete spare. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12390 (MED) Ioseph..was a parti wright..Treen beddes for to make, Was he wont for worth to take. c1475 tr. C. de Pisan Livre du Corps de Policie (Cambr.) (1977) 98 (MED) He vndirstode by his connyng that the..nexte yer olyves shulde take gret wurthe. 4. With the. a. In contemptuous comparisons: the equivalent value of a small or trivial thing (as the worth of a pin, bean, straw, etc.). Chiefly in negative constructions. Cf. worth adj. Phrases 1. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little worth > value of worthc1300 c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 1332 Haue þou nouth þer-offe douthe Nouth þe worth of one nouthe. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2017 (MED) Never to weld of worldes merþe þe worþ of a mite. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. iv. l. 170 (MED) Ȝit ȝeue ȝe me neuere þe worthe of a russhe. c1475 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Caius) l. 141 (MED) A theef..him wolde..ne shonde, Nor take fro him the worthe of a sloo. 1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue i. x. sig. D^v Beggyng of her booteth not the worth of a beane. 1599 T. Heywood 1st Pt. King Edward IV sig. I3 What haue ye saude now..by your hinching and your pinching, not the worth of a blacke pudding. 1602 L. Lloyd Stratagems of Ierusalem ii. 13 Abraham refused to take the worth of a shoe latchet at the king of Zodoms hand, least he should say I haue made Abraham rich. 1658 S. Rutherford Surv. of Surv. Church-discipline To Rdr. sig. A4^v I hugely differ from his esteem of these against whom he disputes, in putting them all to the worth of a straw, and every Pen to a nihil dicit. 1717 D. Defoe Mem. Church of Scotl. iii. 268 I had not the worth of a Spur Whang of any Man's, but was mounted of Horse and Arms of my own. a1758 A. Ramsay Poems (1961) III. 299 They left na the worth of a snishing But stoury floor and bare partition. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan II. x. 47 I wadna gie the worth of a deaf nit for the truth o' the intelligence. 1894 T. D. English Select Poems 462 Though not a bullet bored hole in a skin, It did not diminish the worth of a pin, The glory the white man was destined to win. 1919 Lebanon (Pa.) Daily News 1 Apr. I feel from the treatment accorded me you are not deserving or entitled to as much as the worth of a pin. 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand i. 15 Mac began to equate him..to matter lower than whale shit, which if once surfaced and dried would have the consummate worth of a fart in a maelstrom. b. The equivalent in money or some other commodity of something. Also following to (see to prep. 14a). Now rare. ΚΠ 1537 Bible (Matthew's) 3 Kings xxi. A Yf it playse the I will geue the the worthe of it in syluer. 1583 T. Stocker tr. Tragicall Hist. Ciuile Warres Lowe Countries iv. f. 55^v This victualler had about him in Gold to the Worth of 20. Florins. a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) iii. iii. 22 I'de rather then the worth of thrice the summe, Had sent to me first. View more context for this quotation 1627 Treasurer's Almanacke (ed. 2) sig. B6 The Operation of the worth of 30 li. Annuitie for 6 yeares. 1762 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting II. iii. 131 It would be a very long time before the worth of 200l. in ultramarine could be employed in miniatures. 1781 W. Cowper Table Talk 85 The worth of his three kingdoms I defy, To lure me to the baseness of a lie. 1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 67 ‘Take Five horses and their armours;’..‘My lord, I scarce have spent the worth of one!’ 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer I. xxiii. 308 He always gets the worth of his money. 1913 F. H. Burnett T. Tembarom xxiv. 305 How thoroughly New Yorkish it was that he should march into a fashionable shop and see that he got..the worth of his money! 1984 G. Jones Hist. Vikings (rev. ed.) iii. i. 148 He commanded no wergeld, but in England if you killed him you had normally to pay his owner the worth of eight cows. 5. The amount of money or possessions a person has; possessions, property, assets. See also net worth n. at net adj. Compounds. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > possessions > [noun] > a person's collective property or substance thingOE chattela1240 cattlec1275 i-wonc1275 moneya1325 tilea1325 statec1330 thrifta1350 substancea1382 chevance1477 graith?a1513 estate1563 wortha1586 thrive1592 fortune1596 store1600 boodle1699 circumstancea1704 the mind > possession > wealth > [noun] > degree of wortha1586 wealth1607 a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) iii. sig. Gg4^v Bending her self towards him, (like the clyent that committes the cause of all his worth to a well trusted aduocate). 1598 J. Manwood Treat. Lawes Forrest xvi. f. 90^v Euery Gentleman, Husbandman, Farmer & householder of any worth. 1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. v. 32 They are but beggers that can count their worth . View more context for this quotation 1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 206 They..generally loue play: so that..they will hazard all their worth, themselues, wiues, children and other substance. 1714 B. Mandeville Fable Bees i. 166 A Carrier may have more Horses than a Man of ten times his worth. 1749 W. Ellis Compl. Syst. Improvem. Sheep ii. i. 121 A Man of considerable Worth, that he came at by renting a large dry Farm many Years. 1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison II. xxii. 225 She gave in an estimate of her worth; To what amount the ladies know not. 1812 G. Crabbe Tales xvii. 314 To legal claims he yielded all his worth. 1895 R. Home Columbian Sketches xxxii. 309 Further investigation might have discovered his worth at £17,000,000. 1924 Legal Aid Rev. Oct. 3/1 The employer of a client, easily worth the amount of the bail in the case, offered to go bail, but his ‘worth’ was in ordinary business assets, and we could not avail ourselves of his offer. 1979 W. Styron Sophie's Choice ii. 27 I counted my money and reckoned my total worth at something less than fifty dollars. 2011 C. Burns Searching for Beauty ii. 10 Twain had unwisely invested almost his entire worth in an unsuccessful enterprise to construct a typesetting machine. II. Senses relating to value in respect of quality, importance, usefulness, etc. 6. a. The character or standing of a person in respect of his or her qualities, abilities, or (in early use) social rank; a person's merit, excellence, or (especially in early use) worthiness.See also Phrases 1 and self-worth n. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > worth > [noun] worthOE worthfulnessOE price?c1225 savour?c1225 aughtshipc1275 dearworthinessc1325 worthiness1372 preciousnessc1390 richesa1400 preciosity1402 valeur1433 valurec1440 preciousheadc1450 vail1471 paragea1475 valour?a1475 availa1522 vailance1532 validity1593 carat1600 condignity1605 valiant1606 esteeming1609 self-worth1610 telling1636 valuableness?1649 worthship1664 treasurableness1898 the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > good repute > reputability or honourableness > [noun] worshipeOE worthOE dignity?c1225 worthsc1225 mund?c1250 pricea1325 worthfulheada1325 valourc1330 dignesse1399 value?a1400 honesty1418 worthiheadc1425 honourabilityc1426 worthihood?1457 sadnessa1513 honourableness1553 respect1567 worshipfulty1589 ingenuity1598 creditableness1647 honorificabilitudinity1656 worshipfulness1663 reputability1792 creditability1805 OE Blickling Homilies 163 Se godspellere..þæs fæder & þære modor godcund mægen beforan wrat þæt be þære cennendra gefyrhtum [probably read gewyrhtum] þæs bearnes weorþe ongyten wære. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1481 (MED) Hu mochel worȝ leste [c1300 Otho worþ holdist] þu me to walden kineriche. c1390 Talkyng of Love of God (Vernon) (1950) 8 Aller þing louelokest, þi worþ and þi worschupe, ne may no tonge telle. 1422 in A. T. Bannister Reg. Thome Spofford (1919) 252 (MED) Youre worth and holy labores in the consele generall of Pyes and Constawncie. c1450 God Þou Haue Mercy (Add. 31042) l. 15 in Medium Ævum (1988) 57 53 (MED) And as þou arte of my werthe þe well, My wikkede werkes þou wasche away. 1562 A. Brooke tr. M. Bandello Tragicall Hist. Romeus & Iuliet f. 32 That kinsmans blood, Which for his woorth and loue to me most in my fauour stood. 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iii. iii. 109 By the worth and honor of himselfe,..His comming hither hath no further scope, Then for his lineall roialties. View more context for this quotation 1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 19 He was a iust Prince, full of worth and magnanimitie. a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. iv. 100 His worth is warrant for his welcome hether. View more context for this quotation 1621 R. Brathwait Natures Embassie Ded. sig. A2 The accomplished mirror of true worth, Sr. T. H. the elder. 1655 S. Ashe Funeral Serm. Gataker 46 To favour the Son very highly for his own worth and work in the Ministry. 1728 E. Young Love of Fame: Universal Passion (ed. 2) iii. 265 How hard for real worth to gain its price? 1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison I. xvi. 103 I regard him..for his own worth's sake, and for his Uncle's. 1788 J. Hurdis Village Curate 14 The down-cast eye of modest worth, That shrinks at its own praise. 1827 R. Southey Funeral Song Princess Charlotte 21 Henry, thou of saintly worth. 1861 Amer. Agriculturist Jan. 22/1 The man who appreciates her worth, and makes her the mistress of his home and of his affections. 1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 3 Each did much to raise the measure of worth..of mankind. 1919 A. B. Cunningham Chron. Old Town xii. 159 I thought we had been placed in a ‘backward’ community. I thought the people lacked worth. 1919 Times 2 May 3/6 (advt.) Advertiser desires an opportunity to prove his worth... He'd like a five-minute interview with you. 1978 Ebony Apr. 98/1 Develop pride in yourself and a strong sense of inner worth that is not dependent on how successful or unsuccessful you may be. 1989 J. Hersey Life Sketches (1991) 71 Except by a handful of friends and a few New York cognoscenti who knew his worth, he was soon forgotten. 1991 Times Educ. Suppl. 4 Jan. 14/1 She or he needs to recognise that all members have worth and need to feel motivated. 2001 Premiere Apr. 64/1 I don't want to superficialize something that has..meant a lot to me, because it diminishes your worth as a person. †b. In plural in same sense: a person's merit or excellence. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > good repute > reputability or honourableness > [noun] worshipeOE worthOE dignity?c1225 worthsc1225 mund?c1250 pricea1325 worthfulheada1325 valourc1330 dignesse1399 value?a1400 honesty1418 worthiheadc1425 honourabilityc1426 worthihood?1457 sadnessa1513 honourableness1553 respect1567 worshipfulty1589 ingenuity1598 creditableness1647 honorificabilitudinity1656 worshipfulness1663 reputability1792 creditability1805 c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) l. 619 (MED) Ich..luuie þe to leofmon luuewende lauerd þet hauest se muche for me iwraht wið ute mine wurðes. a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. ii. sig. P1^v How can you him vnworthy then decree, In whose chiefe parte your worthes implanted be? 1594 C. Marlowe & T. Nashe Dido iii. iv. 1037 If that you maiestie can looke so lowe, As my despised worths. 1616 T. Scot 2nd Pt. Philomythie sig. C3 If either of you, thinke you can, Out of your owne worths, proue more fit. 1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 116 Honourably preferred, and prouided for according to their worthes. 1722 G. Sewell Verses to Lord Carteret 6 O Son of martial Fire, Smile on the Raptures that your Worths inspire! a1757 T. Edwards Canons Crit. (1758) xx. 300 No longer let thy youthful years consume In shy retirement; Thee long since behov'd..To shew those worths, which bloom so fair at home. 7. a. The relative value of a thing in respect of its qualities (as opposed to its monetary value); importance, usefulness, merit. Also: high quality, excellence. See also Phrases 1. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > worth > [noun] > of thing worshipa1200 worth1340 value1379 valuec1380 emprisea1393 worthinessa1398 valure1470 valor1579 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 82 Hit sseweþ þet þe wordle is ydel, ine byinge vyl, ine worþ biter. c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 91 Þer-fore þe by-houeþ godes helpe, Þat he hyt wolde arace, So þat þou ne teldest no worþ Of [emended in ed. to of here] blandynge face. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. l. 636 (MED) Of Selver that was overforth Schal ben a world of lasse worth. c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) l. 2887 (MED) Tebes..was cite of mest werþe, Of alle þat weren in erþe. 1563 L. Humphrey Nobles or of Nobilitye i. sig. a^v Ignoraunt..is he to be demed, who sweteth most in toyes: where..the worthe of the thing matcheth not his sweate. 1595 E. C. Emaricdulfe xv. sig. B3 Her other parts (proud Cupids countermate) Exceed the world for worth, the heauens for state. 1599 T. Storer Life & Death Wolsey sig. C3 A man made old to teach the worth of age. 1605 W. Camden Remaines ii. 42 This bad inscription, which I insert more for the honor of the name, then the worth of the verse. 1617 J. Taylor Three Weekes Obseruations sig. D2^v A paire of such Organs, which for worth and workemanship are vnparalelld in Christendome. 1660 R. Allestree Gentlemans Calling vi. 113 Any thing that carries the stamp of antient worth and Nobility. 1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 67 Nor do the bold'st attempts bring forth Events still equal to their worth. 1746 P. Francis tr. Horace Art of Poetry 526 Let them not come forth, 'Till the ninth ripening Year mature their Worth. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia V. ix. iii. 47 I knew not..the full worth of steadiness and prudence till I knew this young man. 1857 F. D. Maurice Epist. St. John i. 4 He made me see the worth of habits, the worth of acts, the worth of moral purposes. 1877 J. C. Geikie Life & Words Christ I. xxxi. 528 The worth of man's homage to God does not depend on the place where it is paid. 1929 J. B. Priestley Good Compan. i. i. 4 A critic.., ready in a second to estimate the worth of a well-judged pass. 1954 Michigan Law Rev. 52 1127 Some questioned the military worth of large-yield thermonuclear devices. 1965 New Scientist 2 Dec. 658/1 Organometallics have already amply proved their worth as catalysts. 1989 B. Ashcroft et al. in D. Walder Lit. in Mod. World (1990) 300 The need to incorporate cultural context into any assessment of literary worth. 1997 P. Martin Shortstop's Son p. xvi Good criticism is antidemocratic and judgmental. It believes in right and wrong, in worth and worthlessness. 2002 Times 27 June (T2 section) 9/4 It took a while for doctors to understand its worth. b. In plural in same sense: worthy qualities or things. Somewhat rare. ΚΠ 1599 T. Moffett Silkewormes 34 So both in Art and Nature tis most cleere, That greatest worths in smallest things appeare. 1630 B. Goodall Tryall Trauell (title page) The Wonders in Trauell.., The Worthes of Trauell.., The Way to Trauell. 1792 J. Fennell Rev. Proc. at Paris 12 The happiness and prosperity of a nation..are intrinsic worths. 1899 Outlook 25 Nov. 732/2 Give us Christ—more of his spirit of sincerity and truth..; more of his estimates on the worths of this life. 1974 P. A. Johnsgard Song of North Wind ix. 85 What, indeed, are the worths of a wild river running full, of birds flying free? Phrases P1. a. of —— worth: having a specified value, merit, usefulness, or importance. Frequently with a quantifier, as of great worth, of little worth, of no worth, etc. Cf. of —— value at value n. Phrases 2. ΚΠ c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 6758 (MED) Þer comen vp fer bi norþ Ten riche soudans of gret worþ. c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) l. 1651 Hij weren kniȝttes of grete werþe. 1548 A. Scoloker tr. H. Sachs Goodly Dysputacion (new ed.) sig. bvii^v Thynke ye then that our syngyng and Readyng is of no worth? 1575 G. W. in G. Gascoigne Poesies sig. ¶¶¶¶ Now weedes of little worth, are culde from out the rest. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. iii. sig. P^v A goodly Ladie..That seemd to be a woman of great worth. 1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxii. 146 As the sacrament it selfe is a gift of no meane woorth. a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) v. iv. 153 Euerie day Men of great worth resorted to this forrest. View more context for this quotation 1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 70 Seeing resistance of no worth, [they] fled. 1725 M. Davys Lady's Tale in Wks. II. 129 He was..a Person not only of great worth, but Master of a finer Estate than some Noblemen cou'd boast. 1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 952 Forgive him, then, thou bustler in concerns Of little worth. a1822 P. B. Shelley Homer's Hymn to Mercury xxx, in Posthumous Poems (1824) 305 Caldrons and tripods of great worth. 1843 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. in Heath's Bk. Beauty 194 A man of highest worth. 1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess ii. 44 And two dear things are one of double worth. 1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. IV 41 Of little worth Was all the gear that hall did hold. 1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 278 It is hard and wiry and of little worth as food for stock. 1944 Sci. Monthly June 424/2 There are already more than a dozen basic plastic materials of proven worth. 2006 B. Watson tr. Tales of Heike ix. 87 A mere retainer, a person of no worth at all! b. of worth: valuable, useful, important; of high merit or excellence; worthy. Cf. of value at value n. Phrases 1. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective] faireOE bremea1000 goodlyOE goodfulc1275 noblec1300 pricec1300 specialc1325 gentlec1330 fine?c1335 singulara1340 thrivena1350 thriven and throa1350 gaya1375 properc1380 before-passinga1382 daintiful1393 principala1398 gradelya1400 burlyc1400 daintyc1400 thrivingc1400 voundec1400 virtuousc1425 hathelc1440 curiousc1475 singlerc1500 beautiful1502 rare?a1534 gallant1539 eximious1547 jolly1548 egregious?c1550 jellyc1560 goodlike1562 brawc1565 of worth1576 brave?1577 surprising1580 finger-licking1584 admirablea1586 excellinga1586 ambrosial1598 sublimated1603 excellent1604 valiant1604 fabulous1609 pure1609 starryc1610 topgallant1613 lovely1614 soaringa1616 twanging1616 preclarent1623 primea1637 prestantious1638 splendid1644 sterling1647 licking1648 spankinga1666 rattling1690 tearing1693 famous1695 capital1713 yrare1737 pure and —1742 daisy1757 immense1762 elegant1764 super-extra1774 trimming1778 grand1781 gallows1789 budgeree1793 crack1793 dandy1794 first rate1799 smick-smack1802 severe1805 neat1806 swell1810 stamming1814 divine1818 great1818 slap-up1823 slapping1825 high-grade1826 supernacular1828 heavenly1831 jam-up1832 slick1833 rip-roaring1834 boss1836 lummy1838 flash1840 slap1840 tall1840 high-graded1841 awful1843 way up1843 exalting1844 hot1845 ripsnorting1846 clipping1848 stupendous1848 stunning1849 raving1850 shrewd1851 jammy1853 slashing1854 rip-staving1856 ripping1858 screaming1859 up to dick1863 nifty1865 premier cru1866 slap-bang1866 clinking1868 marvellous1868 rorty1868 terrific1871 spiffing1872 all wool and a yard wide1882 gorgeous1883 nailing1883 stellar1883 gaudy1884 fizzing1885 réussi1885 ding-dong1887 jim-dandy1888 extra-special1889 yum-yum1890 out of sight1891 outasight1893 smooth1893 corking1895 large1895 super1895 hot dog1896 to die for1898 yummy1899 deevy1900 peachy1900 hi1901 v.g.1901 v.h.c.1901 divvy1903 doozy1903 game ball1905 goodo1905 bosker1906 crackerjack1910 smashinga1911 jake1914 keen1914 posh1914 bobby-dazzling1915 juicy1916 pie on1916 jakeloo1919 snodger1919 whizz-bang1920 wicked1920 four-star1921 wow1921 Rolls-Royce1922 whizz-bang1922 wizard1922 barry1923 nummy1923 ripe1923 shrieking1926 crazy1927 righteous1930 marvy1932 cool1933 plenty1933 brahmaa1935 smoking1934 solid1935 mellow1936 groovy1937 tough1937 bottler1938 fantastic1938 readyc1938 ridge1938 super-duper1938 extraordinaire1940 rumpty1940 sharp1940 dodger1941 grouse1941 perfecto1941 pipperoo1945 real gone1946 bosting1947 supersonic1947 whizzo1948 neato1951 peachy-keen1951 ridgey-dite1953 ridgy-didge1953 top1953 whizzing1953 badass1955 wild1955 belting1956 magic1956 bitching1957 swinging1958 ridiculous1959 a treat1959 fab1961 bad-assed1962 uptight1962 diggish1963 cracker1964 marv1964 radical1964 bakgat1965 unreal1965 pearly1966 together1968 safe1970 bad1971 brilliant1971 fabby1971 schmick1972 butt-kicking1973 ripper1973 Tiffany1973 bodacious1976 rad1976 kif1978 awesome1979 death1979 killer1979 fly1980 shiok1980 stonking1980 brill1981 dope1981 to die1982 mint1982 epic1983 kicking1983 fabbo1984 mega1985 ill1986 posho1989 pukka1991 lovely jubbly1992 awesomesauce2001 nang2002 bess2006 amazeballs2009 boasty2009 daebak2009 beaut2013 1576 G. Gascoigne Steele Glas 215 Words of worth, and worthy to be wayed. c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme xlv. 1 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 38 My harte endites an argument of worth. a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iii. i. 107 She..is promis'd by her friends Vnto a youthfull Gentleman of worth . View more context for this quotation 1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 38 Rings and Iewels of Gold inammeld and set with stones of worth and lustre. 1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World v. ii. §16. 469/2 A covetous Pelagian, and one that had nothing of worth in him. 1686 tr. J. Chardin Coronation Solyman 84 in Trav. Persia All the Kaanas or Governments of Persia were likewise bestow'd upon persons of worth. 1740 A. Hill Gen. Hist. Ottoman Empire sig. Ll1^v/1 Hither resort both Turks and others, who would purchase any thing of worth, for only here they can procure it. 1766 J. Fordyce Serm. Young Women I. Pref. p. vi Women of worth and sense are to be found every where. 1816 L. Hunt Story of Rimini iv. 391 Her thin white hand, that wore a ring of worth. 1825 W. Scott Betrothed xi, in Tales Crusaders II. 208 The sordid wretches..conceive those temptations too powerful for men of worth. 1895 Public-school Jrnl. June 549/2 We change our conceptions of what is of worth to us as our education advances, but we always have interest in what we deem of worth. 1944 J. R. R. Tolkien Lett. (1995) 101 I knew I had written a story of worth in ‘The Hobbit’. 2003 Independent 29 July i. 13/6 A kind of Stalinist social realism without passion or historical purpose, that produced nothing of worth. †P2. to take in (good) worthand variants: to receive or take (something) in good part, to accept without complaint or offence, to be content with; to take (something) at its true or proper value. Similarly with other prepositions and verbs, such as to take at (also of, to) worth, to have (also accept, bear, etc.) in worth. Cf. to take aworth at aworth adv. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pleasure > contentment or satisfaction > be content or satisfied with [verb (transitive)] restc1300 to take in (good) wortha1382 sufficec1390 to have (also accept, bear, etc.) in wortha1456 stay1549 to take up with1609 to settle for1959 the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > estimate [phrase] > at true value to take in (good) wortha1382 to have (also accept, bear, etc.) in wortha1456 a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Psalms l. 21 Þanne þou shalt taken at worth sacrifise of riȝtwisnesse offryngis & brent sacrifises. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xii. l. 125 Take we her wordes at worthe for here witnesse be trewe. c1450 ( J. Walton tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Linc. Cathedral 103) 64 (MED) If þou appreue in thyn opinioun Þat Sche [sc. Fortune] is good and all to þy plesaunce, Lo take in worth þan hire condicioun. a1456 Balade of Compleynte (BL Add. 16165) in W. W. Skeat Compl. Wks. Geoffrey Chaucer (1894) I. 415 Beseching yowe in my moste [emended in ed. to yow in my most] humble wyse Taccept in worthe this litel pore dyte [emended in ed. to Taccepte in worth this litel povre dyte], And for my trouthe my service not despice [emended in ed. to nat despyse]. 1483 Vulgaria abs Terencio (T. Rood & T. Hunte) sig. nij I thanke the that thou tokist it to worthe. c1500 Young Children's Bk. (Ashm. 61) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 23 Be it gode or be it badde, Yn gud worth it muste be had. ?1526 R. Hyrde in M. Roper tr. Erasmus Deuout Treat. Pater Noster sig. a.iii He wyll nat suffre ones to be offended hym selfe by her neuer so lytell: where he wolde that she shulde take his dedes all well in worthe. c1528 Everyman (1961) 903 This morall men may haue in mynde..Ye herers, take it of worth. a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Ei And so as ye se it wyll be no better Take it in worthe suche as ye fynde. 1534 W. Turner tr. J. von Watt Of Olde God & Newe sig. Oj Yf greate abbottes wolde take my salutation in good worthe: it sholde be redy for theym. 1564 Briefe Exam. sig. Aiiij I trust your most Reuerende fatherhood wyll beare all these thynges well in worth. 1636 R. Baker tr. Cato Variegatus 16 When a poore friend, a small gift gives to thee: Take it in worth: and let it praysed be. 1642 T. Fuller Holy State i. vi. 16 He compounds with his father to accept in good worth the utmost of his endeavour. 1668 W. Voile Glasse & Salve for Professors 86 To mind one another of sins and duties,..as also to take admonitions and reproofs well in worth, and in good part, one from another. P3. for all one's worth: with one's best effort; as vigorously or assiduously as one can. [Perhaps arising from reanalysis of for all it's worth at worth adj. Phrases 5. In some early instances with its the reference of the pronoun is uncertain (as e.g. quot. 1917, where its could potentially refer to either the bird or its song).] ΚΠ 1878 Detroit Free Press 23 Jan. Strike for all your worth when you hit him! 1907 Evening News 14 Feb. 4/2 A moment later the ‘Daily Mail’ man was fighting for all his worth to cleave a passage through the human pack. 1917 Irish Monthly May 275 The bold yellow-hammer unblushingly intrudes its humble, monotonous stave for all its worth. 1931 Musical Times May 454/1 The ordinary symphonic orchestra..plays away for all its worth. 1941 News (Adelaide) 21 June 2/2 Our job is to..pull together for all our worth for the common good. 1986 Guardian 6 Mar. 13/4 At times Streep appears to be playing for all her worth over Redford's left shoulder. 2000 J. Boyne Thief of Time (2007) 60 ‘All romances are complicated,’ I said cheerily, seventeen years old.., and behaving for all my worth like a man of the world. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022). worthn.² Brit. /wəːθ/, U.S. /wərθ/ Forms: Old English word (Northumbrian), Old English worþ (Mercian), Old English worð (Anglian), early Middle English werthe (in surnames), early Middle English worde (in surnames), early Middle English wortis (only in quot. a1275), early Middle English wurde (in surnames), 1500s woorthe, 1500s woorthe, 1500s–1600s (1800s– historical) worth, 1600s woorth. Origin: Apparently a word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Apparently cognate with Old Frisian wurth , worth raised ground (for protection from flooding) which forms the plot of a homestead, terp, Old Dutch wurth , wirth (in place names) inhabited mound (Middle Dutch woert plot of a homestead, Dutch woerd enclosed piece of land, area of raised ground used as a refuge from flooding, terp), Old Saxon wurth raised ground which forms the plot of a homestead (Middle Low German wurt , wort raised ground which forms the plot of a homestead, terp, enclosed plot of a dwelling and associated buildings), Old Icelandic urð heap of stones, probably < an extended form of the Germanic base of were v. Compare worthine n. and see discussion at that entry.Some aspects of the early English evidence are uncertain and disputed. Old English (Anglian) worþ perhaps shows the zero-grade of the Germanic base (apparently also reflected by the Germanic cognates), with regular lowering of u to o . However, it could alternatively show a different ablaut grade of the base, an original e -grade, with retraction due to initial w . This seems less likely, in view of the early attestation of the stem form worþ- in the derivatives (West Saxon) worðig and (Mercian) worðign- (see worthine n.), but the possibility is suggested by the attestation of a variety of related forms, especially in compounds and derivatives and particularly in place-name evidence. Some of these are more difficult to explain as the reflex of an original stem form with zero-grade. The most frequent by-form is Old English wyrþe, which is apparently attested only in charters in the sense ‘homestead surrounded by land’ and chiefly as a place-name element. It evidently represents a suffixed form with i-mutation. Beside this, the stem form weorþ, weorþe is attested in derivatives and compounds, as weorðig (variant of worðig) and weorþapeldre farm apple tree, weorþehege farm hedge (both in an early Middle English copy of an Anglo-Saxon charter), and as a place-name element, e.g. in tunles weorþ, Surrey (947; now Tollsworth), Gyxeweorðe, Suffolk (first half of 11th cent.; now Ixworth); additionally (although the evidence is late and of doubtful interpretation) the stem form wierðe is apparently attested as a place-name element in æscmeres wierðe (956). While wyrþe could show the i-mutation of u, the zero-grade of the stem, the other less common forms, despite some problems with the evidence, suggest that wyrþe may at least partly show a reflex of early Old English wirþe (from the e-grade of the base, with Germanic raising of e to i), which would regularly develop to early West Saxon wierþe, late West Saxon wyrþe. Thus, it seems possible that more than one ablaut grade is represented in the English evidence. The later English evidence perhaps continues only the Old English stem form worþ-, but some spellings of the Middle English place-name evidence suggest that reflexes of wyrþe* also persist. For a recent discussion of the implications of Old English worþ, wyrþe, and the synonymous derivative worþig when used to denote a landholding or homestead in Anglo-Saxon England, see J. English in Landscape Hist. 24 (2002) 45-51. historical in later use. An enclosed place; spec. (a) a place surrounded by buildings, as a courtyard, court, or street; (b) a homestead surrounded by land.Frequently as a place name or as the second element in place names (cf. discussion in etymology).Interpretation of quot. a1275 as showing this word is not entirely certain. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > a dwelling > a house > [noun] > house with dependent buildings worthOE homestead1610 werf1818 lapa1909 OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Matt. xii. 19 Neque audiet aliquis in plateis uocem eius : ne geheres ænig mon in worðum stefn his. OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Mark xiv. 54 Petrus autem a longe secutus est eum usque in atrium summi sacerdotis : petrus ðonne fearre fylgende wæs hine wið on worðe ðæs hehsacerdas. a1275 Body & Soul (Trin. Cambr. B.14.39) l. 143 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 146 In wortis & in haule, in an wreche clut, Of alle his riche cloþis, ne hauet he na more scrud. 1557 in J. Hasler Wookey Manor & Parish 1544–1841 (1995) 20 Elizabeth Lyde widdowe holdeth oon mesuage withe a curtillage and all landes tenementes medowes fedinges and pastures to the sayde mesuage lying called the Woorth of olde astre and a cotage conteyning fyve acres withe the appurtenances lying in the Worthe of the same astre. 1582 in D. M. Herridge Surrey Probate Inventories, 1558–1603 (2005) 176 A loade of woodd of Billett a hundred and a half without at the gate 3 Ladders A hande barrow, a whele barrow and a busshe sythe One graye Mare One baye Nagge In the Woorthe One Acre of Rye, an Acre and a halff of barlye. 1898 I. Taylor Names & their Hist. (ed. 2) 72/2 Bosworth, a worth or ‘small estate’ on which stood a boose..a dialect word meaning a ‘cow-stall’ or ‘ox-stall’. 1917 Q. Rev. Oct. 338 Probably the ‘worths’ were farms on clearings made later than the original settlements. 2011 P. Cullen et al. Thorps in Changing Landscape vii. 144 Tūns, worths and throps may..have been settlements too small and insignificant to attract mention. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online December 2021). † worthn.³ Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps formed within English, by clipping or shortening. Etymon: worthing n.² Etymology: Origin uncertain. Probably either shortened, or a back-formation, < worthing n.² Obsolete. rare. Manure. Cf. worthing n.² ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > fertilizing or manuring > [noun] > fertilizer or manure fatnessc1420 amendment1483 manure1532 manuring1577 battling1600 dressing1600 worth1609 sucken1615 folding1626 fertilizera1661 sumen1662 recuperativec1679 field dressing1743 top-dressing1744 sweetener1765 settera1793 mendment1798 side dressing1819 substratum1822 manurer1829 liquid manure1837 soil amendment1915 side dress1920 Growmore1944 soil conditioner1952 1609–10 Act 7 James I c. 18 in Statutes of Realm (1963) IV. ii. 1172 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. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2021). worthadj. Brit. /wəːθ/, U.S. /wərθ/ Forms: Old English weorþ, Old English wyrþ, Old English wyrð, Old English–early Middle English weorð, Old English (rare)–early Middle English (in copy of Old English charter) werð, Old English (Northumbrian)–early Middle English worð, Old English–early Middle English wurð, early Middle English wrd, early Middle English wrid (perhaps transmission error), early Middle English wurd, early Middle English wurh, early Middle English wurhere (comparative), early Middle English wurhþ, early Middle English wurhð, early Middle English wurrþ ( Ormulum), Middle English werth, Middle English word, Middle English worght, Middle English worȝ, Middle English worþ, Middle English worþe, Middle English worye, Middle English wourþe, Middle English wowrth, Middle English wrathe (transmission error), Middle English wrȝ, Middle English wrth, Middle English wrþ, Middle English wurþ, Middle English wurþe, Middle English wuyrth, Middle English wuyrthþe, Middle English wuyrþe, Middle English–1500s wurght, Middle English–1500s wurth, Middle English–1500s wurthe, Middle English–1600s woorth, Middle English–1600s wourth, Middle English–1700s worthe, Middle English– worth, late Middle English woth (transmission error), late Middle English wrz (transmission error), late Middle English wurght, 1500s–1600s woorthe; English regional 1800s wirth (Westmorland), 1800s woth, 1800s wuth (southern); Scottish 1800s wort (Orkney), 1800s– wirt, 1900s– wurth; U.S. regional (chiefly southern) 1700s– wuth, 1800s wort, 1800s wuf, 1800s wuff, 1800s– wut. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian werth , Old Saxon werth (Middle Low German wert ), Old Dutch werth (Middle Dutch wert , Dutch waard ), Old High German werd (Middle High German, German wert ), Old Icelandic verðr (Icelandic verður ), Norwegian verd , Swedish värd , Old Danish værth (Danish værd ), Gothic wairþs , of uncertain origin; perhaps < the same Germanic base as worth v.¹ Compare wurthe adj., worth n.¹Form history. The later development of the word chiefly reflects the influence of initial w- already seen in the retraction of the stem vowel in Old English (Northumbrian) worð and late West Saxon wurð . Merger with wurthe. In some forms the word is difficult to distinguish from wurthe adj. already in Old English; in the course of the Middle English period the two adjectives merge. Old English forms such as wyrð , wyrþ in particular can be interpreted either as alterations after wurthe adj. or inverted spellings. Compare further discussion at wurthe adj. Uninflected Old English and early Middle English variants with final -e have been treated at wurthe adj., and those without at the present entry. Inflected forms in senses of branch III. are covered at wurthe adj., because unambiguous forms of worth adj. in these senses (which are typical of wurthe adj.) have not been found. Chiefly (and now only) in predicative use, or following a noun as part of a qualifying phrase. In modern English worth is non-gradable and sometimes regarded as a preposition. I. Having a specified value. 1. Having a specified monetary or material value. Also with to (or, formerly, simple complement) specifying the person to whom something is of value. a. (a) With noun or noun phrase as complement. Of the value of a specified amount or sum; equivalent in material value to something specified.In Old English with the complement in the genitive. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > monetary value > [adjective] wortheOE beara1393 valuable1539 money-worth1601 society > trade and finance > monetary value > [adjective] > of specified value wortheOE worthy1387 of value1395 of (great, little, etc.) valoura1450 of (great, etc.) valor1467 valiant1590 eOE Laws of Ine (Corpus Cambr. 173) lviii. 114 Oxan horn bið x pæninga weorð. OE Handbk. for Use of Confessor (Corpus Cambr. 201) in Anglia (1965) 83 31 Eac man mæg twelf monða fæsten alysan mid xxx scillinga, oððe ænne man gefreoge þe þæs feos wurð sy. c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 1633 A gold ring drow he forth anon, An hundred pund was worth þe ston. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xxiii. 15 Þe erþ þat þou askist is worþ fourehundreþ sycles [L. siclis] of syluer. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 11174 Som riche robes worth many pondȝ. a1450 (a1400) Athelston (1951) l. 391 Now is my goode hors forlorn,..He was wurþ an hundryd pounde. a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 712 At the beddes hed he fond A swerd, worthe an Erllys lond. 1528–30 tr. T. Littleton Tenures (new ed.) f. xxix Thoughe the horse..be not the twenty parte worth in value of the some of money. 1580 T. Tusser Fiue Hundred Pointes Good Husbandrie (new ed.) f. 19 A rottenly mould, is land woorth gould. 1632 in S. R. Gardiner Rep. Cases Star Chamber & High Comm. (1886) 160 He said the first oath should stand and that it should be worth her 100^li. 1639 J. Clarke Paroemiologia 45 A penny at a pinch is worth a pound. 1686 tr. J. Chardin Coronation Solyman 83 in Trav. Persia Which Employment was worth to him about fifteen thousand pounds yearly. 1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 28 It [sc. the statue] is esteem'd worth its weight in Gold. 1779 J. Warner in J. H. Jesse G. Selwyn & his Contemp. (1844) IV. 285 He [sc. a horse] would be worth a mint of money, and make one of the best hunters in the kingdom. 1839 E. W. Lane tr. Thousand & One Nights I. 80 It is worth ten pieces of gold. 1869 J. Ruskin Queen of Air §122 The money of all nations is worth, at its maximum, the property of all nations, and no more. 1901 Chicago Tribune 23 Sept. 6/7 While his own vote is worth only $5, a ‘block’ of ten votes is worth not $50. 1960 Economist 15 Oct. 241/1 The United States now ‘sells’ abroad each year surplus farm products worth more than $1 billion, taking in exchange..‘clam shells, coloured buttons and other forms of local currency’. 1987 E. Newby Round Ireland in Low Gear (1988) iv. 54 Hemmed in by an equally impenetrable hedge reinforced with old cast iron bedsteads, worth a bomb to any tinker with a pair of hedging gloves. 2000 Adv. Driving (Inst. Adv. Motorists) Summer 48/1 Make sure the specification exactly matches the UK model, or it could be worth less when you come to sell it. 2015 Oxf. Times 21 May 12/2 Oliver stole 15 packs of scratch cards before cashing in prizes worth £1,635. (b) With what, how much, etc., as complement, esp. in direct and indirect questions. ΚΠ lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1085 He lett gewritan..hwæt oððe hu mycel ælc mann hæfde þe landsittende wæs innan Englalande on lande oððe on orfe & hu mycel feos hit wære wurð. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 77 Þe wyse chapman..ouer al him knauþ, huet ech þing is worþ. a1425 Rule St. Benet (Lansd.) (1902) 37 Loke what it is wrz [read wrþ], þat ye ne sette na felun price þar-on. 1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope f. cxlii^v [The Dene sayd] I pray yow what is this benefyce worth to yow a yere. a1492 W. Caxton tr. Vitas Patrum (1495) ii. f. clxxxvi^v/2 The marchaunt..wolde not by it withstandynge this that he knewe not how moche it myght well be worth. 1528 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 19 A Fyne..whych amountyth nygh asmoche as the sayd landes..be worth clyerly to be solde. 1583 T. Tymme tr. A. Marlorat Catholike & Eccles. Expos. Gospell Marke & Luke 78 This Description was made to the ende it might be known how much euery one was worth. 1605 P. Erondelle French Garden sig. K5^v There is a fayre Diamond, what is it worth? 1683 Minutes Hudson's Bay Co. (1946) II. 160 Ordered the Warehouse Keeper Deliver 2 rabbit Skins to two Severall Furriers to be tryed what they are worth. 1701 F. O. Law-French Dict. sig. D2/2 Combien vaillant, how much are they worth? 1790 J. Anthony Answers to Queries on Fisheries in T. Jefferson Papers (1974) XIX. 197 What is such a Vessel worth with her provisions, advanced wages, and fishing implements? 1839 F. Marryat Diary in Amer. I. 195 I asked how much his office was worth, and his answer was six hundred dollars, besides stealings. 1870 Chambers's Jrnl. 9 July 448/1 ‘What would it be worth?’ ‘A flim, Sam.’ 1905 ‘G. Thorne’ Lost Cause ii. 37 What'll it be worth when it is reaped? 1992 Harper's Mag. July 32/1 The parolees give Roger shit about his cans. ‘What's that load worth, ten dollars?’ 2010 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 22 June b2/4 The difference between what they owed and what their former house was worth. 2014 Time Out London 2 Dec. 97/4 Oh I couldn't possibly say how much my company is worth! Okay it's £10 million. †b. With preceding adverb of quantity, as much worth, more worth, nothing worth, etc.: of great (greater, no, etc.) monetary or material value; of much (more, no, etc.) worth. Obsolete. well worth: of full value.little worth, nothing worth, nought worth: see the first element. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > worth > [adjective] > well worth wellOE well wortha1200 well worthyc1390 OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 444 Hi magon ðær findan swa deorwurðne goldhord, þæt heora dyre gold ne bið nahte wurð wið þa foresædan maðmas. OE Homily: Apocalypse of Thomas (Corpus Cambr. 41) in Anglia (1955) 73 20 Gold & seolfor ne bið nohtte weorð. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 213 Þe sullere loueð his þing dere and seið þat it is wel wurð, oðer betere. Ðe beger..seið þat hit nis noht wurð. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. i. 1109 Swynes fleissh is good in springyng tyme and lasse worþ in heruest and lest worþ in wynter. c1425 Myrour to Lewde Men & Wymmen (Harl.) (1981) 133 (MED) For he is noght payed at þe day, [he] wiþholdiþ þe wed for euere, for it is more worth þan þe lone. 1482 W. Cely Let. 3 Sept. in Cely Lett. (1975) 174 As ffor a gossehawke I can gett non here yett, ffor..my Lordd Chamberleyn beyth hem vpp and they be anythyng wurth. 1558 Bp. T. Watson Holsome Doctr. Seuen Sacramentes xviii. f. cix^v Bye me one or twoo of the best of them and leaste woorthe. 1568 Newe Comedie Iacob & Esau ii. iv. sig. C.iv^v Ah sir, when one is hungry, good meat is much worth. 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. iii. f. 18^v It may rightly be sayd..that the feathers are more worth then the byrde. 1618 W. Lawson New Orchard & Garden iii. 7 Fruit blown vnripe, are small worth. 1672 T. Manley Νομοθετης: Cowell's Interpreter sig. Zz2 Nihil or Nichil, is a word which the Sheriff answers, that is apposed concerning Debts illeviable, and that are nothing worth. 1718 Entertainer No. 19. 126 A Carbunkle is more worth than a Rock. 1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 79 My Time or Labour was little worth, and so it was as well employ'd one way as another. 1796 R. Broome Observ. Mr. Paine's Pamphlet 8 It could not be expected that any person in his senses would give real and valuable property for a bit of paper, which might be nothing worth the next day. 1898 Vanity Fair 24 Mar. 196/1 To-day those £100 may be more worth to him than £500 six months hence. 2. a. With noun or noun phrase as complement. Equivalent to something else in terms of importance, usefulness, desirability, or some other subjective value.Frequently in proverbs such as an ounce of good luck is worth a pound of wisdom (see good luck n., int., and adj. Phrases 4), an ounce of mother wit is worth a pound of clergy, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (see ounce n.¹ 1c), a picture is worth a thousand words (see picture n. Phrases 2), one volunteer is worth ten pressed men (see pressed adj.² 1), etc. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > worth > [adjective] > of specified or certain worth worthc1175 c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 1156 Mare wass hiss bede wurrþ Þann alle þeȝȝre lakess. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 99 Husel..is wurð al þe wereld. and betere þene al þe wereld. þis is þe holi manne þe ure drihten sende alse snow sleðrende. c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. Prol. l. 75 Weore þe Bisschop..worþ boþe his Eres, Heo scholde not beo so hardi to deceyue so þe peple. a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 8550 Þy lyfe hym þynkeþ ys wurþ no þyng. c1450 (c1350) Alexander & Dindimus (Bodl.) (1929) 261 For riht wisdam is worþ al þe world riche. 1526 C. Mery Talys sig. Diii^v [I pray y^e teche me my] Pater noster, and by my truthe I shall therfore teche the a songe of [Robyn h]ode that shall be worthe .xx. of it. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iii. sig. C5^v A dram of sweete is worth a pound of sowre. 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 248 I thought an howers rest worth a Kings ransome. 1638 W. Chillingworth Relig. Protestants i. iii. §26. 139 Neither is this deduction worth any thing. 1683 Popish Politicks Unmaskt 1/2 With them one Bird in Hand's worth two i'th' Bush. 1713 J. Addison Cato ii. 20 A Day, an Hour of virtuous Liberty, Is worth a whole Eternity in Bondage. 1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor i, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. III. 11 A night-cowl of good claret is worth all the considering caps in Europe. 1837 F. B. Head Narrative (1839) viii. 208 What could they be worth to him but a hempen neck-cloth? 1842 W. Wordsworth Borderers ii, in Poems Early & Late Years 313 A thought that's worth a thousand worlds! 1849 E. Bulwer-Lytton King Arthur (new ed.) I. vi. lxxx. 276 But one live dog is worth ten lions dead. 1867 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest I. vi. 574 The judgement of a competent tribunal is always worth something. 1894 Solicitors' Jrnl. 39 2/1 In a matter of this kind a grain of common sense is worth a peck of scientific hair-splitting. 1921 Printers' Ink 8 Dec. 96 (heading) One look is worth a thousand words. 1951 P. Larkin Let. 13 Mar. in Sel. Lett. (1992) 170 In reality you are worth a dozen of such a two-timing neurotic. 1974 Country Life 6 June 1407/2 Real music, even if it be only a music hall song..will be worth all the off-scourings of the classics. 2011 V. S. Ramachandran Tell-tale Brain (2012) vii. 215 If an elaborate theory cannot predict what your grandmother knows using common sense, then it isn't worth much. b. With preceding adverb of quantity, as much worth, more worth, nothing worth, etc.: of much (more, no, etc.) merit, usefulness, or importance. Now archaic and rare.little worth, nothing worth, nought worth: see the first element. ΚΠ c1225 (?c1200) Sawles Warde (Bodl.) (1938) 18 (MED) Of al his strengðe ne drede we nawiht for nis his strengðe noht wurð bute hwer se he ifindeð eðeliche. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13254 Nis noht wurð [c1300 Otho þreat] þratte buten þer beo dede æc. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 2318 His sacringe was lute worþ & naþeles it was ydo. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. l. 629 That figure..Betokneth how the world schal change And waxe lasse worth and lasse. ?a1425 Constit. Masonry (Royal 17 A.i) l. 663 in J. O. Halliwell Early Hist. Freemasonry in Eng. (1844) 36 Hyt ys so muche worthe,..The vertu therof no mon telle may. 1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope i. xii. f. xxxv^v Better worthe is to lyue in pouerte surely, than to lyue rychely..euer in daunger. 1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes (new ed.) f. 79 Of all good frutes the world brought forth. A faithfull frende is thing most worth. 1568 W. Cecil in Cal. State Papers Ireland 1509–73 (1860) Pref. p. viii Marry! an ounce of advise is more worth to be executed aforehand than in the sight of perrills. 1579 B. Googe tr. I. Lopez de Mendoza Prouerbes Noble Souldier 32 That wisedome is more woorth then the weapons of the mightie. a1626 F. Bacon Hist. Reigne Henry VIII (1629) 137 Thinking, that the King..would draw them all vnto him, that were anything worth. 1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. 37 Their prayers for them is more worth then the means of sustenance which they receive from them. 1672 A. Marvell Rehearsal Transpros'd i. 19 I do not think it so much worth to gain his approbation. 1781 C. Johnstone Hist. John Juniper II. 173 A blessing that is more worth than all the wealth of which the Jews have ever cheated honest men. 1792 W. Vincent Disc. addressed to People of Great-Britain 15 We may give all our goods to the poor, and yet if we have not charity of heart, it is nothing worth. 1834 R. Southey Let. 29 Oct. in Corr. R. Southey with C. Bowles (1881) 311 He will have..a living lesson, better worth than Divines could teach. 1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust II. ii. iii. 148 Little worth is woman's beauty, So oft an image dumb we see. 1894 A. T. de Vere Alexander (new ed.) vi. 110 Are you happy? Ars. Is happiness much worth? I am at peace. 1908 J. Payne Carol & Cadence 199 Life and Death, Leave your battle for my breath! Both I hold you nothing worth. 1960 D. Hoffman Little Geste 72 But now my sermons all are nothing worth. 3. With complement. Of a person: having income or property amounting to a specified sum or value. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > [adjective] > possessing > possessing in respect of property or income worth1460 1460 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 92 Enquere of hym wher his goode is and what he is wurthe.., for I vndre-stande that he is wurthe in money v c marke. 1531–2 Act 23 Henry VIII c. 2 in Statutes of Realm (1963) III. 364 Everye suche personne..beyng worth in moveable substaunce the clere value of twentie pounde or above. 1551 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Edward VI (1914) 59 Gentlemen that..wolde not be seen in london so..disgysed for asmoche as they ar worthe or hope to be worthe. 1567 T. Harman Caueat for Commen Cursetors (new ed.) sig. Eii The troth is..she would wekely be worth vi. or seuen shyllinges, with her begging. c1613 ( in T. Stapleton Plumpton Corr. (1839) 123 She is called worth m^li beside hir land. 1655 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1892) II. 257 S^r Theodore Mayerne is dead and left his dawghter wourth a hundred thousand pounds in ready mony. 1676 G. Etherege Man of Mode iii. iii. 47 You are for Masks, and Private meetings; where Women engage For all they are worth I hear. 1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 260. ⁋1 If..all my Securities are good, I shall be worth Fifty thousand Pound. 1778 F. Burney Evelina III. xxi. 248 She assures me..that I shall be sole heiress of all she is worth. 1823 C. Lamb Old Benchers in Elia 198 He was master of four or five hundred thousand pounds; nor did he look..worth a moidore less. 1867 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighbourhood III. ix. 204 She will be worth something when she is married. 1913 W. J. Locke Stella Maris xi. 149 ‘Was she an heiress?’ ‘Worth billions.’ 1937 Amer. Home Apr. 87/3 (advt.) It makes no difference if you are worth half as much today as you were then. 2007 Independent on Sunday 12 Aug. (New Review) 19/1 She has put money into ‘microcredit schemes’ for the poor..which, when you are worth tens of millions, seems the least you can do. 4. With complement. Of a thing: having a specified value according to a particular system of scoring, assessment, or judgement; deserving a specified number of points, marks, etc. ΚΠ 1719 R. Seymour Court Gamester 76 Every Tierce is worth three Points, the Quart four, the Quintes fifteen, [etc.]. 1775 ‘Connoisseur’ Ann. Gaming xiv. 213 The carte blanche at this game is worth fifty points. 1894 Globe (Toronto) 3 Dec. 6/1 Hitherto a goal got from a penalty kick scored four points. In future it will be only worth two points. 1900 Baily's Mag. Oct. 259/2 An ace is worth one trick, a king about two-thirds of a trick, a queen about half a trick. 1911 in Univ. of Sheffield Calendar 1911–12 II. 507 All the questions are of equal value except No. 7, which is worth more marks than any of the others. 1978 Guardian 24 Apr. 8/1 Lowe..was tried for offences worth 20 years inside. 2013 M. Fox Video Games Guide 33/1 Special fizzing bombs on each screen..are worth double the points of normal bombs. II. Worthy, valuable. 5. Of a person: of account or importance; entitled to respect or honour; worthy. In later use chiefly Scottish and U.S. (in African-American usage, in the areas of South Carolina and Georgia where Gullah is spoken).In quot. OE in comparative with dative in sense ‘held in higher esteem on account of (a precious gift)’. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [adjective] > worthy of notice > other wortheOE oughtworth1556 supereminent?1563 sight-worthy1606 painsworthy1675 the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > worth > [adjective] > specifically in non-material respects wortheOE precious?a1300 richc1300 the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > good repute > reputability or honourableness > [adjective] faireOE wortheOE worthlyeOE worthfulOE menskful?c1225 toldc1275 digne1297 of price?a1300 worshiply1340 worthya1350 menska1375 thriftyc1374 worshipfula1375 worthilya1375 honesta1382 honourablec1384 unshamedc1384 sada1387 of reputationc1390 well-nameda1393 reverent1398 worthy (worshipful, wise) in wanea1400 celebrable?c1400 honouredc1400 worshipablec1425 substantialc1449 undefameda1450 unreviled?1457 honorousa1500 reputed?1532 well-thought-ona1533 well-spoken1539 credible1543 undespised?1548 imitable1550 famous1555 undistained1565 undefame1578 untarred1579 well-reputed1583 unsoiledc1592 dishonourless1595 well-deemed1595 nameworthy1598 regardful1600 indisgraced1606 credenta1616 undishonoureda1616 unscandalized1618 unscandalous1618 unslandered1622 untainted1627 dignousa1636 undisparaged1636 considerable1641 unbranded1641 glorifiable1651 reputable1671 unsullied1743 unstigmatized1778 undisgraced1812 unstained1863 well-thought-of1865 uncompromised1882 scandal-proof1904 cred1987 eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) (2009) I. xxviii. 515 Ic næfre ne geseah..nænne wisne mon þe ma wolde bion wrecca..and forsewen þonne welig and weorð and rice and foremære on his agnum earde. OE Beowulf (2008) 1902 He þæm batwearde bunden golde swurd gesealde, þæt he syðþan wæs on meodubence maþma [read maþme] þy weorþre [read weorþra], yrfelafe. lOE Laws: Gerefa (Corpus Cambr.) v. §1. 454 A swa he gecneordra swa bið he weorðra, gyf he wið witan hafoð his wisan gemæne. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 5020 & tu þe sellf narrt rihht nohht wurrþ. Wiþþ utenn godess hellpe. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 15470 Þer neoren eorles no wurðer [c1300 Otho worþere] þene cheorles. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 23 Þet byeþ þe heȝe men and þet byeþ mest worþ. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2498 He wan a-ȝen to william & to his worþ make. c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xi. l. 310 Þe more a man may do.., The more is he worth and worthi. a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xiv. l. 104 (MED) Whanne Manarcus here-Offen herde telle That with that worth knyht he scholde Melle, [I]n herte he was bothe glad & blithe. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Prov. xvi. D He that can rule himselfe, is more worth then he y^t winneth a cite. 1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique ii. f. 60 God hath raised suche worthe Preachers in this our tyme, that their Godly, and learned dooynges, may be a moste iuste example for al other to folowe. 1587 T. Hughes Certaine Deuises v. 43 See (worthest King) the hope of all your Realme, Had not his lust to rule preuented all. 1614 A. Taylor Encomiasticke Elogies sig. A6 Not a Queene so worth as shee, The world did, nor could nurse. 1693 G. Stepney tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires viii. 165 Their Countries Doom, they by their own, retriev'd, Themselves more worth than all the Host they sav'd. 1723 Marquis of Tullibardine Let. 20 Mar. in Jacobite Corr. Atholl Family (1840) App. v. 230 The worthest people may unextricably mistake their truest old friends. 1871 A. C. Swinburne Songs before Sunrise 217 Yea, they are dead, men much more worth than thou. 1909 S. Atlantic Q. Jan. 42 [In Gullah] 'E yent wut is He is worthless. 1922 A. E. Gonzales Black Border 175 She developed a fine scorn for the opposite sex. ‘Dem ent wut,’ she thought, and ‘dem ent wut,’ she said, whenever men were mentioned. 1931 M. C. Oemler Flower of Thorn vii. 145 ‘Dat boy ain't wut,’ he grumbled to himself. ‘No-suh, he ain't wut! Dat boy ain't de right sort o' boy fuh our Miss Sally.’ 1934 W. W. Gill Manx Dial. 142 It's well known Donald is hardly worth, he's so full of queer notions. 1977 W. S. Graham Let. 1 Dec. in Nightfisherman (1999) 333 Maybe you wonder why I am giving you this. It is because nobody worth would get it if I went away. 6. Of a thing: of value; valuable, useful. In later use Scottish and U.S. (in African-American usage, in the areas of South Carolina and Georgia where Gullah is spoken). Sc. National Dictionary (at cited word) records this sense as still in use in Shetland, Orkney, Caithness, Angus, and Perthshire in 1974.In early use also: †worthy; powerful, strong; (of an argument) valid (obsolete). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > advantage > [adjective] fremefulc1000 i-duȝea1250 hendyc1275 begetela1325 profitablea1325 speedful1340 worth1340 speedyc1380 behoveful1382 fructuousc1386 fruitfulc1386 vailable1390 availantc1420 availingc1420 commodious1420 commodous?1440 available1474 behovablea1475 advantageousc1485 profitly1485 beneficiala1513 advantageable1548 sanative1548 gainful1555 vantageable1570 vantageous?1572 gainy1573 comfortable1576 conducent1578 advantageous1591 bootful1594 availful1598 conducible?1611 commoditous1621 conducing1624 conduceful1635 proficuousa1642 proficaciousa1660 beneficenta1676 conducive1710 benefactory1744 benignant1791 sanatorya1832 beneficiary1836 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 90 Zaynte paul..heþ hyer ynemned þe meste gentile guodes þet man may do and þet mest were ywoned to by worþ and profiti. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. v. 13 To no thing it [sc. salt] is worth ouer, no bot that it be sent out, and defoulid of men. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 325 And therfore this afore sett answere is not worth. a1500 (?a1400) Morte Arthur (1903) l. 2545 To Ryde A-ȝeyne hem All bydene Or ther worthe walles holde. a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 196 Hit is noȝt wourth the Science and Iugementes of the Sterrys. 1572 J. Bossewell Wks. Armorie iii. f. 8 His regalitie in ye fielde, standing in the worthest mettall of all other, gouerned of the Sunne. a1722 J. Lauder Jrnls. (1900) 64 Colinton..told me that Colinton hous had not a hall that was worth, whence he would take the pattern of that. 1838 C. Gilman Recoll. Southern Matron xvii. 121 And jus look how Miss Anna fling down she bracelet, like it an't wort. 1840 R. Selby Rhymes 42 in Eng. Dial. Dict. (1905) VI. 547/2 It had nae crupper, nor a girth, And just ae stirrup that was worth. 1897 Shetland News 13 Nov. Her sight is no muckle wirt wi' daylicht, lat alane da glim o' da lamp. 1995 M. E. Orso Crab Lover's Bk. 3 The African Americans of South Carolina's coastal islands have the following retort to the above British attitude: ‘Crab got tuh walk een duh pot demself or day ain' wut.’ †7. With anticipatory it as subject and infinitive as complement. Worthwhile. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > advantage > [adjective] > worthwhile worthc1405 substantial?a1425 worthwhile1565 rewarding1570 tantia1593 c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 785 Vs thoughte it was nat worth to make it wys..And bade hym seye his voirdit as hym leste. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 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 forto vndirstonde thes..reulis. ?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton Scale of Perfection (Harl. 6579) i. lxxvi. 53^v (MED) Tarie no lenger..for it is nouȝt worþ for to don so. a1500 (?a1425) tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 65 Yt is mekyl worth to knowe þingys before, ffor men mowe bettyr thole hem. 1678 Alarm to Judgement 90 Though some..recovered, Yet it is worth to mark, where th' error bred. III. That deserves something. 8. a. In a positive sense. Of sufficient merit; worthy, deserving. †(a) With infinitive as complement, specifying what one is deserving of. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > morality > dueness or propriety > [adjective] > deserving (good or ill) wurtheeOE worthc1175 wrightfula1325 worthy1340 dignec1386 condigna1513 meritorious1561 meriting1605 society > morality > dueness or propriety > [adjective] > deserving (good or ill) > deserving by merit worthyOE worthc1175 well worthyc1390 well-deserving1545 deserving1576 desertful1583 desertive1596 deserveda1616 well-deserveda1616 society > morality > dueness or propriety > [adjective] > deserving (good or ill) > of sufficient merit > to be, do, or have worthc1175 worthyc1175 c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2357 Þær þurrh wass ȝho wel wurrþ to ben. Swa wurrþedd her onn erþe. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1481 Hu mochel worȝ leste þu me [c1300 Otho hu mochel worþ holdist þou me] to walden kineriche. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 231 Naȝt ne is worþ to habbe maidenhod of bodye þet heþ wyl to by y-spoused. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 1927 (MED) I trowe ther be noman..That halt him lasse worth thanne I To be beloved. c1480 (a1400) St. Peter 332 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 17 He..mad hym byschope; for þat he ves worth to haf sic degre. a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) v. l. 4502 He was worthe to wyn wictorys. a1500 ( Vision E. Leversedge (1991) 122 (MED) My saule..was not worthe..to lift up ons his hed to that tyme that she had gifen powere..to lyft vp his hed. 1656 A. L. Fox tr. F. Würtz Exper. Treat. Surg. iii. xxi. 286 Therefore I say this, that Alchymie is worth to be praised. 1716 M. Davies Diss. Physick 29 in Athenæ Britannicæ III Manto or Daphnes..who writ or paraphras'd in such excellent Strains, some of the..Oracles at the Temple of the Delphians, that they were worth to be plagiariz'd by Homer himself. (b) With noun or noun phrase as complement. Deserving or worthy of (something).See also (to be) worth one's salt at salt n.¹ 2g. ΚΠ a1325 St. Patrick (Corpus Cambr.) l. 95 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill S. Eng. Legendary (1956) 88 Þe bissop bigan to chide him..And sede he hade ybe man worst forto sunegy so Þat me nemiȝte him do so muche wo þat he nere worþ more. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 12302 Þe childes frendes fro þat houre helde ihesu worþe honoure. a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 358 Ȝour place is ordeyned in hevene after þat ȝe ben worþe. a1450 Rule St. Benet (Vesp.) (1902) l. 922 (MED) Than es þer wark worth mikyl mede. 1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. dii^* Ilkane be werk and be will Is worth his rewarde. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 158 Now loke if þis lede soche longyng be worthe As þou writis in þi wordes. 1618 W. Lawson New Orchard & Garden vii. 20 And it is hardly possible to misse in Graffing so often, if your Gardiner be worth his name. 1705 W. Dawes Nature & Necessity Christian Conversat. 23 When the boldest and most daring Sinner, that ever liv'd, shall..be ready to give Ten Thousand Worlds, if he could be worth them. 1736 A. Hill in tr. Voltaire Alzira Ded. p. viii I have little to say, worth the Honour of your Royal Highness's Notice. 1873 R. Browning Red Cotton Night-cap Country iii. 194 He will have recognised..how much that's good in man..makes Monsieur Léonce Miranda worth his help. 1920 Z. Grey Mysterious Rider ix. 151 But I know him. He's not worth you! No man is—and he the least. 1924 N.Y. Herald Tribune 19 June 2/5 To point with pride to the American flag [is] a desire..that springs eternal in the breast of any politician worth his soap box. 1951 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 18 Aug. 3 (headline) Not worth the prize. From a critical viewpoint, none of the Commonwealth Jubilee Open Art Competition entries justifies the £500 first prize. 1973 Ruston (Louisiana) Daily Leader 24 Dec. 4 (advt.) Why buy the most expensive haircolor in the world? Because you're worth it. 1996 Prospect Mar. 37/1 You cannot have a common foreign policy worth the name without majority voting. †b. In a negative sense. Deserving of blame, punishment, or misfortune. Frequently with infinitive or of specifying the blame, punishment, or misfortune. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > morality > dueness or propriety > [adjective] > deserving (good or ill) > deserving by demerit worthya1300 wortha1400 a1400 (?c1300) Lay Folks Mass Bk. (Royal) (1879) l. 73 In worde, & werk I am to wite and worth to blame. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 7104 Wel were it worth to bene brent. 1618 W. Attersoll Comm. Fourth Bk. Moses xix. 718/2 Some [sins] are greater & some lesser, some worther of greater punishment and some of lesser. 9. Sufficiently valuable or important to be treated or regarded in the way specified; deserving of the time or effort spent.Frequently used to make recommendations, and often modified by well (see well adv. 16b). a. With simple noun or pronoun as complement, as worth the effort. In later use frequently in to be worth it: having, or likely to have, an outcome that justifies the time or effort spent.Recorded earliest in worth the while at while n. 3b.Formerly occasionally with of (e.g. quot. 1866). ΚΠ a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 355 (MED) The queene..beet Iudas ful ofte, but al for nouȝt, ffor it was not worþ þe while. a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1882) v. l. 882 The which right sore wolde a-þynken me That ye for ony wight þat dwelleth þere Sholde spille a quarter of a tere..it is nought worth þe while. 1556 M. Huggarde Displaying of Protestantes (new ed.) f. 40 It shall be worth the traueill to say somwhat therein. 1642 C. Saltonstall Navigator (ed. 2) 65 They [sc. the Theorems] will give you so great a light..that it will be well worth your labour. 1660 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1920) IV. 231 He is acquainted with diuers things worth the knowledge. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 262 To reign is worth ambition though in Hell. View more context for this quotation 1711 W. King tr. G. Naudé Polit. Considerations Refin'd Politicks iii. 107 That the crown of France was well worth the trouble of hearing one mass. 1744 M. Bishop Life Matthew Bishop 137 I..was very inquisitive in asking about every particular Thing that was worth my Observation. 1772 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra II. lxviii. 316 It is worth the reader's attention to observe. 1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) iii. 33 ‘They are not worth your notice,’ said the dismal man. 1866 J. M. Neale Sequences & Hymns 23 Ye, who sometimes think the glory Of the labour scantly worth. 1877 T. H. Huxley Physiography 76 The rusting of this particular metal is worth closer study. 1912 G. R. Parkin Rhodes Scholarships vi. 159 Some care in organizing time may be required, and some resoluteness of purpose; but the goal is worth the effort. 1938 G. Greene Brighton Rock vii. ix. 346 They looked up and moued to each other, as much as to say—‘Oh well, she wasn't really worth the trouble.’ 1952 G. H. Dury Map Interpr. xi. 100 Canal names are worth particular attention. 1978 New Scientist 28 Sept. 962/2 So, was it worth it? Has it started a ‘debate’ so loved of the chat shows and the current affairs jamborees? 1991 Connecticut May 46/2 Recent studies..have indicated that it may be worth the wait. 1992 R. Graef Living Dangerously i. 47 I won't get into a stolen car, it's not worth it. 2002 Sound & Vision May 76/1 So if you have a DTV, or are thinking of getting one soon, it's well worth a look. †b. With infinitive as complement. Obsolete. ΚΠ c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 785 Vs thoughte it was nat worth to make it wys And graunted hym with outen moore avys. 1559 R. Clough in J. W. Burgon Life & Times Sir T. Gresham (1839) I. 255 It was sure a sight worth to go 100 myles to see it! c. With verbal noun or gerund as complement. (a) With verbal noun preceded by the or other determiner, as worth the trying. ΚΠ 1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. clxx. f. cxcv^v Than Aymergote auewed the place to se if it were worthe the fortifyenge therof. 1540 J. Palsgrave tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus iv. vii. sig. Xij^v My corne..was not worth the cuttyng downe. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias i. v. 13 (margin) Three smal Ilands discouered not worth the entering. 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 32 A Tower..worth the seeing, for the antiquity and building. 1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 112 All histories will tell you, it is a point worth the looking into. a1672 Earl of Sandwich tr. A. A. Barba Art of Metals (1674) i. 129 It is very well worth ones making a journey purposely to see them. 1692 R. L'Estrange Fables cccxliii. 300 Hang 'em All up..they are not Worth the Begging. 1701 N. Grew Cosmol. Sacra iv. 199 The Jewes..were as well worth the Regaining, as his Predecessor thought them worth the Keeping. 1798 W. Wordsworth Peter Bell iii. 815 An Ass like this was worth the stealing! 1832 T. H. Lister Arlington II. 252 You may think it little worth the telling,..but you shall know every thing. 1885 H. M. Milner Turpin's Ride to York i. ii. 4/2 It's time to see if these pigeons are worth the plucking. 1908 Times 10 Oct. 4/4 All the codlins, pippins, pearmains, greenings and russets that are worth the growing. 1975 New Yorker 22 Dec. 55/1 The herring are what are known as ‘spents’—thin, indolent, not worth the catching. 1991 Metropolitan Home May 121/3 The hot, superhot..and surprisingly savory ‘no pepper’ kind..seem particularly worth the chawing. (b) With unmodified verbal noun or gerund, as worth trying. ΚΠ 1561 B. Googe tr. ‘M. Palingenius’ Zodiake of Life (new ed.) iv. sig. k.vii^v Tellyng of some pleasant tale, though new, or olde it be (If it be woorth declaryng) tel some worthy history. 1595 E. Spenser Colin Clouts come Home Againe sig. A4^v Well I weene it worth recounting was. 1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 28 Viewing round about all what was worth seeing in so famous a place. 1686 W. Hopkins Hist. Diss. iii. p. liv, in tr. Ratramnus Bk. of Bertram conc. Body & Blood of Lord It is worth observing..that the Adoration of the Sacrament sprang not up till some Ages after. 1751 D. Hume Enq. Princ. Morals vii. 153 [He] soon lost his Iron Lamp, the only Furniture he had worth taking. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia IV. viii. vii. 294 That the affair is somewhat spread..is now not to be helped, and therefore little worth thinking of. 1826 E. Darwin Let. 9 Mar. in C. Darwin Corr. (1985) I. 34 I went this morning & dawdled an hour or so over the Hunterian Museum which is well worth going to. 1836 Hints on Etiquette (ed. 2) 15 If a man be worth knowing, he is surely worth the trouble to approach properly. 1889 T. A. Trollope What I Remember III. 285 I have then, as at all times, found life eminently ‘worth living’. 1915 J. Turner Let. 3 May in C. Warren Somewhere in France (2019) 10 That my actions have your approval dear, is precious: may I do something one day worth approving. 1932 Blue Valley Farmer (Oklahoma City) 4 Feb. 8/4 No country worth fighting for was ever built on slacker's devotion or gold-bricker's patriotism. 1943 Boys' Life Aug. 8/1 That's worth knowing. I jotted it down in my book. 1975 G. Anderson Coring vii. 128 Most discussions on wireline logs define shale as a nonporous rock.., a point worth remembering in geological discussions with petrophysicists and the like. 1990 Which? Dec. 701/1 If you want to find out more about a company, it's worth reading the annual report. 2015 Saga Mag. Apr. 143/1 Standard painkillers are usually ineffective, but one group of drugs..used for chronic pain could be worth trying. †10. Fitting, suitable, proper. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adjective] > fitting or proper methelyeOE ylikeeOE fairOE i-meteOE rightOE becomelyc1175 proper?c1225 featc1325 conablea1340 rightful1340 worthyc1350 pursuanda1375 covenable1382 dignec1385 convenablec1386 thriftyc1386 sittingc1390 comenablea1400 gainlya1400 meeta1400 wortha1400 convenientc1400 meetlya1425 suinga1425 fitc1440 tallc1440 worthyc1450 good1477 dueful?a1527 beseeminga1530 fitting1535 straighta1538 decent1539 answerable1542 becoming1565 condecent1575 becomed1599 respective1605 befittinga1612 comely1617 decorous1664 shape-like1672 beseemly1737 farrantly?1748 fitly1840 in order1850 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7515 It es noght worth, leif sir king, þat man in godd haue mistrouing. a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Harl. 4866) (1897) l. 441 Certes to blame ben þe lordes grete,..þat hir men lete Vsurpe swiche a lordly apparaille, Is not worþ. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvi. 526 It is weill worth, forouten weyn, That thar namys for euirmar, That in thar tyme so worthy war..Be lestand ay furth in lovyng. a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox, Wolf, & Cadger l. 2012 in Poems (1981) 78 For and I did, it wer weill worth that ȝe In ane rude raip had tyit me till ane tre. Phrases P1. In comparisons, with noun or noun phrase as complement. a. Used in chiefly contemptuous comparisons: equivalent in value to something small or trivial. Chiefly in negative constructions as not worth a straw: of little or no value, worthless.For further examples see button n. 1b, cress n. 2, fas n. 2, fig n.¹ 4a, fly n.¹ 1d, haw n.² 2, leek n. 3, mite n.² 1b, pease n. 2b, pin n.¹ Phrases 2a(a), preen n. 1b, rush n.¹ Phrases 2, turd n. 2, etc.With not worth a damn (cf. quots. 1910, 1942) cf. not worth a tinker's damn and similar phrases at tinker n.¹ Phrases 2. ΚΠ ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 293 Cesares freolec. Alisandres hereword. Moysese heale..alle somed aȝein mibodi nebeoð naut wurð [a1300 Caius wurh] anelde. a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 70 Hit nere on ende wrþ on heryng. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 1652 (MED) To hasten is noght worth a kerse. a1425 (c1333–52) L. Minot Poems (1914) 2 Þai fled,..And all þaire fare noght wurth a flye. c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) l. 597 For all the baytys that ye for hym haue leyde..be nat worth a peere. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 8^v Whereas in maters not woorth a blewe point..wee will spare for no cost. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VII f. vii She knewe it to be but a feigned & peinted mattre & not woorth two strawes. 1580 W. Fulke Discov. Daungerous Rocke in Retentiue 181 Therfore these three differences are not worth three chippes. 1602 W. Watson Decacordon Ten Quodlibeticall Questions 72 I would say they [sc. the Jesuits] had no scholerisme worth a blew button amongst them. 1662 R. Brathwait Chimneys Scuffle 3 That those whose Fortunes are not worth a straw Should be thus pounc'd to Mummie. 1715 A. Pennecuik Curious Coll. Scotish Poems in Geogr., Hist. Descr. Tweeddale App. 97 When I sell I will make ruiss, Of that whilk is not worth a plack. 1798 W. Sotheby tr. C. M. Wieland Oberon ii. xxix. 53 Oh, fly, Sir! or your life's not worth a song! 1823 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto VII iv. 67 Who knew this life was not worth a potato. 1860 Bentley's Misc. Jan. 632 ‘At the sight of the whip I grow restive.’ ‘So does anybody worth a button.’ 1895 J. K. Bangs House-boat on Styx iii. 32 Really your last argument isn't worth a stewed icicle. 1910 H. G. Wells New Machiavelli (1911) iv. iii. 336 No ph'losophy worth a damn ever came out of excesses of love. 1942 Amer. Mercury July 90 Dat what you shooting ain't worth a damn! 1978 M. McLaverty Coll. Short Stories 145 He's not worth a dead match, so he's not. 1982 P. Redmond Brookside (Mersey TV transmission script) (O.E.D. Archive) Episode 5. 41 Gizzmo. I know what happened to them cookers. Damon. Nicked probably. Gizzmo. Who by? They're not worth a carrot. 2004 B. Dylan Chronicles I. v. 271 It's a matter of life and death and our friendship ain't worth a bo diddley. b. Used in adverbial phrases qualifying a negative statement to express a lack of ability to do something: at all, in any way. ΚΠ c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. viii. l. 54 (MED) Schal no deuel at his deþ-day deren him worþ a Myte. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. 5005 Þou fisshes not worþe a leke, rise & go þi ways. a1450 Castle Perseverance (1969) l. 2226 (MED) Go hens, ȝe do not worthe a tord. ?1565 Smyth that forged New Dame sig. A.i^v Moche boste gan he blowe And sayd he had no felowe that coud worke worth a strawe. 1601 N. Breton No Whippinge, nor Trippinge sig. D3 Many a Scholler happly learnes to spell, That can not put together worth a rush. 1680 T. Shadwell Woman-captain iii. 39 These words of Command stick in my Throat, and I cannot swear worth a farthing. 1739 ‘Philocles’ Let. to Noble Lord 17 I have heard of a Parson, who could not preach worth one Farthing, unless he had some Silver in his Pocket. 1789 C. Smith Ethelinde IV. viii. 182 I knew she could not ride worth a farthing. 1863 Battle-fields of South I. iv. 65 Just as I taught! can't shoot worth a bad five-cent piece! Now's de time, boys! 1882 Cent. Mag. May 131/2 He ought to stick to his pen, and not try to lecture, for he can't lecture worth a blank! 1918 G. M. Knocker Diary 31 Oct. in Diary & Lett. World War I Fighter Pilot (2008) 222 None of them can fly worth a damn. 1982 T. Heath Last Hiding Place i. i. 13 Neither of them could see worth a hoot. 2000 J. M. Gray Gift for Little Master 195 But it'll never mean jack because you can't think worth a shit. c. Used, chiefly in negative constructions, to emphasize the worth or worthlessness of an enterprise by comparing it to the expense of the materials needed for its fulfilment.Earliest in the game (play, etc.) is not worth the candle at candle n. Phrases 6. ΚΠ 1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. ii. xvii. 374 The play is not worth the candle. 1614 J. White Def. Way True Church liv. 509 When they are a little taken downe, they thinke it not worth inke and paper to proceed any further. 1712 C. Hornby Caveat against Whiggs: 4th Pt. 103 All the Aids, Subsidies and Contributions from the conquer'd Countries on that Side, were to go into their Pockets, as if not worth the Powder and Shot, which the Towns cost in taking. 1761 Case of Late Resignation set in True Light 14 Proofs in abundance are at hand in the papers themselves... But the game is not worth the shot. 1828 C. White Almack's Revisited II. xvii. 239 All I can do, is to hope that you will run the fellow to ground, though he is not worth the powder. 1896 Printers' Ink 11 Nov. 32/1 I don't believe that stuff like the following is worth the ink that it takes to print it. 1937 T. E. O'Quinn in J. F. Dobie & M. C. Boatright Straight Texas 246 A man who isn't worth the powder and lead it would take to kill him. 2015 Irish News (Nexis) 7 Dec. 19 If it was a horse you'd shoot it but it's barely a donkey and hardly worth the bullet. P2. a. to be as much as one's life is worth: to be liable to cost one one's life. Also similarly with nouns other than life. Frequently in hyperbolic use.See also as much as one's ears are worth at ear n.¹ Phrases 3b(b). ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > equality [phrase] > the equivalent of to be as much as one's life is worth1599 1599 S. Harsnett Discov. Fraudulent Pract. I. Darrel iv. ii. 228 Affirming, that the boye being in his bed, and in his fittes, to vncouer him, was as much as his life was worth. 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue i. viii. 69 Let me intreat you, Sir, not to put me to that trouble, seeing it is as much as my life is worth, considering the weakenesse wherein I now am. 1694 J. Collier Misc. iv. 21 If he promises so [sic] set a Town on Fire, 'tis as much as his Eschutcheon and Pedigree is worth to fail in the Performance. 1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 24. ⁋4 It is as much as my Life is worth, if she should think we were intimate. 1850 G. Cupples Green Hand iv. 48/2 To haul on a wind was as much as her spars were worth. 1898 H. S. Canfield Maid of Frontier 176 It was as much as a man's life was worth to say ‘durn’ out loud. 1929 M. Lowry Let. 12 Mar. (1995) I. 63 Although I have had a certain amount of youthful success as a writer of slow and slippery blues it is as much as my life is worth to play anything in the house. 2001 Courier Mail (Queensland) (Nexis) 26 Nov. 13 It would be as much as her job is worth to let a designated intellectual slip through. b. more than one's life is worth: liable to be fatal or very dangerous; (hence in hyperbolic use) not worth the risk; likely to have bad or unpleasant consequences. Also with nouns other than life, in the same sense.See also more than one's ears are worth at ear n.¹ Phrases 3b(b), to be more than one's job's worth at job n.² Phrases 13. ΚΠ 1645 J. Maynard Serm. to House of Commons 9 Take fast hold of instruction.., for she is thy life. If thou lose her, it is more than thy life is worth. 1676 tr. H. C. Agrippa Vanity Arts & Sci. xcvi. 328 Now, if a man slip into the least Errour, 'tis much more than his life is worth. 1732 Fate of Corsica v. 60 It would be more than my Life's worth should I stir from my Post. 1823 Morning Chron. 22 Sept. It would have been more than their lives were worth to have presumed to award such a disproportionate punishment. 1869 Turf, Field, & Farm 19 Nov. 321/2 The situation threatened literally to become more than his neck was worth. 1937 Macleay Chron. (Kempsey, New S. Wales) 10 Mar. 7/1 She will give me a hiding if I tell. It would be more than my life is worth. 1985 Guardian 15 June 6/7 It would be more than your head is worth..to suggest to Saddam Hussein that we are not on the winning team. 2012 C. Ould Knock Down 204 The screen lit up, but wanted a PIN. Dee Jarvis shook her head when Holly asked if she knew it. ‘More than my life's worth to look at her phone,’ she said. P3. Proverb. If a thing (also job) is worth doing, it's worth doing well and variants: if a task is worth undertaking at all, one should approach it seriously and make a good job of it. ΚΠ 1746 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 10 Mar. in Lett. to Son (1774) I. 187 Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well. 1864 E. H. Dewart Select. from Canad. Poets p. xvi The adage, that ‘whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well,’ has a special application here. 1930 E. Waugh Vile Bodies viii. 143 My private schoolmaster used to say, ‘If a thing's worth doing at all, it's worth doing well.’ 1983 Newsweek (Nexis) 20 June 30 ‘If a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing well,’ Thatcher says frequently. 1993 ‘A. McNab’ Bravo Two Zero (1994) iii. 33 For Chris, if a job was worth doing it was worth doing excellently, so in typical fashion he signed up first with the Paras because he wanted a solid infantry background. 2001 A. Taylor Death's Own Door (2002) xiii. 92 They haven't scrimped, either, I'm glad to say. If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well. P4. for what it's worth and variants: used to indicate that a piece of information is of uncertain or little value. Frequently used parenthetically to acknowledge uncertainty about the likely value or impact of the accompanying remark. Cf. FWIW adv. at F n. Additions. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > [adverb] > to a limited extent as (also so) far as it goes1533 a kind of?1565 not to say1590 in his (also her, etc.) way1700 for what it's worth1830 kinda1834 1830 Amer. Monthly Mag. (Boston) June 151 This is my authority, and I give it to you for what it is worth. 1861 Amer. Agriculturist July 202/3 This is about the pith of public sentiment up here among the old folks, and I send it down for what it is worth. 1888 J. Ross Three Generations 228 There is my opinion; I give it for what it is worth. 1922 F. Harris My Life & Loves I. xv. 327 However, the fact is so peculiar that I insert it here for what it may be worth. 1952 M. Norton Borrowers xx. 157 ‘Well,’ she conceded at last. ‘I'll tell you. For what it's worth.’ 1962 A. 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. 1979 J. 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. 1995 E. Toman Dancing in Limbo vi. 142 I'll tell you what I heard, for what it's worth. 2003 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 19 Feb. a29/5 For what it's worth, I do not support a war with Iraq unless we all..ultimately agree that it is the only way to make the world safer. P5. Originally U.S. for all it's worth and variants: to the fullest extent. Similarly for all one is worth: with all one's energy or resources. Cf. for all one's worth at worth n.¹ Phrases 3.Frequently collocated with milk v. 10 (e.g. quots. 1950 and 1991). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > [phrase] > with all one's might (at, by, with) all one's mightOE by (also by one's) powerc1300 with or by (all one's) might and mainc1330 at (also at all, after) one's power1384 upon one's powerc1400 to (the best of, the uttermost of, the extent of) one's power?a1425 tooth and naila1535 with tooth and naila1535 with both hands1549 with teeth and alla1600 horse and footc1600 with all one's force1677 for all it's worth1864 the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > greatly or very much [phrase] > in or to the greatest degree never solOE with (also mid) the mostc1275 for the masteryc1325 to the bestc1390 to the uttermostc1400 at the hardest1429 to the utmostc1450 to the skies (also sky)1559 at float1594 all to nothing1606 to the height1609 to the proofa1625 to the last degree1639 to the welkin?1746 (the) worst kind1839 for all it's worth1864 as —— as they make them?a1880 in the highest1897 to the nth (degree, power)1897 up to eleven1987 1864 Boston Post 27 Jan. Virginia had been used for all it was worth. 1883 Sunday Mercury (N.Y.) 18 Mar. 7/1 Scalchi, to use a side-walk phrase, played Siebel for all the character was worth. 1884 Boston (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. 1889 A. C. Gunter That Frenchman! xxi. 298 [The steamer] is driving, for everything she is worth, down the waters of the Finnish Gulf. 1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 197 We spun round and round..I steering the whole time for all I was worth. 1936 ‘J. Curtis’ Gilt Kid v. 58 It was obvious that she was playing little girlishness for all that she was worth. 1950 A. Huxley Let. 15 Nov. (1969) 631 My feeling about the story is that you have got hold of something big, but have not yet milked it for all it is worth. 1991 Amer. Square Dance May 13/1 Have you milked the opportunity for all it's worth? 2004 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 19 May c19/2 He was fighting a holding action, filibustering for all he was worth. P6. to be worth one's ears: see ear n.¹ Phrases 1p; not worth the paper it's written on: see paper n. 1d; not worth an hour's purchase: see purchase n. 10b; not worth the time of day: see time n., int., and conj. Phrases 1a(c); a trick worth two of that: see trick n. Phrases 1; more trouble than it's worth: see trouble n. Additions; worth the whistling: see whistling n. 1c; not worth the king's unlaw: see unlaw n. Phrases; to be worth one's weight in gold: see weight n.¹ 9. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022). worthv.¹ Brit. /wəːθ/, U.S. /wərθ/ Forms: 1. Present stem. a. α. early Old English uueortha (Northumbrian), Old English wærþan (Mercian, in prefixed forms, rare), Old English wearþan (Mercian, rare), Old English weordan (rare), Old English weorþan, Old English weorðan, Old English werþan (rare), Old English wiorðan, late Old English wearðan, late Old English weorthan, late Old English werðan (Kentish), late Old English wiorþan (Kentish, in prefixed forms), early Middle English þeorþe (singular subjunctive, transmission error), early Middle English weorthe, early Middle English weorþe, early Middle English weorðe, Middle English werþe, late Middle English wer (perhaps transmission error); Scottish pre-1700 werth. eOE (Northumbrian) Bede's Death Song (St. Gallen) 5 To ymbhycggannae..huaet his gastae godaes aeththa yflaes aefter deothdaege doemid uueorthae.OE Beowulf (2008) 2526 Nelle ic beorges weard oferfleon fotes trem, ac unc [feohte] sceal weorðan æt wealle, swa unc wyrd geteoð.OE Lacnunga (2001) I. cxl. 98 Gif nægl of honda weorðe.c1175 ( Homily in A. O. Belfour 12th Cent. Homilies in MS Bodl. 343 (1909) 126 Þenne is us mucel neod..þet we ne weorþæn aweorpen on þa deopestæ helles grunde.c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 1171 Swiche no miȝt y neuer werþe.1494 Loutfut MS f. 33^v, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Worth The schell..will werth sa hard that he may nocht ply it. β. Old English wurþan, Old English wurðan, early Middle English wrðe, early Middle English wurde, early Middle English wurh (3rd singular subjunctive), early Middle English wurrþenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English wurþu (imperative, with personal pronoun affixed), early Middle English wurðe, Middle English uurþe, Middle English wrthe, Middle English wrþe, Middle English wurth, Middle English wurþ, Middle English wurþe, 1800s wuth (English regional (Yorkshire)). OE Daniel 115 Wearð him on slæpe soð gecyðed, þætte rices gehwæs reðe sceolde gelimpan, eorðan dreamas, ende wurðan.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 492 Þatt nan ne shollde wurrþenn. Þa sett to wurrþenn prest.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 619 Þar-on þu scalt wrþan sæl. ▸ c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 434 Waried wrthe he.a1450 Ministry & Passion of Christ (St. John's Cambr.) (1984) l. 2364 Iudas..went hym forþ & lete hym wurþe þo he had herd his dom.1876 C. C. Robinson Gloss. Words Dial. Mid-Yorks. 'Od wuth!.., an imprecatory phrase. γ. Old English wyrdan (rare), Old English wyrþan, Old English wyrðan, late Old English wyrþðan (in prefixed forms), early Middle English wyrþe (in prefixed forms), early Middle English wyrðe (in prefixed forms). OE Andreas (1932) 182 Þær sceall feorhgedal, earmlic ylda cwealm, æfter wyrþan.?a1200 (?OE) Peri Didaxeon (1896) 43 Þæt hy næfre forþan forwyrþan.] δ. Old English worðan, early Middle English þorþe, early Middle English wort (imperative, before þ), early Middle English worþu (2nd singular subjunctive, with personal pronoun affixed), early Middle English worðe, Middle English worde (northern), Middle English worȝe, Middle English wortht (imperative, before þ), Middle English worþ, Middle English worþe, Middle English–1500s worthe, Middle English– worth, late Middle English vorthym (3rd singular subjunctive, with personal pronoun affixed), 1800s woth (English regional (Yorkshire)); also Scottish pre-1700 word. OE Homily (Somerset Rec. Office: DD/SASC/1193/77) in Anglo-Saxon Eng. 33 (2004) 152 Þæt ge ne worðen fordemde [L. et non iudicabimini].lOE King Ælfred tr. St. Augustine Soliloquies (Vitell.) (1922) i. 21 Gyf ic æfre swa wis worðe swa hi sint.a1275 Body & Soul (Trin. Cambr. B.14.39) f. 29^v Wo worþe þe so swikel.a1275 (?c1200) Prov. Alfred (Trin. Cambr.) (1955) 131 Wel worþe þe wid.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 22489 Þe sternes..sal..worde al blak sum ani col.c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. ii. l. 47 Lat hem worth til lewte be iustice.?c1450 in Anglia (1896) 18 324 Ȝif on be in poynt to worthyn wood.1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Passion ii. 199 Wo worth the tyme that euer we synned.a1665 W. Guthrie Serm. Regen. (1709) 14 What will word of my Wife?1736 A. Ramsay Coll. Scots Prov. (1776) 74 Well worth a' good takens.1870 J. R. Lowell My Study Windows 244 Woe worth the hour that I beheld thee born.1953 Classical Jrnl. 49 74/1 If, however, we muff the opportunity, then woe worth mankind. ε. Old English wirþan (in prefixed forms, rare), Old English wirðan (in prefixed forms); Scottish pre-1700 wird, pre-1700 1800s wirth, 1900s wirt (Orkney). OE Arundel Psalter cxviii. 92 Tunc forte perissem in humilitate mea : þonne wenunga ic forwirþe on eadmodnesse minre.lOE King Ælfred tr. St. Augustine Soliloquies (Vitell.) (1922) i. 47 Ne gelyfe ic na þæt hyt æfre geweorðe..buton an ðing gewirðe.] ▸ ?a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 135 Wo wirth the fruct..And wo wirth him.1568 Balnevis in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) III. 21 And wirdis to be sweir And makis a stop quhen thay suld hop.1816 J. Duff Poems 11 Wae-wirth that whingin' whig, profession.1911 in A. W. Johnston & A. Johnston Old-lore Misc. IV. 186 Yea, wirt o' tha bit a skitter broltie hid was dere! ζ. 1600s warth. 1634 T. Heywood & R. Brome Late Lancashire Witches iii. sig. H.iii^v Wa warth the day that ever I wadded a Downought. b. 2nd singular indicative. (i). α. Old English wyrst, Old English wyrðest. OE Andreas (1932) 483 Gif ðu lidwerigum larna þinra est[e] wyrðest.OE Ælfric Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Laud) iii. 19 Ðu eart dust & to duste wyrst [perh. read wyrþst; OE Claud. gewyrst]. β. Old English wurþest, early Middle English wurst, early Middle English wurðæst (in prefixed forms). OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 142 Þu wurþest hal sona.a1225 ( Ælfric's Homily De Initio Creaturae (Vesp. A.xxii) in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 221 Þu wurst deaðlic, ȝef þu þes trowes westm ȝeetst. γ. early Old English weorðesð, Old English weorðest, Old English wiorðest, Middle English werst. OE Vercelli Homilies (1992) xiii. 235 Þæt ic eom nu, þæt ðu wiorðest eft.OE Paris Psalter (1932) lviii. 5 Ne þu hweðere on mode milde weorðest.c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 1887 Wel heȝe þou werst an honge. δ. Middle English woest (transmission error), Middle English worst, Middle English worthyst, Middle English worþes, Middle English worþest, late Middle English wroth. c1300 Life & Martyrdom Thomas Becket (Harl. 2277) (1845) l. 2039 King thu woldest beo in his stede; thu ne worst nevermo.c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) 407 Þou worþest tohewen.a1450 Seven Sages (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) l. 1505 Certys, syre, thow worst schent.a1500 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Trin. Dublin) l. 810* Held on with a hale here þar hersound þou wroth. (ii). With personal pronoun affixed early Middle English worste, early Middle English wurstu, Middle English worstow, Middle English worstu, Middle English worþestou. c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 324 Hennes þu go, þu fule þeof, Ne wurstu me neure more leof.c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. vi. l. 102 Þe boldnesse of þi benfes blendeþ þin eiȝen, And so worþestou [B text c1400 Laud 581 worstow; Z text ?c1400 Bodl. 851 woest thow] I-driuen out and þe dore I-closet. c. 3rd singular indicative. (i). Unsyncopated. α. early Old English uuiurthit (Northumbrian), Old English wirþeþ, Old English wirþeð (in prefixed forms), Old English wyrþeþ, Old English wyrþeð, Old English wyrðeþ, Old English wyrðeð, Old English wyrðyð (in prefixed forms), late Old English wyrþeh, late Old English–early Middle English wyrtheth, early Middle English þyrþeh (transmission error), early Middle English wirþeh (perhaps transmission error), early Middle English wyrdeð, early Middle English wyrþaw (transmission error). After Old English only in late copies of quot. eOE.eOE (Northumbrian) Bede's Death Song (St. Gallen) 1 Fore th'e [probably read thaem] neidfaerae naenig uuiurthit [c1200 Digby wyrþeþ, a1325 Trin. Cambr. R.7.3 wirþeh] thoncsnotturra, than him tharf sie.OE Andreas (1932) 972 Wolde ic eow on ðon..bysne onstellan, swa on ellþeode ywed wyrðeð. β. early Old English weorðed (Mercian, in prefixed forms), Old English weorþeþ, Old English weorþeð, Old English weorðæd (Mercian, in prefixed forms, rare), Old English weorðæð, Old English weorðeþ, Old English weorðeð, Old English weorðyð (in prefixed forms), Old English werdað (Mercian, in prefixed forms), Old English werþeð, Old English wiorðað, Old English wiorðeð, Old English woerdað (in prefixed forms), late Old English weordeð (Kentish, in prefixed forms), late Old English wiorðæþ (Kentish, in prefixed forms). OE Vercelli Homilies (1992) vii. 137 On þære grepe he wiorðeð to meoxe.OE Crist III 877 Him weorþeð blæd gifen!lOE Laws of Æðelberht (Rochester) xxxiv. 5 Gif banes blice weorðeþ, iii scillingum gebete. γ. Old English uorðes (Northumbrian, in prefixed forms), Old English worðes (Northumbrian), Middle English worthes, Middle English worthis, Middle English worþeȝ, Middle English worþeh, Middle English worþeþ, Middle English worþis; Scottish pre-1700 vorthis, pre-1700 wordis, pre-1700 worthis, pre-1700 worthys, pre-1700 wourdis, pre-1700 wourthis. OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Luke i. 34 Quomodo fiet istud : huu worðes ðis?a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 38 Hit worþeþ al to wyn.c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1106 Hit worþeȝ to youreȝ.a1425 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (Pierpont Morgan) vi. v Þe ouir party..worþeþ more lyȝte, and þe neþer parties..worþen more heuy.1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 706 Ȝone is Wymond, I wait, it worthis na weir. δ. Old English wurðaþ (in prefixed forms), Old English wurðeþ, Old English wurðeð, Old English wurðyþ (in prefixed forms), Old English wurðyð (in prefixed forms), Old English (early Middle English in copy of Old English charter) wurþeð, Old English (in prefixed forms)–early Middle English wurþeþ, late Old English wurþað (Kentish, in prefixed forms), early Middle English wurðæþ, early Middle English wurððeð. OE Paris Psalter (1932) cxviii. 96 Ealre þysse worulde wurðeð ende.c1175 ( Ælfric Homily in A. O. Belfour 12th Cent. Homilies in MS Bodl. 343 (1909) 6 Of þam flæsclice heo wurðæþ gastlice & Godes bearn ihaten. (ii). Syncopated. α. early Old English wierð, Old English wirþ (in prefixed forms), Old English wirð, Old English wyrþ, Old English wyrð. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xvii. 111 He wierð self to ðæs onlicnesse.OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Exod. (Claud.) vii. 9 Nym ðine gyrde & wurp hi beforan Pharaone, & heo wyrð to næddran.lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) (2009) I. iv. 246 Þonne he betwux us and hire wyrð. β. Old English weorþ, Old English weorð, Old English werþ, Old English werð. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) Epil. 469 Wæter..tofloweð æfter feldum, oð hit to fenne werð.lOE Laws of Æðelberht (Rochester) lxv. 7 Gif he healt weorð, þær motan freond seman. γ. Old English–early Middle English wurð, late Old English wurðð (in prefixed forms), early Middle English wrð, early Middle English wurh, Middle English wrth, Middle English wurþ, Middle English wurþe. OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) Pref. i. 2 Gif se oðer nolde, hu wurð he elles gelæred?a1225 (?OE) MS Vesp. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 235 Fram þa forme man to þa latst þe wrð et þes wrldes ende.a1300 (?c1200) Prov. Alfred (Jesus Oxf.) (1955) 113 And selde wurþ he blyþe and gled.a1450 Ministry & Passion of Christ (St. John's Cambr.) (1984) l. 992 Al þat ȝe in erþe vnbynde, in heuene it wurþe ondo. δ. early Middle English wort, Middle English worht, Middle English worth, Middle English worþ, Middle English worþe. a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 82 Ne wort ne god þer unforgulde, ne non uuel ne worth unboukt.c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 1570 So is þe stude icluped nou & euere worþ.c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B v. l. 160 Dame Peronelle, a prestes file, Priouresse worth she neuere. 2. Past tense. a. Strong. (i). Originally 1st and 3rd singular indicative. α. early Old English uuard, early Old English uueard, early Old English (runic) Middle English warþ, Old English uarð (Northumbrian, in prefixed forms), Old English wæarð, Old English wærþ, Old English weard (in prefixed forms, rare), Old English–early Middle English warð, Old English–early Middle English wærð, Old English–early Middle English wearþ, Old English–early Middle English wearð, early Middle English uuard, early Middle English warrþ ( Ormulum), early Middle English wart, early Middle English wharrþ ( Ormulum), early Middle English wharð, Middle English ward, Middle English warhtȝ, Middle English warth, Middle English warþe. OE Andreas (1932) 1343 Hwæt wearð eow swa rofum, rincas mine, lindgesteallan, þæt eow swa lyt gespeow?OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 102 Þa wærð Martianus and eac seo modor dreorige on mode.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 10960 Þær affterr warrþ itt efft to nohht.c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 4723 Opon a mule sche warþ anon.c1450 (?a1400) T. Chestre Sir Launfal (1930) l. 131 He ward yn greet dette. β. Old English weorð (rare), Old English–early Middle English werð, Old English–Middle English werþ, early Middle English wert, Middle English werth, Middle English werþe. OE tr. Chrodegang of Metz Regula Canonicorum (Corpus Cambr. 191) liv. 287 Neorxnawoncges bigencga..weorð of his gecyndan are þurh Euan his wif utadræfed.lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Tiber. B.iv) anno 1080 [for: 1130] Her werþ Anagus ofsleien fram Scotta eere & þer werþ micel weell ofsleigen mid him.lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1129 Þa hit eall com forð, þa weorð hit eall of earcedæcnes wifes.a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 133 Sum [seed]..werð to-treden. ▸ a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 277 At þe laste he werþe sike.a1400 (a1325) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Trin. Cambr.) (1887) App. G. 793 Noble he werþ & riche. γ. early Middle English wurd, early Middle English wurð, early Middle English wurðe. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 99 Þat bred wurð to fleis.a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1197 Ghe wurd wið childe. δ. Middle English worthe, Middle English worþ, Middle English worþe, Middle English–1500s worth, 1500s worde (northern); Scottish pre-1700 word, pre-1700 worde, pre-1700 worth, pre-1700 wourde, pre-1700 wourth, pre-1700 wrocht, pre-1700 wroth, 1800s oord, 1800s wot (transmission error). a1300 in R. Morris Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 144 Þat folk worþ eft wroþe i-spild. ▸ a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1882) VIII. 5 Lowys..worþe sike.1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iii. l. 13 Wictaill worth scant.1570 in J. Raine Depositions Courts Durham (1845) 137 He knewe not..what worde of them.1830 J. Hogg in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 896/2 Ye'll mind your eldest brother weel eneugh. Did ye ever ken what oord o' him? (ii). Plural. α. Old English wurdan, Old English wurdun, Old English wurþan (rare), Old English wurðan, Old English (early Middle English in prefixed forms) wurþon, Old English–early Middle English wurdon, Old English–early Middle English wurðen, Old English–early Middle English wurðon, late Old English–early Middle English wurden, late Old English–early Middle English wurþen, early Middle English wurrdenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English wurthen. OE West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) xxiii. 12 And on þam dæge wurdun Herodes & Pilatus gefrynd.?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1135 Wurþen men suiðe ofuundred.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 3343 Þeȝȝ wurrdenn swiðe offdredde.a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 667 Ðo wurðen he frigti and a-grisen. β. Old English wyrdun (Mercian), Old English–early Middle English wyrdon, early Middle English wyrden. OE (Mercian) Rushw. Gospels: Matt. xiv. 20 Et manducauerunt omnes et saturati sunt : & etun alle & fulle wyrdun.c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 61 Næs he blind acenned for his aȝene synnum..ac ðæt Godes wyndræ wyrdon on him iswytelode.c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 63 Heo heom asæton þet heo wyrden iutlaȝede of ðare ȝesamnunge. γ. Old English wordon (in prefixed verbs), Middle English worden; Scottish pre-1700 vorth, pre-1700 worth. OE tr. Defensor Liber Scintillarum (1969) xvi. 157 Qui interierunt per linguam suam : þa þe forwordon þurh tungan hyra.] c1175 ( Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 169 Heo [sc. stars] þa for þon worden heoræ beorhtnes muceles dæles benumene.1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 33 Thus worden my teeth al blody.1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid v. xi. 86 The myndis worth agast.c1610 (?a1450) tr. A. de Varennes Florimond of Albany l. 125 in R. Purdie Shorter Sc. Medieval Romances (2013) 90 Thay wox and worth bayth fair and wicht. b. Weak early Middle English wurðede, Middle English worthid, Middle English worthit (north-west midlands, in a late copy), Middle English worþed, Middle English wrohede (probably transmission error), Middle English wurthed, Middle English–1600s worthed, late Middle English worthrede (transmission error); Scottish pre-1700 werthit, pre-1700 wordit, pre-1700 worthed, pre-1700 worthede, pre-1700 worthid, pre-1700 worthit, pre-1700 worthyd, pre-1700 worthyde, pre-1700 worthyt, pre-1700 wourthit. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2946 Ðe fisses..wurðeden dead.c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 485 Til worþed an ende.1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xiii. 354 Thame worthit, magre thairis, abyde.1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. cv Thus wourthit schir gawyne wraith.1669 Hist. Sir Eger 5 My steed before me had good sight, Cast up his head, and worthed light. 3. Past participle. a. Strong. α. early Old English gewarden, Old English geuorden (Northumbrian), Old English geweorden (rare), Old English gewoerden (Northumbrian), Old English gewordan, Old English geworden, Old English gewordon, Old English gewordyn, Old English giworden (Northumbrian), Old English giwordon (Northumbrian), Old English uorden (Northumbrian, in prefixed forms (not ge-)), Old English wordæn (Northumbrian, in prefixed forms (not ge-)), Old English worden, Old English–early Middle English geworðen, late Old English geweordon, late Old English geworþan, late Old English geworþen (Kentish), late Old English wordon (Kentish, in prefixed forms (not ge-)), early Middle English ȝeworden, early Middle English iworden, early Middle English iwordon, early Middle English iworþen, early Middle English iworðen, early Middle English worðen, Middle English iworþe, Middle English worde (northern), Middle English worth, Middle English worthe, Middle English worthen, Middle English worthyn, Middle English worþen, 1500s woorde (northern); Scottish pre-1700 vorthyn, pre-1700 worde, pre-1700 wordine, pre-1700 worthin, pre-1700 worthine, pre-1700 worthing, pre-1700 worthyn, pre-1700 wourthin, 1800s word, 1800s wort. OE Daniel 124 Wearð he on þam egesan acol worden, þa he ne wisse word ne angin swefnes sines.OE Blickling Homilies 223 Þæt oft gelamp, þonne man hwylcne dæl his hrægles to untruman men brohte, þæt he ðonne þurh þæt sona wearð hal geworden.c1200 ( West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Hatton) viii. 26 Þær warð geworðen mychel smoltnyss. ▸ a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 187 Þe Parthes þat were i-worþe rebel. ▸ c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 516 Lete se what schulde haue worthe of the men.1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay sig. Dv^v That God is wordine mane.1629 Z. Boyd Last Battell Soule (new ed.) 425 (Jam.) What can bee worde of such a..professor.1818 J. Hogg Brownie of Bodsbeck I. iii. 38 What could be wort of a' the sheep. β. Old English gewurden, late Old English gewurðen (Kentish), early Middle English iwurden, early Middle English iwurðe, early Middle English iwurðen, early Middle English wurrþenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English wurðen, Middle English iwurþe, Middle English iwurþen, Middle English wurthen, Middle English wurþe, Middle English yworthe. OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxvii. 45 Fram þære sixtan tide wæron gewurden þystru ofer ealle eorðan.lOE Canterbury Psalter lxii. 8 Quia factus es adiutor meus : forðæn þu gewurðen ært felstend min.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 3873 Godess sune..Wass wurrþenn mann.a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 219 Also suteliche swo it wurþe were.c1330 Otuel (Auch.) (1882) l. 612 Hou is þe and þis man iwurþe?c1450 tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Lyfe Manhode (Cambr.) (1869) 131 On horse he is wurthen up. b. Weak early Middle English iwereþit (perhaps transmission error), Middle English worthed, Middle English worþed, Middle English wurthed; Scottish pre-1700 worthit, pre-1700 worthyd. c1250 in Englische Studien (1935) 70 238 Herode þe kinc, to rome he moste ware; stronke he hauit iwereþit to þe caisare..is kincdom is him binomen.c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 678 A duk to haue worþed.?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 112 Þe whilk was baptized and worthed till a worthy and a..Cristen man.c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1905) II. 307 What at wurthed of þe bodie cuthe neuer man tell.a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Royal) viii. l. 399 He suld hawe worthyd [a1500 Nero worthit] rede for schame. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian wertha (West Frisian wurde ), Old Dutch werthan (Middle Dutch werden , werden , Dutch worden ), Old Saxon werthan (Middle Low German werden ), Old High German werdan , werthan (Middle High German werden , German werden ), early Scandinavian (runic: Sweden) verða , Old Icelandic verða (Icelandic verða ), Norwegian (Nynorsk) verte , Old Swedish varþa , værþa (Swedish varda ), Old Danish varthe (Danish vorde ), Gothic wairþan , and further with Sanskrit vartate turns, rolls, classical Latin vertere to turn, Lithuanian versti to fell, throw down, overthrow, Tocharian B wärt- (probably) to turn, and (with different ablaut grade: zero-grade) Old Church Slavonic vrĭtitŭ sę (reflexive) turns around, Russian vertet′ to turn, Old Prussian wīrst becomes, Lithuanian virsti to fall, tumble, overturn, the apparent original sense ‘to turn’ having developed in Germanic to ‘to turn into, to become’. Compare -ward suffix < an ablaut variant of the same Germanic base. Compare also yworth v.Form history. In Old English a strong verb of Class III; strong forms are continued in Middle English. The inherited inflectional pattern, after the operation of Verner's Law, yielded alternation in the stem-final dental consonant; stem forms with stem-final -d- in the past tense plural and the past participle preserve the reflex of the voiced alternant. Such stem forms survive into Middle English, although occasionally in Old English and Middle English forms d may be a scribal form (or error) for ð . Forms of the word throughout its history have been repeatedly subject to assimilatory sound changes (affecting the stem vowel) caused by the initial w- (either in isolation or in combination with the following r plus consonant). Syntactical functions. The word is sometimes used as auxiliary with the passive; compare discussion at sense 2b. The word also shows characteristic use with future time reference in some senses ( 1a(b), 2a(b), 2b(b), 3a(b), 3b(b)); for a discussion of this use see B. Mitchell Old Eng. Syntax (1985) §§ 672, 755, T. F. Mustanoja Middle Eng. Syntax (1960) I. 439, 495, 615–16. Prefixed forms. In Old English the prefixed form geweorþan yworth v. is also attested; compare also aweorþan aworth v., (Northumbrian) foreweorþa to determine beforehand, predestine (compare fore- prefix 1), forweorþan forworth v., and misweorþan to turn out amiss (compare mis- prefix¹). It is unclear whether Old English and Middle English prefixed past participle forms represent the prefixed or the unprefixed verb, i.e. worth v.¹ or yworth v. (the latter remained current, although increasingly less common, until the end of the Middle English period), as formally they may belong to either. For this reason all Old English and Middle English prefixed past participle forms have been repeated in the Forms sections of both entries; in allocating illustrative quotations for senses, decisions have been made on the basis of the currency of less ambiguous forms for each sense. There is also a great deal of semantic overlap between the two words. While the unprefixed verb is more frequent, prefixed yworth v. seems to be preferred in some constructions, and is also attested earlier in certain senses (e.g. senses 1b, 3e). Obsolete except in woe worth (a person or thing) at Phrases 2a(a). 1. a. intransitive. To come to be, come to pass, come about, happen, take place. (a) In any tense. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)] becomec888 i-tidec888 falleOE ywortheOE i-limp975 belimpOE i-timeOE worthOE tidea1131 goa1200 arearc1275 syec1275 betide1297 fere1297 risea1350 to come aboutc1350 overcomea1382 passa1393 comea1400 to come in (also to, on, etc.) placea1400 eschew?a1400 chevec1400 shapec1400 hold1462 to come (also go) to pass1481 proceed?1518 occura1522 bechance1527 overpass1530 sorta1535 succeed1537 adventurec1540 to fall toc1540 success1545 to fall forth1569 fadge1573 beword?1577 to fall in1578 happen1580 event1590 arrive1600 offer1601 grow1614 fudge1615 incur1626 evene1654 obvene1654 to take place1770 transpire1775 to go on1873 to show up1879 materialize1885 break1914 cook1932 to go down1946 OE Genesis A (1931) 2548 Hlynn wearð on ceastrum, cirm arleasra cwealmes on ore, laðan cynnes. a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 147 He spec of þat þe sholde wurðe. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3081 (MED) Sore me longes it to se, ȝif it miȝt so worþe. a1425 (?c1350) Northern Passion (Harl. 4196) 410 Or þe kok haue krawin thrise, Sall it worth opon þis wise. a1500 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Trin. Dublin) l. 3090 (MED) Wele ȝe wate of all þat was & worth here byfore. a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 38 Aftyr this, worth gret spech yn-to all þe lond. c1600 (?c1395) Pierce Ploughman's Crede (Trin. Cambr. R.3.15) (1873) l. 493 Eft he seyde to hem-selfe ‘wo mote ȝou worþen’. 1818 Scots Mag. Oct. 329 Brichter it grew, While it wot [read wort] till a flude o' day. (b) In the present tense, with reference to the future. Obsolete. ΚΠ OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Luke i. 34 Quomodo fiet istud quoniam uirum non cognosco : huu worðes ðis forðon wer ne conn ic? OE Andreas (1932) 1383 Þær wæs yfles or, ende næfre þines wræces weorðeð. lOE tr. Vindicta Salvatoris (Vesp.) in B. Assmann Angelsächsische Homilien u. Heiligenleben (1889) 194 Ne wurð of heom næfre cyng ne ealdor ofer land ne ofer burh. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 67 (MED) Dauid minegeð us..to beregen us..wið þe eiseliche shame..þat alle synfulle men shule þolen on domes dai..er þan al mankin þe was and wurh and nu is cumen to one mote and ure louerd ihesu crist..shodeð þe gode fro þe iuele. a1300 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Jesus Oxf.) l. 141 in R. Morris Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 63 (MED) Swiþe grimlych stench þer is and wurþ wyþ-vten ende. c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) l. 401 (MED) Jch habbe biȝeten on þee a kyng Þat shal be Philippes maisterlyng; On erþe worþe non hym yliche. b. transitive. In the subjunctive, with a person as object (in early use in the dative): expressing a wish for something to happen to (someone). Occasionally also intransitive. Obsolete. ΚΠ OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xv. 28 Gewurþe þe ealswa þu wylle.] a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 153 (MED) Iþonked wurðe him. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 2317 (MED) Hail wurh [c1300 Otho beo] þu, Belin king. c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 2221 He let his oth al ouer-go, Euere wurþe him yuel and wo. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2567 ‘I ne wot in wat wise to worche be best.’ ‘Nor ich, i-wisse,’ sede william, ‘but worþe god wiþ alle.’ a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) 25633 Gabriel..said, ‘leuedi! ful of blis, ai worth þe wel!’ a1450 (?a1390) J. Mirk Festial Suppl. (Claud.) (1905) 295 (MED) Þe dor tyneth on hym for euermore, and so eurelasting farewel..worthe hym and hys werkys! 2. a. With noun or adjective complement: to become or come to be (what is expressed by the complement). (a) intransitive. In any tense. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > time > change > change [verb (intransitive)] > pass into state, become yworthOE worthOE goOE becomec1175 come?a1200 waxc1220 charea1225 aworthc1275 makea1300 fallc1300 breedc1325 grow1340 strikea1375 yern1377 entera1382 turna1400 smitec1400 raxa1500 resolvea1500 to get into ——?1510 waxen1540 get1558 prove1560 proceed1578 befall1592 drop1654 evade1677 emerge1699 to turn out1740 to gain into1756 permute1864 slip1864 OE Blickling Homilies 175 Þa þa hwile þe he þær stod, he wearþ færinga geong cniht, & sona eft eald man. ?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1154 Þat ilce dæi þat Martin abbot of Burch sculde þider faren, þa sæclede he & ward ded. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 160 Oþre unnfæwe shulenn ec Full glade. & bliþe wurrþenn. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 16028 Þenne scullen i Bruttene blissen wurðen riue. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 2806 Louerd he worþ of france. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 189 Scheepe þat drynkeþ of þat oon [river] schulle worþe blak, and schepe þat drynkeþ of þat oþer schul worþe whyte. c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 42 For dout yat thai worth proude and hautayn of thair office. a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) viii. l. 401 He sulde haf worthit rede for schaym, A fre kynrik swa til defame. 1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid iv. Prol. 245 O lust,..Thyself consumyng worthis insaciable. 1669 Hist. Sir Eger 5 My steed before me had good sight, Cast up his head, and worthed light. (b) intransitive. In the present tense, with reference to the future. Obsolete. ΚΠ eOE (Northumbrian) Bede's Death Song (St. Gallen) 1 Fore th'e [probably read thaem] neidfaerae naenig uuiurthit thoncsnotturra, than him tharf sie. lOE tr. Honorius Augustodunensis Elucidarium in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 142 Bute heo [sc. þa yfele mænn] gecerren, heora pine wurð þa mare. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 4382 (MED) Ȝet heo wurððeð [c1300 Otho worþeh] þe laðe þe me fulsteð nu to dæðe. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 2232 Þou worst þer king anon. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2534 He mai gete so moche gold þat pore worþ he neuer. a1425 (a1400) Titus & Vespasian l. 1491 in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1904) 112 29 But ȝe knowe wel þe feiþ, Thou worþest neuer hole aryȝt While þou lyuest, day ne nyȝt. b. With past participles of transitive verbs, equivalent to an auxiliary of the passive: = be v. 16a. [It is unclear how far an underlying sense ‘to become, to come to be’ is reflected in use as auxiliary of the passive in Old English. In some Old English texts, at least, there appears to be a tendency to prefer forms of be v. as passive auxiliary when the passive denotes or implies a state, in contrast to use of worth v.¹ when the passive denotes or implies an action, reflecting the respective core senses of the two verbs. However, not all uses of worth v.¹ as passive auxiliary may imply such a distinction. For further discussion see B. Mitchell Old Eng. Syntax (1985) §§786–801, D. Denison Eng. Hist. Syntax (1993) 417–9, and compare developments in the history of the passive in German.] (a) intransitive. In any tense. Obsolete. ΚΠ OE Beowulf (2008) 7 Oft Scyld Scefing..monegum mægþum meodosetla ofteah.., syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden. OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 392 Þæt cweartern wearð afylled mid fulum adelan, and butan ælcum leohte atelice stincende. c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 61 Næs he blind acenned for his aȝene synnum..ac ðæt Godes wyndræ wyrdon on him iswytelode. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 347 Þatt streon. þatt wass..lac to wurrþenn offredd her. O rode treowwess allterr. c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) l. 846 (MED) Hit shal wrþe wel isene Þat þu hauest muchel iloȝe. a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 81 Þe mon þat her no god ne sowet, wen oþer repen he worth bikakt. c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 1738 (MED) Departed is þy pryncipalte, depryved þou worþes. c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 1817 (MED) Quat lake lyse in vs, lord, if it be ȝoure will, Þus causeles for oure kynge encumbird to worthe? (b) intransitive. In the present tense, with reference to the future. Obsolete. ΚΠ eOE (Northumbrian) Bede's Death Song (St. Gallen) 5 To ymbhycggannae aer his hiniongae huaet his gastae godaes aeththa yflaes aefter deothdaege doemid uueorthae. OE Ælfric Homily (Trin. Cambr. B.15.34) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1968) II. 559 Lytel þing is geteald þises lifes ryne wið ða ecan worulde, þe ne wurð na geendod. c1175 ( Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 171 Ðenne on domes dæȝ wurð ȝeiscead atwa alle soðfeste men and synfullæ. a1250 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 5 Swete Godes moder..þin iliche neuer nes ne neuer more ne wurð iboren. c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) l. 1776 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 157 Ȝif þou comest a-mong heom ovȝt þov worst a-slawe a-non. c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 1871 If þou tarie longe her-wyþ þou worst y-schent Heȝe þow worst an honge. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xix. l. 404 But þow lyue by lore of spiritus iusticie,..ysaued worstow neure. a1450 Ministry & Passion of Christ (St. John's Cambr.) (1984) l. 992 (MED) Al þat ȝe in erþe vnbynde, in heuene it wurþe ondo. a1500 (c1400) St. Erkenwald (1977) l. 340 (MED) Blessid þou worthe. a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 124 Al the contrey forth ther-aftyr worth so I-storbet, that [etc.]. c. intransitive. With past participles of intransitive verbs. Obsolete. ΚΠ eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xxii. 169 Of ðæm treowe, ðe is haten sethim, ðæt ne wyrð næfre forrotad. OE Beowulf (2008) 823 Denum eallum wearð æfter þam wælræse willa gelumpen. OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) viii. 26 Ða aras he & bebead þam winde & þære sæ, & þær wearð geworden mycel smyltness. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 831 (MED) Ðo wurðen waxen so wide and spred Pride and giscinge of louerd-hed. 3. intransitive. With prepositional or adverbial complements. a. To come to be, attain to being (in a particular place or condition). (a) In any tense. Obsolete. ΚΠ OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 298 He..wearp þa ut his net, and þær wearð oninnan an ormæte leax. lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) (2009) I. iv. 246 Se mona..hwilum þa sunnan heore leohtes bereafaþ þonne he betwux us and hire wyrð. c1300 St. Dunstan (Laud) l. 12 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 19 Seint Dunstones moder taper a-fuyre werth a-non. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. iv. iv. 141 By gedrynge of bemes and liȝt in aer and mirþe [read in erþe] schulde be so gret bredinge of hete and of drynes þat þe aier schulde worthe afire. a1425 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 1900) (1879) VII. 505 The strete werth a fuyre. a1450 (c1385) G. Chaucer Complaint of Mars (Tanner 346) (1871) l. 248 He wende anon to worth oute of his mynde. c1450 (?a1400) T. Chestre Sir Launfal (1930) l. 131 So sauragelych [read sauagelych] hys good he besette Þat he ward yn greet dette. 1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. cvi^v Lat it worth at my wil y^e wourschip to wale. (b) In the present tense, with reference to the future. Obsolete. ΚΠ OE Crist III 1028 Þonne eall hraðe Adames cynn onfehð flæsce, weorþeð foldræste eardes æt ende. b. To turn or be converted to (also till) something; to change in status to. (a) In any tense. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > time > change > change to something else, transformation > be transformed [verb (intransitive)] wortheOE awendOE golOE turnc1275 changec1300 runc1384 to run into ——c1384 fare1398 writhea1400 transmewc1400 returnc1475 transume1480 convert1549 transform1597 remove1655 transeate1657 transmute1675 make1895 metamorphose1904 shapeshift1927 metamorphize1943 metamorphosize1967 morph1992 eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xxxviii. 279 Oft ðonne ðæt hefige mod glit niðor & niðor.., oð hit mid ealle afielð, & to nauhte wirð. OE Beowulf (2008) 2203 Hear[dr]ede hildemeceas under bordhreoðan to bonan wurdon. OE Homily: Be rihtan Cristendome (Hatton 113) in A. S. Napier Wulfstan (1883) 145 We syndon deadlice menn and to duste sceolon on worulde wurðan wurmum to æte. lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough interpolation) anno 870 Hi..macedon hit þa þet ær wæs ful rice, þa hit wearð to nan þing. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 6976 Þatt steorrne..Warrþ all to nohht..Affterr þatt crist wass fundenn. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 99 Þat bred wurð to fleis and þe drinke to blod. c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Laud) (1901) 467 Þou art so fayr and briycte, Þou schalt worþe to knyte. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5889 (MED) It [sc. a wand] sal til a nedder worth. c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 198 Sa yat bot gif thare war a souerane..all the warld, wald worth to nocht. c1600 (?c1395) Pierce Ploughman's Crede (Trin. Cambr. R.3.15) (1873) l. 746 And ich a beggers brol..worþ to a writere. (b) In the present tense, with reference to the future. Obsolete. ΚΠ OE Genesis A (1931) 1034 Me to aldorbanan weorðeð wraðra sum. OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Exod. (Claud.) vii. 9 Nym ðine gyrde & wurp hi beforan Pharaone, & heo wyrð to næddran. c1175 ( Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 138 Gyf þu eart Godes Sune, hat þæt þæs stanes to lafes wurðen. c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1106 Quat-so-euer I wynne in þe wod, hit worþeȝ to youreȝ. c. To get on (also upon) a horse. Also: (with up) to mount a horse. Also in extended use. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride a horse (or other animal) [verb (intransitive)] > mount worthOE mountc1330 lighta1450 horse1535 to get up1553 to get on1613 to take horse1617 saddle1834 to saddle up1849 OE Wærferð tr. Gregory Dialogues (Hatton) (1900) i. x. 82 He..aras of þam bedde & wearð uppon his horse [OE Corpus Cambr. eode to his horse]. lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1048 Ða wearð Eustatius uppon his horse & his gefeoran uppon heora. c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) 1164 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 139 Þe holi Man..werth op..and rod him forth wel faste. c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 4723 (MED) Opon a mule sche warþ anon. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. vii. l. 91 (MED) Many of ȝow ne wedde nouȝt þe wommen þat ȝe with delen, But as wilde bestis with wehe worthen vppe and worchen, And bryngeth forth barnes þat bastardes men calleth. c1422 T. Hoccleve Tale of Jerelaus (Durh.) in Minor Poems (1970) i. 175 Shee wasshith..the flessh of the filthes of synne, clothynge it with goode vertues, & makynge it ascende, and worthe vp-on the steede of charitee. a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 628 (MED) He..worthe on hys sted. ?1537 Hugh of Caumpedene tr. Hist. Kyng Boccus sig. S.iij For thy the kyng Boccus anon Toke hors and worthed there vpon. d. To pass away; to go hence. Also: (with after) to remain behind. Obsolete.In quot. OE with reflexive pronoun in the dative. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > absence of movement > [verb (intransitive)] > remain as opposed to go bidec893 yleaveOE leaveOE wonc1000 abideOE worthOE beliveOE atstutte-nc1220 stuttea1225 atstuntc1230 astinta1250 beleavea1325 lasta1325 stounda1325 stinta1340 joukc1374 restaya1382 to leave over1394 liec1400 byec1425 onbidec1430 keep1560 stay1575 delay1655 to wait on1773 stop1801 to sit on1815 to hang around1830 to stick around1878 to sit tight1897 remain1912 stay-down1948 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go or move away specifically of things forgoc950 worthOE atgoc1175 alithec1275 withdraw1297 lenda1350 withgoa1400 to go farewellc1400 voidc1400 startc1405 overdrawa1450 recedec1450 sinkc1450 remove1481 regress1552 to-gang1596 elongate1646 abscede1650 discede1650 to take a walk1871 OE Ælfric Old Test. Summary: Maccabees (Julius) in W. W. Skeat Ælfric's Lives of Saints (1900) II. 80 Mathathias..towearp þæt deofolgild, and wearð him awege. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2355 Wende listly hennes & late me worþ after. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 19110 Þe lastand dede sal worþe awai. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 33 Þou shalt have þat I hete & þou hent worth. e. With of: to become of, to happen to. Obsolete. [In quot. OE apparently showing yworth v. in similar use with by.] ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)] > become of betidea1400 worthc1400 befall1470 become of1535 society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > ride (a horse or other animal) [verb (transitive)] > mount (a horse or other animal) to win upona1400 worthc1400 takea1438 mountc1540 to get upon ——1561 to get on ——1572 back1594 OE Wærferð tr. Gregory Dialogues (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) ii. xxxv.172 He onbead þam æwfæstan were Theoprobo þæt..þæt he sylf ongeate & eft þider gebude, hwæt geworden wære be Germane þam biscope.] c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 243 (MED) What-so worþed of þat wyȝe fro he in water dipped, Hit were a wonder to wene, ȝif holy wryt nere. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 516 Lete se what schulde haue worthe of the men in these ȝeeris, if thei hadden not be mad religiose. a1500 (?a1400) Morte Arthur (1903) l. 1817 (MED) Launcelot, what shall worthe of vs twoo! ?1542 M. Coverdale tr. Supplicacion vnto Kyng Ferdinandus To Rdr. Lorde what shall worth of vs then, that hauyng such delite in oure old wicked conuersacion, shame not to refuse all honest amendment of lyuinge? 1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie 4th Serm. sig. Mvi What wyll worth, what wyl be the end of this man? c1570 in J. Raine Depositions Courts Durham (1845) 150 He knew not from whence they came, or what worde of them. 1629 Z. Boyd Last Battell Soule (new ed.) 425 (Jam.) Then many shall wonder what can bee worde of such a blazing professor. a1665 W. Guthrie Serm. Regen. (1709) 14 What will word of my House? And what will word of my Goods and Gear. 1818 J. Hogg Brownie of Bodsbeck I. iii. 38 I was..considering what could be wort of a' the sheep. 1830 J. Hogg in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 896/2 Ye'll mind your eldest brother weel eneugh. Did ye ever ken what oord o' him? 4. transitive. With pronoun as object (in early use in the dative). To be had, got, or experienced by (a person); to belong to or be available to. Obsolete. ΚΠ lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1119 Se arcebiscop of Uiana wearð to papan gecoren, þam wearð nama Calixtus. a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 123 (MED) Se ðe her godes mildsce ne beȝett, ne wurð hie him naure mo ealles hwer. a1250 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 16 Hu sore him wiket þar in one stunde oþer two wurh him pine euere-mo. c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 225 While ich wot he is oliue Conseyl worþ ȝou of me non. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 74 (MED) Huo hier him demþ, zoþliche him ne worþ non hede to by uorlore ate daye of dome. c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. iv. l. 98 (MED) Suche a wynnynge hym warth þorw wordes of hus grace. 5. transitive. Scottish. Impersonal with preceding object (or with non-referential it and following object) and infinitive. To behove, need, be necessary (e.g. him worthit abyde ‘it was necessary for him to abide’). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > necessity > condition of being necessary > be necessary [verb (intransitive)] needa1398 worth1424 requirea1500 fault1502 1424 State Papers Edinb. Reg. House No. 15 As langand ȝhure custumes vs worthis to vndirly, the ordonance of ȝhure noble depute. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) iv. 194 Him worthit, magre his, abyde In till ane hamelat neir thair-by. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iii. l. 271 Schir Amar said, ‘Trewis it wordis tak’. Phrases †P1. to let (a person or thing) worth: to leave (a person or thing) alone; = to let (a person or thing) yworth at yworth v. Phrases. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > permit [verb (transitive)] > permit by non-intervention let971 tholec1070 to let (a person or thing) worthlOE to let (a person or thing) yworth?c1225 sufferc1290 seea1400 assuffera1530 tolerate1533 sustain1541 comport1620 to let something ride1908 lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1090 He..forlet swa his man þone eorl Rodbeard & his land & ferde ongean to France & let heom swa weorðan. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 2330 Þer fore he was so prout & þe king nas him sulf bote as a ssade, & let im worþe al out. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3597 ‘Lat me worþ’, quaþ william, ‘þat schal i wite sone’. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. Prol. l. 187 For-þi I conseille alle þe comune to lat þe catte worthe. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 6037 Late ladies worthe with her thyngis. a1500 (?c1450) Merlin iii. 58 Than seide Merlyn, ‘Let me worthen ther-with, and I shall a-quyte me of the comenaunt [emended in ed. to couenaunt] that I made’. c1600 (c1350) Alisaunder (Greaves) (1929) l. 1184 (MED) Soone hee leapes on-loft and lete hym worthe, To faire as hym lyst. P2. a. (a) woe worth (a person or thing): may evil or misfortune beset (a person); may a curse be on (a person or thing). Frequently in woe worth the day (also time, etc.). Now archaic and rare. ΚΠ c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) l. 384 Wa wurðe þet cheaffeare. a1275 Body & Soul (Trin. Cambr. B.14.39) l. 114 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) l. 141 Wa uurþe þe time þat tu boren was. c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) (1963) l. 3995 Wo worþe onread. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 4118 Ȝif i wrong seie any word, wo worþ me euer. c1440 (?a1400) Sir Perceval (1930) l. 139 ‘Wo worthe wykkyde armour!’ Percyuell may say. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 145 Wo worthe this swerde! for by hit I have gotyn my deth. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iv. l. 748 Allace! That I was maide wa worthe the courssit cas. a1542 T. Wyatt Coll. Poems (1969) viii. 139 Thou toke her streight from me, that wo worth thee! 1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Passion ii. 199 May we not iustly crye wo worth the tyme that euer we synned? 1567 R. Crowley Opening of Wordes Prophet Ioell sig. D.v^v Then may we say, Woe worth the day And houre of our first birthe. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. v. xlviii. 211 Wo worth men conquered, and downe with them still. 1647 R. Herrick Widdowes Teares in Noble Numbers 43 Woe worth the Time, woe worth the day, That reav'd us of thee Tabitha. 1684 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 2nd Pt. ii. 7 Then they all wept again, and cryed out: Oh, Wo worth the day. 1718 A. Ramsay Elegies (ed. 2) 6 Wae worth Death, our Sport's a' lost, Since Maggy's dead. 1798 Descr. Remarkable Vision Thomas Webster 10 For woe worth the time, and woe worth the sorrow. a1801 R. Gall Poems & Songs (1819) 30 Wae worth ye, sir! it sets ye ill To talk to me in sic a style. 1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 12 Woe worth the chase, woe worth the day, That costs thy life, my gallant grey! 1816 J. Duff Poems 11 Wae-wirth that whingin' whig, profession. 1870 J. R. Lowell My Study Windows 244 Woe worth the hour that I beheld thee born. 1916 Washington Post 19 Sept. 6/1 A Boston citizen—woe worth the day!—comes forward with a suggestion for doing away with the human spellbinder. 1937 V. D. Scudder On Journey i. i. 2 I dabbled all my youth.., woe worth the day. 1953 Classical Jrnl. 49 74/1 We have discoveries to make, and if we make them wisely and well a better day will dawn for mankind; if, however, we muff the opportunity, then woe worth mankind. †(b) woe worth me: = woe is me at woe int., adv., n., and adj. Phrases 2. Obsolete (archaic in later use). ΚΠ 1540 J. Palsgrave tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus iv. vi. sig. X Haye to me .i. wo to me, or wo worth me, or woo is me (that euer I was borne). 1581 T. Rogers tr. Pretious Bk. Heauenlie Medit. v. 29 Wo worth me wretch that I neuer marked, how I became nothing when I forsooke thee. a1625 J. Fletcher Womans Prize v. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) 120 I strewd the staires with pease, as he past down; And the good Gentleman (woe worth me for't)..Fell to the bottome. 1781 Public Advertiser 30 Oct. Woe worth me!..if ever I thought your honour had been so far read. 1891 A. Conan Doyle White Company ix Wo worth me when Agatha the tire-woman sets eyes upon it! †(c) woe worth: (as interjection) = woe int. Obsolete (archaic after 17th cent.). ΘΚΠ the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [interjection] > oaths other than religious or obscene > imprecations woeOE dahetc1290 confoundc1330 foul (also shame) fall ——c1330 sorrow on——c1330 in the wanianda1352 wildfirea1375 evil theedomc1386 a pestilence on (also upon)c1390 woe betide you (also him, her, etc.)c1390 maldathaita1400 murrainc1400 out ona1415 in the wild waning worldc1485 vengeance?a1500 in a wanion1549 with a wanion1549 woe worth1553 a plague on——a1566 with a wanion to?c1570 with a wanyand1570 bot1584 maugre1590 poxa1592 death1593 rot1594 rot on1595 cancro1597 pax1604 pize on (also upon)1605 vild1605 peascod1606 cargo1607 confusion1608 perditiona1616 (a) pest upon1632 deuce1651 stap my vitals1697 strike me blind, dumb, lucky (if, but—)1697 stop my vitals1699 split me (or my windpipe)1700 rabbit1701 consume1756 capot me!1760 nick me!1760 weary set1788 rats1816 bad cess to1859 curse1885 hanged1887 buggeration1964 1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique i. f. 43 Wo worthe, thei are dedde. 1598 J. Marston Scourge of Villanie i. i. sig. B6^v Woe worth when trees drop in their proper kinde! 1613 W. Leighton Teares or Lament. sig. 3^v All (alas, woe worth) doe me disdaine. 1906 C. M. Doughty Dawn in Brit.* VI. xxi. 34 Woe-worth! the old hind mourns. †b. well worth: (followed by noun or pronoun) may good fortune betide; good luck to. Cf. well adj. 1. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > prosperity > in prosperous condition [phrase] > fortunately > wish for another's good fortune well worthc1275 winc1400 fair fall ——c1430 wally fall1568 more power to a person (also a person's elbow, arm)1831 c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 6528 Wel wurðe [c1300 Otho worþe] þe Vortiger þat þu ært icumen her. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) 155 Wel wurðe his migt lefful ay Ðe wroutis on ðe ferðe day! c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 2127 Wel worth þe, wyȝe, þat woldeȝ my gode. a1425 Dialogue Reason & Adversity (Cambr.) (1968) 9 (MED) Wel worth þe wand þat makiþ wilde childer tame. a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox & Wolf l. 648 in Poems (1981) 28 Weill worth the, father, that send me to the lair. a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 242 ‘Weill worth the, sister’, said Considerance, ‘And I sall help for to mantene the dance.’ 1736 A. Ramsay Coll. Scots Prov. (1776) 74 Well worth a' good takens. 1870 A. Hislop Prov. Scotl. (ed. 3) 313 Weel worth a' that gars the plough draw. Anglice, Good luck to everything by which we earn money. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022). † worthv.² Forms: Old English uorðia (Northumbrian), Old English wearðian (Anglian), Old English weorþian, Old English weorðian, Old English wiorðian (rare), Old English worðian (chiefly Northumbrian), Old English wurþian, Old English wurðian, Old English wyrþian, Old English wyrðian, late Old English wiorþian (Kentish), early Middle English vurge, early Middle English weorðie, early Middle English worþe, early Middle English worðe, early Middle English wrþi, early Middle English wrþie, early Middle English wurche, early Middle English wurdgi, early Middle English wurge, early Middle English wurgi, early Middle English wurhȝie, early Middle English wurrþenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English wurþe, early Middle English wurþi, early Middle English wurþie, early Middle English wurð, early Middle English wurðche, early Middle English wurðe, early Middle English wurðe (past tense, perhaps transmission error), early Middle English wurðge, early Middle English wurðgi, early Middle English wurðȝe, early Middle English wurði, early Middle English wurðie, early Middle English wyrðie, Middle English worth, Middle English worþi. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old High German werdōn to value, to honour, Gothic wairþon to value < the same Germanic base as worth adj. Compare i-worth v. and the Germanic forms cited at that entry. Compare also later worthy v.In Old English a weak verb of Class II. A corresponding Class I weak verb is also attested; compare (prefixed) gewierþan to value, appraise, and probably also Northumbrian (rare) wyrþa to irrigate, to manure (apparently showing a specific sense development; compare worthing n.²); compare Middle High German wirden to honour, value, Old Icelandic virða to place a value on, evaluate, and (with prefix) Old Saxon giwerthon to value, prize. In Old English the prefixed form geweorþian i-worth v. is also attested; compare also beweorþian to adorn (compare be- prefix), misweorþian to dishonour (compare mis- prefix¹), unweorþian unworth v., (Northumbrian) toweorþia to adore (compare to- prefix¹). Notes on forms. Forms in -ch- probably reflect secondary association with worship v. Some Middle English forms could perhaps alternatively be interpreted as showing earlier forms of worthy v. Obsolete. 1. a. transitive. To honour (a person or thing); to treat with honour or respect. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [verb (transitive)] > show respect for wortheOE to do worship to (also till, for)OE honourc1275 worshipc1300 to make feasta1325 to do (a person or thing) honourc1330 observec1390 reverencec1400 weigh1423 honourable1455 worthya1500 honorify1606 to rise up to (also unto)1621 eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xvii. 123 Ðu weorðasð [L. honorasti] ðine suna ma ðonne me. OE Blickling Homilies 11 Weorþian we eac þa claþas his hades, of þæm wæs ure gecynd geedneowod. OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xv. 8 Þis folc me mid welerum wurþað & hyra heorte ys feorr fram me. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2358 Þær þurrh wass ȝho wel wurrþ to ben. Swa wurrþedd her onn erþe. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 6699 Þas cnihtes weoren an hirede. hæhliche iwurðed. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) 262 Ihesus..Ros fro ded on ðe sunenday, Ðat is forð siðen worðed ay. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3503 Wurð ðin fader and moder so, Ðat ðu hem drede. c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 2124 I wald more worth..a wyse man disc[i]ple, Þan þe honour þat Acheles aȝt. b. transitive. To show reverence to (God or a god); to worship. ΘΚΠ society > faith > worship > [verb (transitive)] heryc735 wortheOE hallowa1000 blessOE worshipa1200 servec1225 anourec1275 adorec1300 glorify1340 laud1377 magnifya1382 praisea1382 sacre1390 feara1400 reverencec1400 anorna1425 adorn1480 embrace1490 elevatea1513 reverent1565 god1595 venerate1623 thanksgivea1638 congratule1657 doxologizea1816 the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > honour > give honour to [verb (transitive)] wortheOE i-worthOE menskc1225 athelec1275 aworthyc1275 honoura1325 furtherc1374 honesta1382 worship1389 gloryc1400 dignifya1530 worthy1532 endue1565 enhonour1571 to do (a person or thing) the honour?1572 deign1579 honorify1606 famous1622 blazon1815 to do a person proud1819 eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) iv. iv. 87 Þa diofla þe hie an simbel weorþedon hi amirdon. OE Blickling Homilies 27 Þas ealle ic þe sylle, gif þu feallest to me & me weorþast. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 45 Ure hlouerd ihesu crist..heged and wurðed bie he. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 11 Hine ȝe scule wurþian and hersumen and luuian mid al euwer heorte. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 583 Heo wurðeden [c1300 Otho worþede] þat anlicnes þe Scucke hit on-feng. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1845 Wið newe alter wurðed he wel Ðe strong god of ysrael. ?c1335 in W. Heuser Kildare-Gedichte (1904) 115 (MED) Þe first comondement is þis..His name wiþ wirssip to worþi. 2. transitive. To raise to honour or distinction; to endow. ΘΚΠ society > law > transfer of property > settlement of property > settle (property) [verb (transitive)] > endow worthOE goodOE dow1297 allowc1400 rentc1400 endowc1440 enduec1440 seizec1450 empossessc1500 revestc1500 indot1520 endote1528 dotatec1540 estate1609 instate1614 portion1663 vest1748 fortune1838 OE Cynewulf Elene 1195 Bið þæt beacen gode halig nemned, ond se hwæteadig, wigge weorðod, se þæt wicg byrð. OE Waldere i. 22 Weorða ðe selfne godum dædum, ðenden ðin god recce. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1308 Al his cun he wurðede [c1300 Otho worþede] richen & wrecchen. a1400 (a1325) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Trin. Cambr.) (1887) App. G. 792 Þeos foure weyes on þis lond, king belin..Made & worþede ham wiþ gr[et] franchise. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < n.¹eOEn.²OEn.³1609adj.eOEv.¹eOEv.²eOE
随便看	to etc in the way of to etc in the way of a person to etc in the way of a thing to etc in touch to etc in vogue to etc in way to etc in worth to etc in, into, out of, to a etc frame to etc in, into, out of, to a good frame to etc in, into, out of, to frame to etc into exile to etc into gobbets to etc into matches to etc into nothingness to etc into or to shatters to etc into relief to etc into requisition to etc into the ether to etc into the melting pot to etc into use to etc into vogue to etc late to the party to etc left to etc like a canary to etc like a leaf

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