Word Direct Answers

What does "worthy" mean?

Worthy: Having suitable, adapted, or equivalent qualities or value; -- usually with of before the thing compared or the object; more rarely, with a following infinitive instead of of, or with that; as, worthy of, equal in excellence, value, or dignity to; entitled to; meriting; -- usually in a good sense, but sometimes in a bad one. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway. Shak. The merciless Macdonwald, Worthy to be a rebel. Shak. Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. Matt. iii.

Additional senses

  1. 2.And thou art worthy that thou shouldst not know More happiness. Milton. The lodging is well worthy of the guest. Dryden.
  2. 3.Of high station; of high social position. [Obs.] Worthy women of the town. Chaucer. Worthiest of blood (Eng. Law of Descent), most worthy of those of the same blood to succeed or inherit; -- applied to males, and expressive of the preference given them over females. Burrill.
  3. 4.A man of eminent worth or value; one distinguished for useful and estimable qualities; a person of conspicuous desert; -- much used in the plural; as, the worthies of the church; political worthies; military worthies. The blood of ancient worthies in his veins. Cowper.
  4. 5.To render worthy; to exalt into a hero. [Obs.] Shak.

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