3 entries under this word
(wŭrth), v. i. [A-S. weorðan, to become, to be, to happen, imperative weordh, Goth. wairthan, O. Sax. werðan, werdhan, O. Fries. wirtha, L. Ger. werden, O. H. Ger. werdan, N. H. Ger. & D. werden, Icel. verða, Sw. varda, Dan. vorde.] To be; to become; to betide; — now used only in the phrases, woe worth the day, woe worth the man, and the like, in which the verb is in the imperative mode, and the noun in the dative; woe be to the day, woe be to the man.
(wûrth), n. [A-S. weordh, wyrdh, wurdh, O. Sax. werth, werd, O. Fries. werth, werd, wird, Goth. vairths, D. waarde, O. D. weerde, Icel. verd, virdha, Sw. värde, Dan. värdi, virði, O. H. Ger. werd, wirdi, M. H. Ger. wert, N. H. Ger. werth, würde. See infra.]
Sense 1. That quality of a thing which renders it valuable or useful; sum of valuable qualities which render any thing useful and sought; value; hence, often, value as expressed in a standard, as money; equivalent in exchange; price.
What's worth in any thing But so much money as 'twill bring? Hudibras.
Sense 2. Value of moral or personal qualities; excellence; virtue; eminence; desert; usefulness; as, a man or magistrate of great worth. “To think how modest worth neglected lies.” Shenstone.
I know the gentleman To be of worth, and worthy estimation. Shak.
As none but she, who in that court did dwell, Could know such worth, or worth describe so well. Waller.
Synonyms—Desert; merit; excellence; price; rate.
(wûrth), a. [A-S. weordh, weordhe, wyrdhe, wurdh, O. Sax. werth, werd, O. Fries. werth, wird, Goth. wairths, D. waard, O. D. weerd, Icel., Sw., & Dan. wird, O. H. Ger. & L. Ger. werd, M. H. Ger. werth, N. H. Ger. werth, O. Prussian werts, Lith. wertas.]
Sense 1. Equal in value to; furnishing an equivalent for; proper to be exchanged for.
A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats. Shak.
If your arguments produce no conviction, they are worth nothing to me. Beattie.
Sense 2. Deserving of;—in a good or bad sense, but chiefly in a good sense.
To reign is worth ambition, though in hell. Milton.
This is life indeed, life worth preserving. Addison.
Sense 3. Equal in possessions to; having wealth or estate to the value of.
At Geneva are merchants worth twenty hundred crowns. Addison.
Worth while, or worth the while. See WHILE.