Worthy

(wûr’thÿ), a. [compar. WORTHIER; superl. WORTHIEST.] [O. Sax. wirdhig, wirdig, O. Fries. werthich, werdich, D. waardig, O. D. weerdigh, werdigh, O. H. Ger. wirdig, N. H. Ger. würdig, Dan. & Sw. värdig, Icel. verðugr.]

1Sense 1. Having worth or excellence; possessing merit; valuable; deserving; estimable; excellent; virtuous.

These banished men, that I have kept withal, Are men endued with worthy qualities. Shak.

Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be. Milton.

This worthy mind should worthy things embrace. Davies.

2Sense 2. 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, but sometimes in a bad sense. “The lodging is well worthy of the guest.” Dryden.

Nay, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway. Shak.

The merciless Macdonald, Worthy to be a rebel. Shak.

And then art worthy that thou shouldst not know More happiness. Milton.

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.