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worthy

adj. · n.
US //ˈwɝði// UK //wˈɜːði// wor·thy
  1. 1 deserving of something (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    deserving of something, such as respect, support, or a prize.

    having sufficient worth or merit to deserve a particular treatment or reward; frequently takes the preposition 'of'.

    Example

    The charity provides help to many worthy causes in the local area.

    Example

    The committee struggled to decide which applicant was most worthy of the scholarship, as every candidate demonstrated exceptional academic potential.

    Usage

    Commonly followed by 'of' plus a noun or gerund.
  2. 2 honourable (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    having a good character and deserving respect.

    characterised by integrity, excellence, or moral value.

    Example

    He was a worthy opponent who played the game fairly.

    Example

    Though they were rivals, she considered him a worthy successor who would maintain the high standards of the institution.
    • disreputable
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  1. 3 an important person (n.)
    C1 Advanced Humorous Formal

    an important or famous person, especially in a small town.

    a person of some importance or standing within a specific community or organisation.

    Example

    The local worthies gathered at the town hall for the annual dinner.

    Example

    The front row was occupied by various local worthies, including the mayor and several prominent business owners.

    Usage

    Often used in the plural form 'worthies'.

    Teacher's tip

    In modern usage, this is often slightly humorous or ironic, suggesting the people think they are more important than they actually are.
Etymology 1

From Middle English worthy, wurthi, from Old English *weorþiġ (“worthy”), equivalent to worth + -y. Cognate with Dutch waardig (“worthy”), Middle Low German werdig (“worthy”), German würdig (“worthy”), Swedish värdig (“worthy”), Icelandic verðugt (“worthy”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English worthien, wurthien, from Old English weorþian (“to esteem, honor, worship, distinguish, celebrate, exalt, praise, adorn, deck, enrich, reward”), from Proto-Germanic werþōną (“to be worthy, estimate, appreciate, appraise”), from Proto-Indo-European wert- (“to turn, wind”). Cognate with German werten (“to rate, judge, grade, score”), Swedish värdera (“to evaluate, rate, size up, assess, estimate”), Icelandic virða (“to respect, esteem”).

Word family

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