a. (sb., adv.). Forms: α. 4 worþssipuol; 4 worshup-, 4–5 worschip-, worschep- (4 worsship-), 5 worchip-, 4– worship-, 5–6 worshypful, Sc. wourschip-, 6 woorshipfull, etc. β. 5 wurschip-, -chep-, 5–6 -shipful(l. γ. 5 wir-, wyrship-, etc. [f. WORSHIP sb.]
1. Of things: Notable or outstanding in respect of some (good) quality or property; distinguished, imposing; reputable, honorable. Now arch.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter lxxi. 14. Worschepfulle [L. præclarum] þe name of þa Bifore hime it sal be swa.
1340. Ayenb., 80. Vor uirtue is þing wel worþssipuol, lostuol and uremuol.
1357. Lay-Folks Mass-Bk., App. II. 119. I beleve that the moost worshipful sacrament of the auter is Crystis body in fourme of bred.
1388. Wyclif, Gen. xxviii. 17. Hou worschipful [L. terribilis] is this place!
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIV. xliv. (Tollem. MS.). With his comynge þerto oure Lorde made his Mountt [Tabor] worschipful [L. commendabilem].
c. 1450. Merlin, v. 85. He … seide that so high and wurschipful a-mendes dide neuer a lorde to his man.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 6815. In the most worschepful and reverent gyse they hym beryeden as they cowde devyse.
1479. York Memo. Bk. (Surtees), I. 171. The mare of this said wirshupfull cite for time beyng.
1508. Fisher, 7 Penit. Ps. cii. Wks. (1876), 189. He shall gyue vs power to preche…, which shall be a very worshypfull offyce.
1560. Pilkington, Expos. Aggeus (1562), 182. They shall finde mo worshipfull names geven to the preachinge minister, then to any one sorte of men.
1575. Laneham, Lett. (1871), 1. I am placed at Coourt heer (as yee wot) in a woorshipfull room.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., 175. When this right worshipful title [of knighthood] was by the Prince conferred upon one.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Suff. (1662), 65. His Posterity still flourish in a Worshipful equipage at Nacton.
1687. Reflect. on Hind & Panther, 34. No Romance can furnish us with such pleasant and worshipful Tales.
1826. Scott, Woodst., ii. Will he give us the remains of his worshipful and economical house-keeping?
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., xxi. IV. 626. Whether standing or sitting, his look was worshipful and kingly.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Deronda, xxxvii. Isn’t that better than painting a piece of staring immodesty and calling it by a worshipful name?
absol. a. 1871. Grote, Eth. Fragm., v. (1876), 176. Aristotle distributes good things into three classes—the adinirable or worshipful [τὰ τίμια]—the praiseworthy—the potential.
2. Of persons: Distinguished in respect of character or rank; entitled to honor or respect on this account. Now arch.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, xxviii. 4. Konynge that makis men worschipful.
1357. Lay Folks’ Catech. (T.), 205. Ilk man that worshipfull is.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 182. And ek so worschipful a wif, The doughter of an Emperour, To wedde it schal be gret honour.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 3147. A worshipfulle woman in þat contre þo dwelt.
1450–80. trans. Secreta Secret., lviii. 34. Þus shalt thou be holden wijs and worshipfulle for thi governance.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. viii. 425. Syr Tristram that is the worshipfullest knyght that now is lyuynge. Ibid., XVI. iii. 668. Of a moche more worshypfuller mans hand myghte I not dye.
c. 1530. Prov., in Pol., Rel. & L. Poems (1903), 58. A nobyll and a wurshipfull hert nevyr askyth of womens dedys.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 272. Wyse & woorshypful men experte in nauigations.
1579. W. Wilkinson, Confut. Fam. Love, To Rdr. ☞ i b. The answere … beyng intercepted by my worshypfull frend, came not into my handes.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., 199. Small townlets … which have given surnames to ancient and worshipfull families.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., IX. 396. I encountered with a Worshipfull English Gentleman Mr. Stydolffe Esquier of his Maiesties body.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. 197. Edwin Sands, Arch-Bishop of Yorke, born in Lancashire of worshipfull Parentage.
1819. Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life, II. 52. Oh! what a delicious painter of mind and body is that worshipful Master Aubrey!
1845. Carlyle, Cromwell, Let. ccxvii. (1871), IV. 239. If not the noblest and worshipfulest of all Englishmen, at least the strongest and terriblest.
† b. Applied to Bede, = VENERABLE a. 1. Obs.
14[?]. ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 1583. Behynde all these was worshipfull Beede.
c. 1450. Compend. Olde Treat. (Arb.), 175. Worshupfull Bede in his first booke telleth [etc.].
1483. Caxton, Golden Leg., 411/1. He is not called of holy chyrche Saynt bede but worshypful bede.
3. a. As an honorific title for persons or bodies of distinguished rank or importance: formerly used very widely, but now restricted to justices of the peace, aldermen, recorders, the London city companies and freemasons’ lodges and their masters. Right worshipful is applied to mayors, and the sheriffs, aldermen, and recorder of London.
1398. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), III. 316. Y … by for yow hier, worshepful fader in God, and lord, Richard, by the grace of God erche bysshop of York,… make avowe [etc.].
1405. Rolls of Parlt., III. 605/1. To comune … with the Wyrshipfull Prince Robert the King of Scotland, and his Conseil.
1426. in Surtees Misc. (1890), 10. Vnto his wirshipfull Mair,… and all þe wirshipfull Counsell of þe cite of York.
1473. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 79/1. The fundation of that worshipfull Fader William Wykeham, sumtyme Bisshop of Wynchestre.
1578. T. Nicholas, trans. Cortes’ Conq. W. India (1596), Ep. Ded. Whilest I abode … in the Isle of Palma, in affaires of merchandize for the worshipfull Thomas Lock deceased.
1605. Camden, Rem., Ded. 1. To the Right Worshipfvll, Worthy and Learned Sir Robert Cotton.
1615. R. Cocks, Diary (Hakl. Soc.), I. 48. The Worshipfull Companys letters.
1639. J. Taylor (Water P.), Part Summers Trav., 20. The right worthy worshipfull Knight Sir Paul Neale.
1641. W. S., More’s Edw. V., Ded. To the Right Worshipfull Sir Iohn Lenthall Knight.
1720. A. Petrie, Rules Deportm. (1877), 79. The Manner of directing of your Letters…. To the Right Worshipful Lady M. S. … To the Worshipful Lady A. S.
1732. Pope, Hor. Satires, II. ii. 75. How pale, each Worshipful and Rev’rend guest Rise from a Clergy, or a City feast!
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, III. 286. I thanked … his worshipful brethren of the Council.
1768. Complete Letter-Writer (ed. 12), 46. To the Master and Wardens of the Worshipful Company of Mercers.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, lvii. A dusty old beadle … who has something to do with a Worshipful Company who have got a Hall in the next yard.
1849. G. P. R. James, Woodman, ii. Sir Charles Weinants, a right worshipful gentleman also.
1876. Law Rep. 2 Probate Div., 382. A certain Cause now pending in our Consistory Court, before the Worshipful Thomas Hutchinson Tristram,… our Vicar General.
b. Used in forms of address, as worshipful sir, (right) worshipful master, etc.
1425. Paston Lett., I. 19. Right worthy and worshepefull Sir, I recommaunde me to yow, [etc.].
1440. Corr. etc. Coldingham Priory (Surtees), 114. Wirshipfull sir I comend me to ȝowe.
c. 1440. Marg. Paston, in P. Lett., I. 42. Ryth reverent and worsepful husbon.
c. 1455. Bekynton, Corr. (Rolls), II. 342. [To Henry, Duke of Somerset, begins] High mighti Prince and my right worshipful and good lord.
1473. Paston Lett., Suppl. (1901), 144. Ryght wyrshypfull and my ryght tendre modre, I recommaunde me to yow.
1542. Udall, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 2. Right worshipfull and my singlar good Maister.
a. 1592. Greene, Alcida (1617), Ded. A 3. To the Right Worshipfull, Sir Charles Blount, Knight. Ibid. So (right worshipfull) after your returne from the Low Countries, [etc.].
1681. Otway, Soldier’s Fort., III. i. Her Ladyship, Right-worshipful, is pleas’d not to be at home.
1768. Complete Letter-Writer (ed. 12), 48. Justices of the Peace, and Mayors, are stiled Right Worshipful.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, ix. ‘Thanks, most worshipful,’ returned Miss Vernon.
1843. Lytton, Last Bar., I. i. It shall not be my fault if I do not, though but a humble headman to your worshipful Mastership, help to make them so.
1861. Dict. Daily Wants, s.v. Addresses, The Mayors of all Corporations, with the Sheriffs, Aldermen, and Recorder of London, are styled Right Worshipful; and the Aldermen and Recorder of other Corporations, as well as Justices of the Peace, Worshipful.
1906. Complete Letter-writer, 21. A Mayor is addressed as The Worshipful the Mayor of —; in a few cities as ‘Right Worshipful.’
c. absol. (chiefly pl.) or as sb. In later use spec. a magistrate.
c. 1450. MS. Trin. Coll. Camb. R. 3. 19, lf. 170 b. Worshipfull and dyscrete that here present be, I wyll you tell a tale, two or thre.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 655. Þan durst y do my devoire with any worshipfulle to be wonnynge.
1536. in Lett. Suppress. Monasteries (Camden), 129. As by the reporte of dyvers worshyppfulles … yt ys to us openly declared.
1565. Child-Marriages (1897), 49. As he hard it reportid by diuerse worshipfull and others.
1579. W. Wilkinson, Confut. Fam. Love, 30 b. Hauyng … deceiued some Justices of Peace, and other worshypfull of countrey, where they dwel.
1595. Churchw. Acc. St. Marg. Westm. (Nichols, 1797), 24. When the worshipfull of the parish … went the perambulacion to Kensington.
1806. Spirit Publ. Jrnls., X. 213. Anon the day of trial comes, The Worshipfuls were on their bums, And all the court in solemn silence sat.
† 4. Showing or bringing honor or distinction to a person; reputable or honorable for one. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 14. And ȝif þei seyn þat grete chirchis ben worschipful to god [etc.].
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 46. Þer is no þing more worschipful to a leche … þan to kepe a lyme woundid fro swellynge.
1455. Rolls of Parlt., V. 325/1. Craftes which be convenient, wurshipfull and accordyng for Gentil wymmen, and oþer wymmen of wurship.
1472[?]. Paston Lett., Suppl. (1901), 143. That shuld not be wurchepfull for you; for men shull not than set be you.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, II. v. (1883), 63. For he had oppynyon that hit was as worshipfull and fittynge to a kynge to pardone as to punysshe.
5. Imbued with the spirit of worship or veneration.
1809. W. Taylor, in Robberds, Mem., II. 274. I should have been more humble, panegyrical, worshipful.
1840. Tait’s Mag., VII. 3. The Whigs … are more worshipful of that perfection of wisdom, the glorious British constitution.
a. 1861. T. Woolner, My Beautiful Lady, Night, ix. Or kneels she worshipful beside her bed.
1891. T. Hardy, Tess, xxxi. He would sometimes catch her large, worshipful eyes … looking at him from their depths.
6. Deserving or capable of being worshipped; worshipable.
1872. Browning, Fifine, xxxii. Obey Implicitly, nor pause to question, to survey Even the worshipful!
1901. Athenæum, 19 Jan., 72/3. The theory of transmigration of ancestral souls into worshipful plants and animals.
† 7. adv. = next. Obs. rare.
1470. Paston Lett., Suppl. (1901), 135. It is a fowle slaunder that he was so wurchepful beried … and so litill do for hym sithen.
