Obs. exc. arch. Forms: (see below). [Common Teut.: OE. weorðan, wurðan (wearþ, wurdon, ʓeworden) = OFris. wertha, wirtha, wirda (WFris. wirde), OS. werđan (MLG. and LG. werden; MDu. and Du. worden), OHG. werdan, werthan (MHG. and G. werden), ON. and Icel. verða (Norw. dial. verda, verta, MSw. varþa, vardha, Sw. varda, Da. vorde), Goth. wairþan. The stem is prob. the same as that of L. vertĕre, OSlav. vrŭtĕti, vratiti (Russ. vertjet’), Lith. versti (stem vert-), Skr. vṛit (vártatē, vartti) to turn, the sense in Germanic having developed into that of ‘to turn into,’ ‘to become.’ Cf. -WARD suffix.
OE. compounds are represented by the obsolete FORWORTH and I-WORTH.]
A. Illustration of Forms.
1. a. Inf. α. 1 weorðan, wurðan, wyrðan, 2–3 wurðen, wurþen (3 Orm. wurrþenn), 3 wrþan, 4 worþen, worthyn. β. 2 wurðe, 4 werþe, 4–5 worþe, 4–6 worthe. γ. 4 worþ, 4–5 worth. δ. 4 worde, 5–7 Sc. word.
α. Beowulf, 2526. Unc sceal weorðan … swa unc wyrd ʓeteoð.
a. 900. Andreas, 182 (Gr.). Sceal feorhʓedal … æfter wyrðan.
c. 1000. Daniel, 115 (Gr.). Þætte rices ʓehwæs … sceolde … ende wurðan.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 147. He wiste … þat hit wurðen solde.
c. 1200. Ormin, 492. Þatt nan ne shollde wurrþenn Þa sett to wurrþenn prest.
c. 1205. Lay., 1234. Þar on þu scalt wrþan sæl.
c. 1275. Prov. Ælfred, 200, in O. E. Misc., 115. It sollen wurpen to nout.
c. 1330. Assum. Virg., 262 (B.M. MS.). Ne schal me neuer worþen wel.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 9. Schent mote y worþen.
a. 1400. in Anglia, XVIII. 324. Ȝif on þe in poynt to worthyn wod.
β. c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 147. He spec of þat þe sholde wurðe.
13[?]. Guy Warw., 1171. Swiche no miȝt y neuer werþe.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 327. God lene him grace to god man to worthe.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 491. Cursed mot he worthe.
a. 1450. Le Morte Arth., 1817. What shall worthe of vs twoo!
γ. a. 1300. Cursor M., 930. To puder sal þou worth again.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. II. 47. Lat hem worth til lewte be iustice.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alexander, 2878. He bad hym … on a blonk worth.
1549. Latimer, 4th Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 120. What wyl worth … of thys man?
δ. a. 1300. Cursor M., 22489 (Edinb.). Þe sternes … sal … worde al blak sum ani col.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xviii. (Egipciane), 1181. Now quhat sal word of me?
1533. Gau, Richt Vay (S.T.S.), 30. He wald word man for our saluation.
a. 1665. W. Guthrie, Serm., 14 (Jam.). What will word of my wife?
b. Pres. Ind. (3rd sing.) α. 1 weorðeð, (uuiurthit), wyrðeþ, 3 wurtððeð, 4 worþeþ (pl. worþen); north. 1 worðes, 4 worþez, -is (2nd worþest), 5 worthis, Sc. wordis, wourdis. β. 1 weorð, wierð, wyrð, wirð, wurð, 2 wrð, 3 wurþ, 3–4 worþ, 4–6 worth (4 worht); 2nd 1 wyrst, 3–5 worst.
In OE. and early ME. the present tense is sometimes used in place of the future.
α. 735. [see B. 2].
a. 900. Andreas, 483 (Gr.). Ʒif ðu … larna þinra este wyrðest.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Luke i. 34. Huu worðes ðis?
a. 1000. Laws of Æthelbirht, xxxiv. Ʒif banes blice weorðeþ, III scillingum ʓebete.
c. 1205. Lay., 8786. For ȝet heo wurððeð þe laðe.
c. 1290. Beket, 998, in S. Eng. Leg., 135. Alle we worþez i-brouȝt to nouȝte.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., ix. 36. Hit wortheth al to wyn.
13[?]. Guy Warw., 407. Þou worþest to hewen.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1106. Hit worþez to yourez.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VI. v. (Tollem. MS.). Þe ouir party … worþeþ more lyȝte, and þe neþer parties … worþen more heuy.
a. 1450. Le Morte Arth., 782. Vp he worthis vppon his stede.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 706. Ȝone is Wymond, I wait, it worthis na weir.
c. 1480. Henryson, Cock & Jewel, 23. Þe bow þat ay is bent Wordis vnsmart.
β. c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., iv. Þonne he betwux us & hire wyrð. Ibid. (c. 897), Gregory’s Past. C., xvii. 111. He wierð self to ðæs onlicnesse.
c. 900. Bæda’s Hist., Pref. i. (1890), 2. Hu wurð he elles ʓelæred?
a. 1000. Laws Æthelbirht, lxv. Ʒif he healt weorð, þær motan freond seman.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. iii. 19. Ðu … to duste ʓewyrst [v.r. wyrst]. Ibid., Exod. vi. 9. Heo wyrð to næddran.
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 235. Fram þa forme man to þa latst þe wrð et þes wrldes ende.
c. 1250. Prov. Ælfred, 304, in O. E. Misc., 120. And selde wurþ he blyþe and gled.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1570. So is þe stude icluped nou & euere worþ.
c. 1325. Spec. Gy Warw., 128. Sauued worþ he neuere mo.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 488. Þyn auaunt worþ dere aboȝt.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XII. Prol. 187. Slekyt worth thir bestis skynnis.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2232. Þou worst þer king anon.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIX. 404. Ysaued worstow [v.r. worst þou] neure.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 805. Elles þow worst beleyn.
c. 1425. Seven Sag. (P.), 1505. Certys, syre, thou worst schent.
c. Pres. Subj. 1 weorðe, (uueorthae), 2–3 wurðe, (pl. wurðen), wurþe, 3 wurthe, 4 wurth; 3–4 worþe, 4–6 worthe; 4 worþ, 4– worth, (4 wortht, 5 vorth); 6 Sc. wirth.
735. [see B. 2 b].
c. 1005. Saxon Leechd., III. 58. Ʒif næʓl of honda weorðe.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 153. Iþonked wurðe him.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 193. Ure fon … wulled swo don, bute we wurðen us warre.
c. 1250. Prov. Ælfred, 633. Wel worþe þe wid.
c. 1300. Havelok, 434. Waried wurthe he. Ibid., 2873. Blissed worþe his soule ay!
a. 1352. Minot, Poems, ii. 11. Wele worth þe while.
a. 1375. Joseph Arim., 146. Mensked he worþe!
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 597. Till ye fay worthe.
c. 1440. Generydes, 4871. Woo worth the tyme.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xliv. 9. Wo wirth the fruct … And wo wirth him.
1563. Homilies, II. Passion, II. 199. Wo worth the tyme that euer we synned.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xviii. 887. Ah woe worth him.
d. Imper. 4 worth, 5 worthe.
a. 1330. Otuel, 823. Worþ vp bi-hinden me her.
c. 1450. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 249. Thanne worthe upp, Walis.
2. Past Tense. (1st and 3rd sing.) α. 1–3 wearþ, wearð, warð, 2, 4 ward (2 uuard), 3–4 warþ (3 Orm. warrþ); 2–3 werð, werþ, 4 werþe, werth; pl. 1 wurdon, 2 wurðon, wurþen, 5 worden. β. 3 wurð, wurd, worþ, (4 worþe), 4–6 worth (5 worthe). 7. Sc. and north. 5 word, 5–6 worde.
α. a. 900. Andreas, 1343 (Gr.). Hwæt wearð eow?
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke xxiii. 12. On ðam ðæge wurdun herodes & pilatus ʓefrynd.
a. 1154. O. E. Chron., an. 1135. Wurþen men suiðe of uundred.
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp., Matt. viii. 26. Þær warð ȝeworðen mychel smoltnyss.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 133. Sum [seed] … werð totreden.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 167. Þe lichame warð bretful of wunden. Ibid., 181. He … wearð þar mide acheked.
c. 1200. Ormin, 10960. Þæraffterr warrþ itt efft to nohht.
13[?]. Guy Warw., 4723. Opon a mule sche warþ anon.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, V. 277. At laste he werþe sike.
c. 1400. Chron. R. Glouc. (Rolls), App. G. 171. Noble he werþ & riche.
c. 1400. T. Chestre, Launfal, 131. He ward yn greet dette.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xvi. (Arb.), 34. Thus worden my teeth al blody.
β. c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 99. Þat bred wurð to fleis.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 995. His name ðo wurð a lettre mor. Ibid., 1197. Ȝhe wurd wið child.
c. 1275. Duty of Christians, 109, in O. E. Misc., 144. Þat folk worþ eft wroþe i-spild.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, V. 195. Lowys … worþe sike.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xlvi. 186. What worthe of hit he ne knew.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, III. 13. Wictaill worth scant.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, V. xi. 86. The myndis worth agast.
γ. c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xii. (Mathias), 420. He worde stane-blynde.
1570. Durham Depos. (Surtees), 137. He knewe not … what worde of them.
3. Past Participle. α. 1 ʓeworden, 2 -ðen, 3 iwurðen, 4 iworþe. β. 1 worden, 2 wurðen, 3 Orm. wurrþenn, 5 wurthen; 2–3 worðen, 4 worþen, 4–5 worthen; Sc. 4–5 worthyn, -ine, 5–6 worthin (6 -ing), 6 wordine. γ. 2 wurþe, 5 worthe.
α. 971. Blickl. Hom., 223. He … sona wearð hal ʓeworden.
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp., Matt. viii. 26. Þær warð ȝeworðen mychel smoltnyss.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 9. And is þat … iwurðen to meastling.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, IV. 187. Þe Parthes þat were i-worþe rebel.
β. c. 1000. Daniel, 124 (Gr.). Wearð he … acol worden.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 147. He spec of þat … alse þehȝ hit wurðen were.
c. 1200. Ormin, 3873. Godess Sune … Wass wurrþenn mann.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, iv. (James), 198. Herrod … wes worthine þe devilis lyme.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 9691. To frete hom with fyre, þat were fey worthen.
14[?]. Wyntoun, Cron. (W.), IV. 1654. Thai had sene The wethere worthing brycht and schene.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, II. cxli. (1869), 131. On horse he is wurthen vp.
c. 1480. Henryson, Want of Wyse Men, 6. Wit is worthin wrynkis.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. Prol. 26. Wenis thou … the craw be worthin quhite.
1533. Gau, Richt Vay (S.T.S.), 29. That God is wordine mane.
γ. c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 219. Also suteliche swo it wurþe were.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., V. vi. 576. Lete se what schulde haue worthe of the men.
4. Weak forms. a. Pa. t. 3 wurðede, 5 wurthed; 4–5 worthed(e, -id (Sc. -yd); Sc. and north. worthit, -yt (5 wourthit). b. Pa. pple. 4 worþed, worthed, Sc. 7 worde, 9 wort.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2946. Ðe fisses … wurðeden dead.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 485. Til worþed an ende. Ibid., 678. A duk to haue worþed.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XIII. 354. Thame worthit … abyde.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxiv. 112. Þe whilk … worthed till a worthy and a … Cristen man.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 307. What at wurthed of þe bodie cuthe neuer man tell.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 973. Thus wourthit schir Gawyne wraith.
a. 1500. Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (? 1510), S iij. The kyng … worthed there vpon.
1570. Durham Depos. (Surtees), 149. He knoweth not what is woorde of the graill.
1629. Z. Boyd, Last Battell, 425 (Jam.). What can bee worde of such a … professor.
1818. Hogg, Brownie of Bodsbeck, I. 38. What could be wort of a’ the sheep.
B. Signification.
1. intr. To come to be, come to pass, come about, happen, take place.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Luke i. 34. Cuoeð … [Maria] to ðæm engel, huu worðes ðis?
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. viii. 26. He bebead þam winde & þare sæ, & þær wearð ʓeworðen mycel smyltness.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 147. He spec of þat þe sholde wurðe. Ibid., 197. Hit is worðen alse ure louerd wolde.
13[?]. Northern Passion, H 410. Or þe kok haue krawin thrise Sall it worth opon þis wise.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 485. Wyth wele walt þay þat day, til worþed an ende, in londe.
c. 1400. Leg. Rood, iv. 127. And so it wurthed at þe last Þe cros al out of minde was past.
c. 1425. Eng. Conq. Ireland, xvi. 38. Aftyr this, worth gret spech yn-to all þe lond.
b. In the subjunctive mood, expressing a wish for something to happen to one, usually with dat. of person.
13[?]. Cursor M., 25633 (Gött.). Gabriel … said, ‘leuedi! ful of blis, ai worth þe wel!’
c. 1300. Havelok, 2221. He let his oth al ouer-go, Euere wurþe him yuel and wo!
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2567. I ne wot in wat wise to worche be best,… but worþe god wiþ alle.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 493. Eft he seyde to hem-selfe wo mote ȝou worþen.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 482. But ever worthe hem wel that doth thee moche sorwe.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 295. Þe dor tyneth on hym for euermore and so eurelasting farewel worthe hym and hys werkys.
c. In the phrases woe worth (now arch.), and well worth (obs.) followed by noun or pronoun. (Cf. WOE A. 4, WELL a. 1.)
(a) c. 1205. Lay., 3359. Wa worðe þan monne Þe lond haueðe mid menske.
13[?]. Cursor M., 21992 (Edin.). Antecriste … wa worþe his wit!
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 4118. Ȝif i wrong seie any word, wo worþ me euer.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 320. Wo worthe evere fals envie!
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., lxi. 260. Woo worthe the oure that euer I was made in!
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, IV. xi. 132. Wo worth this swerd, for by hit haue I geten my dethe.
a. 1542. Sir T. Wyatt, Poems (1913), I. 76. Thou toke her streight from me: that wo worth thee!
1600. Holland, Livy, V. xlviii. 211. Wo worth men conquered, and downe with them still.
1647. Herrick, Noble Numb., Widow’s T., 21. Woe worth the Time, woe worth the day, That reav’d us of thee, Tabitha.
a. 1801. R. Gall, Poems & Songs (1819), 30. Wae worth ye, sir! it sets ye ill To talk to me in sic a style.
1810, 1870. [see WOE A. 4].
(b) c. 1205. Lay., 13079. Wel wurðe þe Vortiger Þat þu ært icumen her.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 155. Wel wurðe his miȝt…, ðe wrout is on ðe ferðe day!
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2127. Wel worth þe, wyȝe, þat woldez my gode.
a. 1352. Minot, Poems, ii. 5. It es wrokin, I wene, wele wurth þe while.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 379. Wel worth of dremes ay þese olde wyues.
c. 1480. Henryson, Fox & Wolf, 35. Weill worth my Father, that send me to the lair.
2. To become, come to be (something): a. With sb. or adj. as complement.
735. Bæda’s Death-verse, 1. Fore there neidfaerae naeniʓ uuiurthit thoncsnotturra than him tharf sie.
971. Blickl. Hom., 175. Þa hwile þe he þær stod, he wearþ færinga ʓeong cniht.
a. 1154. O. E. Chron., an. 1135. And uuard be sunne suilc als it uuare thre niht ald mone. Ibid., an. 1154. Þat ilce dæi … þa sæclede he & ward ded.
c. 1200. Ormin, 160. Oþre unnfæwe shulenn ec Full glade & bliþe wurrþenn.
c. 1205. Lay., 32107. Þenne scullen i[n] Bruttene blissen wurðen riue.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1175. Abimalech wurð sek on-on.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2806. Louerd he worþ of france.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 836. Til y tristrem se, No worþ y neuer bliþe.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 265. Bute þe loweste þat liuede his lord mihte worþe.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, I. 189. Scheepe þat drynkeþ of þat oon [river] schulle worþe blak, and schepe þat drynkeþ of þat oþer schul worþe whyte.
a. 1400. Stockh. Med. MS., 699, in Anglia, XVIII. 324. Ȝif on be in poynt to worthyn wood For peyne of teth, dragance is good.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. iii. 145. He suld hawe worthyd rede for schame A fre kynryk swa til defame.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 45. For dout that thai worth proude and hautayn of thair office.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IV. Prol. 245. O lust,… Thyself consumyng worthis insaciable.
b. With past participles.
735. Bæda’s Death-verse, 5. Hwæt his gastae … æfter deothdaeʓe doemid uueorthae.
a. 1154. O. E. Chron., an. 1135. Wurþen men suiðe of uundred & of dred.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 133. Sum of þe sede feol … bi þe weie and werð totreden.
c. 1200. Ormin, 347. Þatt streon þatt wass … lac to wurrþenn offredd her O rodetreowwess allterr.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1943. In ðis ðisternisse,… Ȝet wurðe [he] worpen naked and cold.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2801. Cristendom worþ icast adoun.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2291. But god now hem help, slayn worþ þei slepend.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIX. 404. But þow lyue by lore of spiritus iusticie,… ysaued worstow neure.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 1871. If þou tarie longe her-wyþ þou worst y-schent Heȝe þow worst an honge.
c. 1425. Eng. Conq. Ireland, xlix. 124. Al the contrey forth ther-aftyr worth so I-storbet, that [etc.].
3. With prepositional or adverbial complements: a. To come to be, attain to being (in a particular place or condition).
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., iv. Swa deð eac se mona … þonne he betwux us & hire [the sun] wyrð.
a. 900. Cynewulf, Crist, 1028. Þonne … Adames cynn … weorþeð foldræste eardes æt ende.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 327. Þo he adde is bone ido he werþ aslepe riȝt þere.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Compl. Mars, 248. He wend anon to worthe out of his mynde.
c. 1400. Trevisa, Higden, VII. 505. The strete werth a fuyre.
c. 1400. T. Chestre, Launfal, 131. So savagelych hys good he besette, That he ward yn greet dette.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 1096. Lat it worth at my wil the wourschip to wale.
b. To turn or be converted to something; to change in status to.
Beowulf, 2203. Heardrede hildemeceas … to bonan wurdon.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 870. Hit þa þæt ær wæs ful rice, þa hit wearð to nan þing.
a. 1023. Wulfstan, Hom., xxx. 145. We … sceolon on worulde wurðan wurmum to æte.
c. 1200. Ormin, 6976. Þatt steorrne … Warrþ all to nohht … Affterr þatt Crist wass fundenn.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 99. Þat bred wurð to fleis and þe drinke to blod.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 9. And is þat tu wendest gold, iwurðen to meastling.
c. 1300. K. Horn (Laud), 467. Þou art so fayr and briycte, Þou schalt worþe to knyte.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1106. Quat-so-euer I wynne in þe wod, hit worþez to yourez.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 746. And ich a beggers brol … worþ to a writere.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 211. Sa that, bot gif thare war a soverane … all the world wald worth to nocht.
c. To get up, on or upon, a horse, etc.
c. 1290. Beket, 1164, in S. Eng. Leg., 139. Þe holi Man … werth op … and rod him forth wel faste.
13[?]. Guy Warw., 4723. Opon a mule sche warþ anon.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 5053 (Kölbing). A destrer þo ladde Agreuein … & seyd, ‘Worþ her on hastiliche!’
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., II. pr. ii. (1868), 35. Worþe vp [L. ascende] yif þou wilt.
c. 1400. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xxxiii. Þe horsmen þat beth þere at þe deth, shulde worthe vppe on horse.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 11398. Kyng Arthewr be þe Reyne his hors took son,… ‘My love frend,’ he seide, ‘worth vp jn haste.’
a. 1500. Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (? 1510), S iij. For thy the kyng Boccus anon Toke hors and worthed there vpon.
d. To become of (= happen to, betide). Also with on.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 277. God behiȝt hem Isaac, and tolde what shulde worþe of him.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxxi. 139. We wist neuere what worthed of þe remenaunt.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., V. vi. 516. Lete se what schulde haue worthe of the man in these ȝeeris, if thei hadden not be mad religiose.
1549. Latimer, 4th Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 120. What wyl worth, what wyl be the ende of thys man?
c. 1570. Durham Depos. (Surtees), 150. He knew not from whence they came, or what worde of them.
1629. Z. Boyd, Last Battell, 425 (Jam.). Then many shall wonder what can bee worde of such a blazing professor.
a. 1665. W. Guthrie, Serm., 14 (Jam.). What will word of my house? And, What will word of my goods and gear?
1818. Hogg, Brownie of Bodsbeck, I. 38. I was … considering what could be wort of a’ the sheep.
e. To pass away, go hence, remain after (= behind).
13[?]. Cursor M., 19110 (Edin.). Þe lastand dede sal worþe awai.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2355. Wende listly hennes & late me worþ after.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1975. Þou shalt haue þat I hete & þou hence worth.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 22588 (Trin.). Lord god þat lasteþ ay Þou shal vs do to worþe away.
4. To let (one) worth: to let alone; = I-WORTH 6.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2330. Þer fore he was so prout & þe king nas him sulf bote as a ssade, & let im worþe al out.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 3597. ‘Lat me worþ,’ quaþ william, ‘þat schal i wite sone.’
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. Prol. 181. For-þi I conseille alle þe comune to lat þe catte worthe.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6037. Late ladies worthe with her thyngis.
c. 1450. Merlin, iii. 58. Than seide Merlyn, ‘Let me worthen ther-with, and I shall a-quyte me of the couenaunt that I made.’
5. To behove, need, be necessary. Usu. impersonal with dative preceding (him worthit, etc.). Sc.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IV. 194. Him worthit, magre his, abyde In till ane hamelat neir thair-by.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, ii. (Paul), 651. Þis Nero worthit ay of ned … ryse aye quhene his master come nere.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VI. 333. Þis Pyppyne þan … Werthit til tak til hym … Off Frawns þat tyme þe gouernaylle.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, III. 271. Schir Amar said; ‘Trewis it wordis tak.’ Ibid., VIII. 1616. Off this sayn[g] me worthis for to ces.
