Obs. Forms: 1 weorðian, wurðian, wyrðian, north. worðiʓan, 2–3 wurðien, -in, wurðen (3 Orm. wurrþenn), wurðgin (pa. pple. 2 iwurðeȝed, 3 iwur(d)get), wurðie, 3 wurrþe, worþi, 5 worth(e. [OE. weorðian, wurðian, f. weorþ WORTH sb.1]
1. trans. To honor (a person or thing); to treat with honor or respect.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xvii. 123. Ðu weorðasð ðine suna ma ðonne me.
971. Blickl. Hom., 11. Weorþian we eac þa claþas his hades.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xv. 8. Þis folc me mid welerum wurþað [v.r. weorþað].
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 45. We aȝen þene sunne dei swiþeliche wel to wurþien.
c. 1200. Ormin, 2358. Þærþurrh wass ȝho wel wurrþ to ben Swa wurrþedd her onn erþe.
c. 1205. Lay., 13422. Þas cnihtes weoren an hirede hæhliche iwurðed.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 262. Ihesus … Ros fro ded on ðe sunenday, ðat is forð siðen worðed ay. Ibid., 3503. Wurð ðin fader and moder so, ðat ðu hem drede.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alexander, 2124. I wald more worth … a wyse man disciple, þan þe honour þat Acheles aȝt.
b. To pay divine honors to (a deity); to worship.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., IV. iv. 162. Þa diofla þe hie an simbel weorþedon.
971. Blickl. Hom., 27. Ʒif þu feallest to me & me weorþast.
c. 975. Rushw. Gosp., John iv. 22. Ʒie worðiʓas ꝥte ʓe ne wutun, we worðiʓað ꝥte we wutun.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 11. Hine ȝe scule wurþian and hersumen and luuian mid al euwer heorte.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 45. Ure hlouerd ihesu crist … heȝed and wurðed bie he.
c. 1205. Lay., 1162. Heo wurðeden þet anliches: þe scucke hit on-feng.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1845. Wið newe alter wurðed he wel ðe strong god of ysrael.
2. To raise to honor; to distinguish.
a. 900. Cynewulf, Elene, 1195 (Gr.). Bið … se hwæteadiʓ wiʓʓe weorðod, se þæt wicg byrð.
a. 1000. Waldere, i. 22 (Gr.). Weorða ðe selfne godum dædum.
c. 1205. Lay., 2614. Al his cun he wurðede, richen & wrecchen.
c. 1400. Chron. R. Glouc. (Rolls), App. G. 154. Þeos foure weyes on þis lond, king belin … Made & worþede ham wiþ gr[et] franchise.
