Forms: α. 4 worþi-, worþynes(s(e, 4–7 worthi-, worthynes, 5–6 worthy-, 5– worthiness; 4 wurþy-, 5 wurthyness(e, wurthines (wurghtinesse); 6 woorthi-, woorthyness(e, wourthines. β. 5 wordynesse, 6 Sc. wirdines. [f. WORTHY a. + -NESS.]
1. The character or quality of being worthy, in various senses: a. Of persons.
α. c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 3757. Þe help … Availles til þe saules in purgatory,… Aftir þai er of worthynes.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 178. In al þis world þer nys a bettre knyght Than he þat is of worthinesse welle.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 90. Remembrance That thei toke of his worthinesse Of knyhthod and of gentilesse.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys, Anna, 607 This lady to preysen … Aftyr þe meryte of hyr worthynesse, Fer pasyth my wyt.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, xliii. 167. By the hyghe prouesse & grete worthynes of blanchardyn.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), L vj b. All the world feared Rome onely, for her worthynes in armes.
1550. Crowley, Inform., Sel. Wks. (1872), 163. Stand not to much in your own conceyte, gloriynge in the worthyness of your bloude.
c. 1590. Faire Em, I. iv. 35 Such costly robes As may become her beauties worthynes.
1604. Shaks., Oth., II. i. 212. He is a good one, and his worthynesse Do’s challenge much respect.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. x. 46. Worthinesse, is a thing different from the worth, or value of a man; and also from his merit, or desert; and consisteth in a particular power, or ability for that, whereof he is said to be worthy.
a. 1676. Hale, Common Law (1713), 239. They are in Law in the same Right of Worthiness and Proximity of Blood, as their Root … was.
1741. Richardson, Pamela, I. 104. I am awaken’d to see more Worthiness in you, than ever I saw in any Lady in the Land.
1801. Wordsw., Prioress’ T., I. 30. My knowledge is so weak,… To tell abroad thy mighty worthiness.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul (1883), 173. A Divine Charity not only perceives real worth, but even creates worthiness where it did not before exist.
β. c. 1450. Merlin, xiv. 203. Thei semede to be of grete wordynesse.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, xiv. 49. O thou free knyght, replenysshed wyth prowesse & of grete wordynesse.
b. Of things or qualities.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVI. vii. (1495), 556. Siluer … bereþ þe prise after golde in worþines and valow.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 5536. For ther may be no Richesse Ageyns frendshipp of worthynesse.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 17383. For love excellyth in worthynesse Euery tresour and rychesse.
1450–1530. Myrr. Our Ladye, II. 288. All erthly creatures restored ageyne in maner to the worthynesse of effecte that they were made for.
1541. Act 33 Hen. VIII., c. 37 ¶ 1. Suche … hereditamentes shoulde be knytt unyted and annexed,… agreable to the worthiness and dignitye thereof.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. 67. Next vnto the Rose in woorthynesse, for his Sauour and beautifull whitenesse is the Lillye.
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 47. Art can doe nothing without the materiall; whereas the materiall without Art hath her own worthinesse.
1675. Baxter, Cath. Theol., II. I. 235. Is there ever the less worthiness in it, because God causeth it?
a. 1768. Secker, Serm. (1771), VI. 132. Convinced of their Mission from Heaven by … the singular Worthiness of their Conduct.
1850. Clough, Poems, etc. (1869), I. 167 Say, if you can,… when was there most real worthiness of existence.
c. With a (and plural), that, or this.
13[?]. trans. Ælred, in Engl. Stud., VII. 328. Now, suster,… go nyer and chalange sum partye of alle þis swete wurþynesse.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. xv. 235. Forto be … deuoutli remembrid … upon Goddis worthinessis.
1450–1530. Myrr. Our Ladye, II. 91. A prerogatyue is an excellente worthynes.
1590. Stockwood, Rules Construct., 8. This woorthiness of one person aboue another, is not of birth or blood.
1657. Jer. Taylor, Disc. Friendship, 39. I may take in also the accidental and extrinsick worthinesses.
1685. Baxter, Paraphr. N. T., Matt. x. 11. There is a worthiness consistent with free Grace.
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1781), I. xxxvi. 256. My Brother is valued by those who know him best, not … for this or that single worthiness [etc.].
1803. Southey, Lett. (1856), I. 243. I could make a swelling … passage about the old gentlemen and their worthinesses.
1860. Trench, Serm. Westm. Abbey, xxxiii. 382. There is a worthiness in God’s saints,… though that worthiness is itself of God’s free giving.
† 2. With possessive pron., as a title. Obs.
1390. Gower, Conf., Prol. 50*. He … bad me doo my besynesse That to his hihe worthinesse Som newe thing I scholde boke.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alexander, 1938. Sire, wetis it wele, ȝoure worthines [etc.]. Ibid., 3163. First wrate I to ȝour worthines.
1455. Rolls of Parlt., V. 287/1. The grele and outrageouse costes and expenses not unknowen unto your wurthynesses, which … I bare, in execution of the said charge.
1564. Brief Exam., B j. Your worthynesse may knowe what my iudgement is.
1602. Chettle, Hoffman, I. (1631), C 1. We know your worthinesse is experienc’t in all true wisedome.
1608. Heywood, Sallust, Hist., Ded. Your worthinesse.
† 3. Ceremony, pomp. Obs.–1
a. 1450. Contin. Brut, 428. The Quene was dellyuyryd of a feyre sone,… whiche with high and grete worthynesse was brought forthe, and cristenyd.
† 4. The quality of deserving to be treated in a specified manner. Obs.–1
1396–7. in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1907), XXII. 303. Ȝet [this sin] … passith in worthinesse to ben punischid in peynis of helle.
