To reign is worth ambition, though in hell.
Milton.
This is life indeed, life worth preserving.
Addison.
4. Having possessions equal to; having wealth or estate to the value
of.
At Geneva are merchants reckoned worth twenty hundred crowns.
Addison.
Worth while, or Worth the while. See under While, n.
Worth, n. [OE. worth, wurþ, AS. weorð, wurð; weorð, wurð, adj. See
Worth, a.]
1. That quality of a thing which renders it valuable or useful; sum of
valuable qualities which render anything useful and sought; value;
hence, often, value as expressed in a standard, as money; equivalent in
exchange; price.
What 's worth in anything But so much money as 't will bring?
Hudibras.
2. Value in respect of moral or personal qualities; excellence; virtue;
eminence; desert; merit; usefulness; as, a man or magistrate of great
worth.
To be of worth, and worthy estimation.
Shak.
As none but she, who in that court did dwell, Could know such worth, or
worth describe so well.
Waller.
To think how modest worth neglected lies.
Shenstone.
Syn. — Desert; merit; excellence; price; rate.
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Worth"ful (?), a. Full of worth; worthy; deserving. Marston.
Wor"thi*ly (?), adv. In a worthy manner; excellently; deservedly;
according to merit; justly; suitably; becomingly.
You worthily succeed not only to the honors of your ancestors, but also
to their virtues.
Dryden.
Some may very worthily deserve to be hated.
South.
Wor"thi*ness, n. The quality or state of being worthy; desert; merit;
excellence; dignity; virtue; worth.
Who is sure he hath a soul, unless It see, and judge, and follow
worthiness?
Donne.
She is not worthy to be loved that hath not some feeling of her own
worthiness.
Sir P. Sidney.
The prayers which our Savior made were for his own worthiness accepted.
Hooker.
Worth"less (?), a. [AS. weorðleás.] Destitute of worth; having no
value, virtue, excellence, dignity, or the like; undeserving;
valueless; useless; vile; mean; as, a worthless garment; a worthless
ship; a worthless man or woman; a worthless magistrate.
'T is a worthless world to win or lose.
Byron.
— Worth"less*ly, adv. — Worth"less*ness, n.
Wor"thy (?), a. [Compar. Worthier (&?;); superl. Worthiest.] [OE.
worthi, wurþi, from worth, wurþ, n.; cf. Icel. verðugr, D. waardig, G.
würdig, OHG. wirdg. See Worth, n.]
1. Having worth or excellence; possessing merit; valuable; deserving;
estimable; excellent; virtuous.
Full worthy was he in his lordes war.
Chaucer.
These banished men that I have kept withal Are men endued with worthy
qualities.
Shak.
Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be.
Milton.
This worthy mind should worthy things embrace.
Sir J. Davies.
2. Having suitable, adapted, or equivalent qualities or value; —
usually with of before the thing compared or the object; more rarely,
with a following infinitive instead of of, or with that; as, worthy of,
equal in excellence, value, or dignity to; entitled to; meriting; —
usually in a good sense, but sometimes in a bad one.
No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway.
Shak.
The merciless Macdonwald, Worthy to be a rebel.
Shak.
Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear.
Matt. iii. 11.
And thou art worthy that thou shouldst not know More happiness.
Milton.
The lodging is well worthy of the guest.
Dryden.