I counsel . . . to let the cat worthe. Piers Plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

He worth upon [ got upon ] his steed gray. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Valuable; of worthy; estimable; also, worth while. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It was not worth to make it wise. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Equal in value to; furnishing an equivalent for; proper to be exchanged for. [ 1913 Webster ]

A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

All our doings without charity are nothing worth. Bk. of Com. Prayer. [ 1913 Webster ]

If your arguments produce no conviction, they are worth nothing to me. Beattie. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Deserving of; -- in a good or bad sense, but chiefly in a good sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

To reign is worth ambition, though in hell. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

This is life indeed, life worth preserving. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Having possessions equal to; having wealth or estate to the value of. [ 1913 Webster ]

At Geneva are merchants reckoned worth twenty hundred crowns. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Worth while, or
Worth the while. See under While, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

What 's worth in anything
But so much money as 't will bring? Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Value in respect of moral or personal qualities; excellence; virtue; eminence; desert; merit; usefulness; as, a man or magistrate of great worth. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be of worth, and worthy estimation. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

As none but she, who in that court did dwell,
Could know such worth, or worth describe so well. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

To think how modest worth neglected lies. Shenstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Desert; merit; excellence; price; rate. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

You worthily succeed not only to the honors of your ancestors, but also to their virtues. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some may very worthily deserve to be hated. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who is sure he hath a soul, unless
It see, and judge, and follow worthiness? Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

She is not worthy to be loved that hath not some feeling of her own worthiness. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

The prayers which our Savior made were for his own worthiness accepted. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

'T is a worthless world to win or lose. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Worth"less*ly, adv. -- Worth"less*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Having worth or excellence; possessing merit; valuable; deserving; estimable; excellent; virtuous. [ 1913 Webster ]

Full worthy was he in his lordes war. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

These banished men that I have kept withal
Are men endued with worthy qualities. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

This worthy mind should worthy things embrace. Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The merciless Macdonwald,
Worthy to be a rebel. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. Matt. iii. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

And thou art worthy that thou shouldst not know
More happiness. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lodging is well worthy of the guest. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Of high station; of high social position. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Worthy women of the town. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Worthiest of blood (Eng. Law of Descent), most worthy of those of the same blood to succeed or inherit; -- applied to males, and expressive of the preference given them over females. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

The blood of ancient worthies in his veins. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]