4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Worthy  \Wor"thy\,  a.  [Compar.  {Worthier};  superl.  {Worthiest.}] 
  [OE.  worthi,  wur[thorn]i,  from  worth,  wur[thorn],  n.;  cf 
  Icel.  ver[eth]ugr,  D.  waardig  G.  w["u]rdig,  OHG.  wird[=i]g. 
  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. 
 
  3.  Of  high  station;  of  high  social  position.  [Obs.] 
 
  Worthy  women  of  the  town.  --Chaucer. 
 
  {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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Worthy  \Wor"thy\,  n.;  pl  {Worthies}. 
  A  man  of  eminent  worth  or  value;  one  distinguished  for  useful 
  and  estimable  qualities;  a  person  of  conspicuous  desert;  -- 
  much  used  in  the  plural;  as  the  worthies  of  the  church; 
  political  worthies;  military  worthies. 
 
  The  blood  of  ancient  worthies  in  his  veins.  --Cowper. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Worthy  \Wor"thy\,  v.  t. 
  To  render  worthy;  to  exalt  into  a  hero.  [Obs.]  --Shak. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  worthy 
  adj  1:  having  worth  or  merit  or  value;  being  honorable  or 
  admirable;  "a  worthy  fellow";  "no  student  deemed 
  worthy,  and  chosen  for  admission,  would  be  kept  out 
  for  lack  of  funds"-  Nathan  Pusey;  "worthy  of  acclaim"; 
  "orthy  of  consideration";  "a  worthy  cause"  [ant:  {unworthy}] 
  2:  worthy  of  being  chosen  especially  as  a  spouse;  "the  parents 
  found  the  girl  suitable  for  their  son"  [syn:  {desirable}, 
  {suitable}] 
  3:  meriting  respect  or  esteem;  "the  worthy  gentleman" 
  4:  having  high  moral  qualities;  "a  noble  spirit";  "a  solid 
  citizen";  "an  upstanding  man";  "a  worthy  successor"  [syn: 
  {noble},  {solid},  {upstanding}] 
  5:  morally  admirable;  "a  worthy  citizen" 
  n  :  word  is  often  used  humorously 

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