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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wors(c)hipful(l, adj. (adv.). Also: worschipfule, -schypfull, -chipfull, -chypful(l, -s(c)hepfull, vorshipfull, wirs(c)hipful(l, -schepful(l, -aipful, virschipful, -ypful, -chipful, wyrs(c)hipf(f)ull, -schypfull, -epful, vyrchipful, -schipffull, wurchepful, wurschypefull, wourschipful(l, vourschipfull, woorshipfull, werschepfull, whorshipful, worthschipful, -schupfull, worthtschupful(l, worschiful, wirchifull, worschiphull, wirshipelfull, worscipfule, wuchepful. [ME and e.m.E. worschepfulle (a1300), worschipful (a1340), wyrshipfull (1405), wirshipfull (1440), wurschipful (c1450), wurchepful (1470), woorshypful (1555).]

A. adj. 1. Of a person, chiefly a man, or group: Entitled to respect; honourable; important; distinguished. Freq. used of someone of some rank or status. Chiefly attrib. and in a formal or legal context. Also absol. b. As a form of address in a personal letter. Also absol.attrib. 14… Reg. Paisley 375.
In defalte I haif na seyl of myn awyn, I haif procuryt … the seylis of worschipful men c1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
Learys sulde be lytille alowit wyth ony sic worschipfull kynge as ȝhe ar 1410 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 75.
This endenture … betwekis ane excellent and a mychty prince Robert Duc of Albanie … and a richt worschipful and mychty lord Sir Archebald Erle of Douglas lord of Galway 1418 Liber Melros 503.
The seale of a worchipfull sqwhyare Robert of Hoppirngyll 1433 Liber Coll. Glasg. 166.
Honorabyll and worschypfull men 1447 Newbattle Coll. (Somerville) (Reg. H.).
Worchypful 1457 Reg. Dunferm. 344.
A vorshipfull clerk Master Patrik Sandilandis 1458 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 325.
Nobille and worschipfull lordis of parliament 1468 Smit Bronnen I ii 1018.
Tyll rycht worchypfull men, borowmasteris, and to the consell of Midyllburch 1481 Instr. H. Scheves (MS).
To pas and warne a worscipfule man Jhone Lumisden … to comper in the parys kirk of Karall 1481 Lett. Proc. H. Scheves (MS).
Worschipfule a1500 Colk. Sow ii 71.
Colkelbeis wyfe A worschepfull woman c1515 Asl. MS I 186/6.
The Grekis war the mast worschipfull nacioun 1506 Edinb. Hammermen 22b.
The honorabill & worschipfull men of the hammyrmen craft 1632 Lithgow Trav. ix 396.
I encountered with a worshipfull English gentleman(b) 1411 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 45.
A nobil and wirschipful man quhilum Alane of Lawdar 1442 Raine N. Durham App. 105.
Be it knawen … vs … till haue made … a wirshipfull man Alexander Home Knyght … oure Bailya 1460–70 Innes Sketches 504.
Nobille and prepotent lordis and honorabile and virschypful schyris 1472 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 590.
Virchipful 1481 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 72.
Vyrchipful 1506–7 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II 152.
Betuix venerable and wirschipfull men 1512 Grant Chart. 58.
Virschipful 1521 Maxwell Mem. I 247.
Wyrschepful 1527 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 93.
Ane rycht wyrschypfull man James Dowglas of Drumlairg 1530 Prot. Bk. M. Fleming 9.
Wyrschipffull 1535 Prot. Bk. M. Fleming 90b.
Vyrschipffull 1539 Liber Melros 627.
Ane wirschaipful clerk(c) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1137.
Wourschipfull a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1319.
Vourschipfull 1513 Doug. ix v 119 (Ruddim.).
O thou ȝoung wourschipful [L. venerande] child(d) 1409 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 74.
A nobil & worthschipful knycht sir Williame tha Hay lord of Lochwhorwart 1507–8 Rec. Earld. Orkney 79.
Ane nobil and rycht worthtschupfull man, Schir Wilȝame Sinclare of Warsettir, knycht, a worthi and discret man Jhone Cragy, lawman of Orknay 1507–8 Rec. Earld. Orkney 79.
Worthschupfull 1508 Orkney Antiq. Soc. VIII 18.
Worthtschupful(e) 1434 Facs. Deed in Gunn Peebles Colleg. Ch.
Wuchepful 1434 Buccleuch Mun. II 418.
Wurchepful 1546 Sc. Ant. XVI 196.
Ane wurschypefull man Nycoll Rayd Lauman of Zetland(f) 1527–8 Rec. Earld. Orkney 209.
Whorshipful(g) 1425 Milne-Home MSS 19.
Worschiful 1559–60 St. A. Kirk S. 47.
Richt worschiphull minister and eldaris, of the Christiane congregatioun within the cietie of Sanctandrois, unto your wisedomes humilie … compleanes Dauid Gudelawde … that [etc.]predic. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 804.
Ye ar sa wourschipfull, and wourthy in were a1500 Colk. Sow ii 77.
He wes … the best archeir In ony land, rycht wirschepfull and wyse 1562-3 Winȝet II 49/1.
Quhow worschipful wes he, nocht onlie to the priuat estate of men, bot [etc.]absol. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1288.
Heir am I cumyn at this tyme to your present As to the wourschipfullest in warld, wourthy and wiseb. c1466–80 Letter from Lord Hamilton.
Rycht nobill ande worschepfull lady I commande me to ȝour gudlye ladischip 1525 Douglas Corr. 98.
Wyrschipfull Ser … It wyll pleis ȝow to remember that [etc.] 1525 Douglas Corr. 99.
To ane rycht wirschipelfull knycht, Ser Crissell Dacris 1559 Cal. Sc. P. I 251.
To the richt wirchifull & lufing freind Sir Raf Sadleir 1570 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.) 29 June.
Rycht wyrschipfull schir and best belouet eyme 1614 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 161.
Rycht werschepfull and lowing cousingabsol. 1545 Douglas Corr. 160.
Right woorshipfull after most hartly commendatioun 1570 Reg. Morton I 52.
To the ryght worshepfull the lard of Lochlevin 1570 Reg. Morton I 52.
After harty commendatioun of my seruice unto you rycht wyrshipfull

2. Of a non-material thing: Honourable, meritorious, commanding respect, reputable. b. transf. Of clothing: Suitable for a person of rank or honour.attrib. c1420 Ratis R. 453.
Worschipfull and irous entent Our-twrnys skilfull jugement 1456 Hay II 26/8.
Manetenaunce of the worschipfull and meritable poyntis of the ordre 1456 Hay II 37/17.
Worthy personis … makis mariage betuix worschipfull vertues in hye parage and knychthede 1490 Irland Mir. III 136/17.
Sic werkis and operaciounis wil caus thi hienes to grow and incres to hie honour and worschipfull name 1611 Crim. Trials III 162.
Be birth he … wes a gentilman of wourschipfull discentpredic. 1456 Hay II 40/13.
The nobilnesse of the ordre is sa worschipfull, that it [etc.]b. a1500 Rauf C. 577.
In ane rob him arrayit richest of ane, In that worschipfull weid he went in at none

3. Of a holy being, etc.: Deserving of being worshipped. Arundel MS 279/25.
Thy sone discendit of the Fathir of hevinnis bosum to tak mannis nattur of thy maist worschipfull body 1562-3 Winȝet II 23/12.
We preche, I say, O wirschipfull Ambrose, we preche planelie

B. adv. In a manner deserving respect or esteem. 1562-3 Winȝet II 77/29.
Sanct Xistus, the pape quha now rycht wirschepful lychtnis the Roman kirk