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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
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Worthy, -ie, adj., n., adv. Also: worthi, -ye, -ey, -e(e, -ty, vorthy, -i(e, -ty, worchty, vorchty, wourthy, -i(e, woorthie, -ye, wirthy, -i(e, uirthie, wurthy, wordy, -ie, vordy, -ie, worddie, wortie, wourdy, -(i)e, woordye, wirdy, -ie, virdie, wurdie, worth, word(e. Compar. also wourthear, wordiar. Superl. also vorthest, vordeast, wordhiest, wourdeeyst, wirdeest, (wairdrest). [ME and e.m.E. wurði (c1200), worthi (a1300), wurþy (Manning), wurthe (c1325), worthy (1377), wordy (15th c.), wourthy (1422), worde (1505), worthie (1542), woorthie (1583).]

A. adj. 1. Of persons: Possessed of good qualities, specif. a. Of high value as a soldier, brave; having the qualities of a knight, noble, honourable; of noble rank. b. Of high moral worth or value, attracting honour and respect, estimable. c. Trustworthy, reliable, esp. in business or government, of standing in the community. d. transf.a. 1375 Barb. ii 266.
He has in his cumpany Mony a gud man & worthi That sall be hard for till assay 1375 Barb. v 508 (C).
He sa sturdy wes and stout That he wes the mast vorthy [E. dowtit] man That in-to Carrick liffit than 1375 Barb. xiv 186 (C).
Worthye ?1438 Alex. i 1756.
Worthie [F. ber] ?1438 Alex. i 3063.
I saw neuer man … Sa cleynly daill with scheild and spere … The lord that hes him of menȝe Richt joyful … may he be For ane worthiar [F. meillor] knicht na he, I trow thair may nane fundin be … he had leuer to be slane … Than … do sic thing That micht him turne to repreuing ?1438 Alex. i 3152.
Gude men and wourthy [F. preudome] ?1438 Alex. ii 3251.
Emynedvs was gratius Gentill fre and cur[ag]ius And of body worthy [F. vaillans] ?1438 Alex. ii 4258.
Sik wenes he is worth na thing, That is oft worthy in preuing c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1343 (D).
Of the oist all the gretest Affermed Thelamonyus best And worthyere befer also Ne Vlixes ?a1450 Florimond 223.
I have twa soneis of greit bountie, Curtas and fair, worthe and wys And of knychthead hes mekle prys 1460 Hay Alex. 3501.
Caulus was grathand vp his gere As wourthie man sould do in tyme of were c1475 Wall. (1570) ii 236.
In Inglismen … quhy suld we trow, Our worthy kyn at pynit c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 109/20.
In were the secund Julius The prince of knightheyd and flour of chevalry … invincible victour moste wourthy 1535 Stewart 49759.
To king Edward come mony wordy wycht, On fit and hors all into armour bricht 1554 Facs. Nat. MSS III xxxvi.
Wisshing euery haire in my heade for to be a wourthy soldioure 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 210.
In this skirmish were slane diuerse suddartis and horsis on my lord regentis pairtie and diuerse on the capitane of Edinburghis pairt, and mony hurt on baith bot nevir ane worthie man on ather syid ather slane or hurt 1632 Lithgow Trav. 62.
Ithaca … was the heretable kingdome of the worthy Ulyssesb., c. a1400 Leg. S. vi 443.
Synciane, that wes vorthy, & tendir frende to Mygdony, the vyfe of Carise a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1478.
Of gud lyf & honeste Gud ensamplar to thaim … was he For he … in word and deide But ony [syn ly]ff ay can leyde The clergy than full gret joy mad That thai sa worthy faddire had a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 183.
Worthiare c1420 Wynt. v 3270.
The Bretownys wyst na counsell than; Bot a byschope, a worthy man, … till Audroen Thai send … To byd hym cum, and be thare kyng 1428 Liber Melros 520.
I gert cheis a grete assys of twenty & fyve worthy & notable persons c1460 Thewis Gud Women 226.
Thai suld be chaist and cheritable, Worthi women, wys and abile a1500 Henr. Fab. 666.
Ane worthie [H. wirthie] doctour of diuinitie, Freir Volff Waitskaith 1488 Rec. Earld. Orkney 333.
I haf procurit the selis of twa worthy men … Jhone Reyd, burges of Birrown, and Wilyam of Wegisgarth, laurycht men, to be affixt to this present writ a1500 Bk. Chess 92.
In this writ sall beir to witnes The worthye famous clerk Diomides a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 141.
This worthy lady, but mannis syne bur a child c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts Prol.
Lvc of Antioche … was a worthi man of leche craft 1525–6 Selkirk B. Ct. MS 116b.
Worthey 1569–70 Inverness Rec. I 185 (see Unsuspect adj. 1 (b) absol.). 1588 King Cat. 109.
Gif he be fund worthie lat him be maid ane bischope 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 6.
Ane worthie man, qualified in literature, life, and maners 1626 Garden Worthies 25.
As ane weell-worthie in there inter-regne, Prince Edward they … crouns ther king 1649 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 588.
Ministers of Edinbrughe, tuo learnid and worthey men(b) 1490 Irland Mir. I 113/19.
His wourthi and nobile moder, lady and virgin 1497 Mill Mediæv. Plays 134.
For vphaldin of the ald … honor … & plesour of this burghe lik as has bene vsit in tymez of thare wourthie & honorable progenitoris(c) 1400 Maxwell Mem. I 139.
In the absens of my auwyn seale, I procuryde the seale of a nobil and wurthy man … to thir presentis letters to be pute to(d) a1500 Henr. Orph. 415 (Bann.).
Now, wirthy folk, Boece … To wryt this fenȝeit fable tuk in cure a1500 Colk. Sow iii 75.
A wirthy wyfe had he weddit and sche Was callit Susane c1530-40 Stewart in Bann. MS 216a/11.
Thocht ald dotaris addressit thair delyt To dyt of ladeis defamatioun Wa wirthi wycht suld set his appetyt To reid sic rollis 1622-6 Bisset II 343/26.
Fyncormacus … quha wes ane wirthie promovare of the kingdome of Christ 1663 Wemyss Corr. 110.
My uirthie mother was a doughter of your hous(e) 1473 Lindores A. 168.
The sayd burth haldyn be the wordy man … Alexander Mychyon and Henry Chalmers ballȝheis 1510 Rec. Earld. Orkney 86.
I, the said lawman, and Thorald Hendirsone of Burg, heidfold of Schetland for the tyme, [etc.] … vytht vtheris gud vordy men, giffis for dome [etc.] 1541 Linlithgow B. Ct. 13 June.
The best and wordiest consale and commite of the burgh 1616 7th Lord Sanquhar to John Murray in Fam. Seton MS 9 Jan.
Giff ye understude his lordschip reichtlie ye wald find … ane worddie man(f) 1485 Lag Chart. 53.
In plane court chesit ane wourdy assise of the best and wourdiest that thar was present to the numer of xxiiii personis 1528 Cal. Charters Suppl.
We … with the consell off the eldest & wourdeeyst men off the cuntre … ordanis the marchte stanys to be set betuix the forsaydis landis(g) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2551 (B).
My wirdy lordis, sen ȝe haif on hand Sum reformatioun to mak in to this land 1592 Conv. Burghs I 386.
To elect … ane new prowest, new bailleis [etc.] … of the best and wirdiest merchandis(h) 1534 Prot. Bk. J. Brydin No. 223.
To resing and upgeif in the handis of ane vorchty man Jhone Mithag [etc.] 1534 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 140.
And with avys of honest vorthy burges to put ane vorthty [MS vorchty] ordour, as us is in utheris burghis(i) a1605 Montg. Flyt. 332 (T).
No wyf will wische the wors with hir will, For thow art not wurdied. 1375 Barb. xx 238.
Douglas … knelit to the king And … maid him thanking ‘ … Off mony larges and gret bounte That yhe haff done me … Bot our all thing … That ȝe sa dyng and worthy thing As ȝour hart'

In the above senses. e. Const. for, in, of (some respect). f. With a proper name or as a term of address. g. ellipt. and absol. Chiefly superl. Also with def. art. following a proper name. Cf. The def. art. 5 b (1) and B below.e. ?1438 Alex. ii 3556.
Thay of Grece … That worthyest in worship is [F. de proesce souvrain] 1456 Hay I 169/20.
Jonathas, … was a worthy and hardy man in armes, and ȝit was he a grete synnare 1456 Hay II 35/17.
Scholaris examynit tobe prestis or greid in scholis, suld nocht sett thame thar fore, bot thai fand thame worthy tharfore c1475 Wall. xi 583.
Fer worthyar off byrth than I … Throuch my desyr wyth hungyr ar lorn 1564 Edinb. B. Rec. III 188.
Prenteissis … to pay for thair burgeschip five pound allanerlie, and for thair gildrie, being wordie thairfoir, ten pound allanerlie c1615 Chron. Kings 14.
Being gritlie estemitt to be wordie and curradgeous in all his deidisf. (1) 1375 Barb. iv 16.
Worthy Crystoll off Seytoun a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 135.
Wourthy schir Gawyne went on his way 1513 Doug. iv vi 109.
The worthy Dido(2) a1400 Leg. S. i 355.
Symon thane sad to Nero this: ‘Vorthiest Emperour [etc.]’ 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I 315.
Worthee sir … I oblige me for ever to remane your lovand servand 1671 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 273.
[Letter from the said William Quhytheid to his] worthie cusine [John Inglis, commissar of Kirkcudbright]g. (1) 1375 Barb. v 163.
Thai nobill men & thai worthy Ar destroyit sa welanysly a1400 Leg. S. xl 224.
Sa be clene lyf & gud worde [he] Made feil wordy Goddis burde ?1438 Alex. i 854.
Bot nocht-for-thy men sould meikly Obey to sa guid and worthy [F. si preudomme] As ȝe ar, for better than ȝe May neuer with sword beltit be 1456 Hay II 38/21.
Worthy examynouris will admytt nane, bot worthy: for grete foly war to put in the ordre thame that efterwart suld be repellit for their misgovernauncecompar. 1375 Barb. ix 667.
I trow that worthyar then he Mycht nocht in his tym fundyn be c1475 Wall. viii 1721.
A worthyar this day lyffand is naynsuperl. a1400 Leg. S. vii 495.
He wes the worthyeste a1400 Leg. S. xxxv 184.
Antonyus printeise, The worthyaste & the maste wice a1400 Leg. S. xl 742.
One it lais na man hand, Bot the maste vorthi of the land a1400 Leg. S. xxiii 62.
Vorthyeste 1388 Bamff Chart. 21.
Worthyast ?1438 Alex. ii 5157.
Heirin is the wourthiest [F. plus preux] That leuand is 1424 Dumbarton B. Rec. App. ii l.
That the balȝeis and the wyt of … Dumbartan, sal chese sax of the worthiaste, discretest, and mast tretabile 1456 Hay II 35/32.
Oft tymes under syk faire habilliament ar nocht the best men of armes, and worthiast in vertues 1478–9 Acta Conc. I 24/1.
Wirthiest 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 331.
Best vordyast and nerast of thair blud and kyn 1485 Lag Chart. 53 (see b, c (f) above).
Wourdiest 1490 Acta Conc. I 149/2.
To tak a deligent inquesicioune … of the best & wordiast of the said burghe 1509 Rec. Earld. Orkney 81.
The wirdeest and best of the land gaderytt, landytt men and roythmen 1510 Misc. Spald. C. V 394.
Wordiest [Rec. Earld. Orkney 85, vordeast] 1510 Misc. Spald. C. V 394.
Wordeast [Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I 60, wordiast] 1525 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 77.
The haill communite with alderman and bailyes to ryd the common in the northt part and caus xiii oldest and vorthest to pas affoir the laif and rid the boundis of the samyn c1580 Red Bk. Grandtully II 130.
Wordhiest 1622-6 Bisset I 300/7.
The awner sall gar cheis ane wirthy assyise of the best and wirthiest that hes best knawlege of that mater(b) 1519 Rec. Earld. Orkney 92.
xxiiij of the wairdrest [? erron. for woirdiest] and best of landit men(2) 1375 Barb. xii 29.
Schyr Henry the Boune the worthi ?1438 Alex. ii 10617.
Gude Porrus, the worthy c1400 Troy-bk. ii 123.
Amphymacus the worthy

2. a. Of a non-material thing or a manifestation of something non-material: Of merit, value or importance, highly esteemed, prized. b. Of a material thing, also a place or animal: Of good quality, excellent of its kind; suitable, (more than) sufficient to one's needs. Also proverb. and absol. c. Of an action or event: Notable, meritorious; of great significance.a. 1375 Barb. xvi 531.
Thir war the worthi poyntis [sc. battles] thre That I trow euermar sall be Prissyt ?1438 Alex. ii 2263.
Lat we now the batellis ga … And wourthy wirship win manfully a1500 Colk. Sow ii 86.
That all bonty and bewty that mycht be Worthy comprysis thairof anewch had sche c1510 Prester John 310.
We … confessis … the name of ane preist is mair and wordiar thane the name of ane kyng 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 181 (G).
Sic as vsis to mark tham selfis with that worthty sing [sc. of the cross] vpone thair foirheyd 1597 Acts IV 153/1.
That the bruch of Jedburgh … wes … for wirdie considerationis erected in ane frie burcht regall dottit with the commoun landis [etc.] 1613 Crim. Trials III 454.
Ane subiect so wourthie and true as the commendation of your royall guiftes of bodie and mynd c1615 Chron. Kings 16.
Agricola wes heillellie honorit be ressoun of his wordie victouries(b) 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 332.
Hir majesteis fadir the Kingis grace, of maist wortie memorie(c) a1570-86 Maitl. F. 448/12.
Diet he auld deserving worthie fameb. 1375 Barb. i 206.
Gyff that ony man thaim by Had ony thing that wes worthy, As hors or hund … That war plesand to thar liking, … it have wald thai a1500 Henr. Fab. 260 (Ch.).
Vnto ane worthie vane This burges brocht thame a1500 Rauf C. 66.
I wait na worthie harberie heir neir hand a1500 Rauf C. 186.
Thay brocht breid to the buird, and braun of ane bair, And the worthyest wyne went vpon hicht c1475 Wall. viii 1205.
Breyst plait, brasaris, that worthy was in wer a1500 K. Hart 332.
Ane courtlie cote … A wourthy weid weill closand and full licht a1500 Seven S. 342.
This noble tre stud all disgysit … That it was pete for to se Sa worthy frut suld perist be 1490 Irland Mir. I 11/28.
[The Emperor] foundit many nobile abbayis and the nobile and worthi vniuersite of Paris 1513 Doug. ii vii 6.
The ancyant worthy cite down is fall 1577 Douglas Corr. 224.
I send him to your Lordship … althoughe he be not so woorthye as the worst of manye hawkes your Lordship haith bestowed of me c1650 Spalding I 300.
Scho had not a worthie sadle horss to send to himproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 256.
A worthe pot brod for sic a potabsol. 1456 Hay II 11/29.
Thareto was chosyn the horse, for the maist worthy … and best rynnand, and maist hable for mannis servicec. 1460 Hay Alex. 1650.
Mony a worthie man in that fechting Did worthie deidis c1475 Wall. i 2.
Our antecessowris, that we suld of reide, And hald in mynde thar nobille worthi deid 1490 Irland Mir. I 70/8.
The incarnacioune of Jhesu was the worthiast, maist digne and nobill thing amang all creaturis 1490 Irland Mir. I 98/30.
The angell … assurit thame of hire haly and worthi concepcioune 1533 Bell. Livy I 7/10.
The illustir and wourthy dedis of that pepill a1578 Pitsc. I 60/23.
Gif they be luffit on the ane part be goode men for thair worthe behaviour 1596 Dalr. I 348/13.
Of his worthie actes … I had leuir say nathing 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 280.
Ȝe may be asured that whatever ȝou condition to any man for any worthie service to be done aganis the rebels salbe faithfullie performed according to the mereit and qualitie of the fact 1622-6 Bisset II 390/17.
A lyoun wes crowned with sindrie cerimonies in perpetuall remembrance of Scottis Gulliames wirthie deidis

3. Fitting, suitable; deserved, merited. Chiefly impers.(1) 1375 Barb. xx 105.
The erle and the lord Douglas Hyr in daynte ressawyt has As it war worthi 1460 Hay Alex. 19335.
Worthie war it hade a worthe weid a1500 Henr. Fab. 2099.
‘It is weill worthie’, quod he, ‘I want ȝone tyke' 1490 Irland Mir. II 100/2.
Mekle better is and wourthear to the man to trow and afferme that this man is God a1500 Seven S. 1158.
It was wele worthy scho had bene brynt(2) 1456 Hay I 121/33.
All suld be at his will—prisonaris and pillagis, to part at his will, quhare him best thinkis worthy a1500 Henr. Bludy Serk 56.
[The prince] kest him [sc. the giant] in his awin dungeoun … With hungir, cauld, and confusioun, As full weill worthy weir a1500 Seven S. 703.
Gretlie reiosit than was the king, And till his medicinar gart bring Rewardis that full worthy ware

4. Of sufficient merit; suited; fit; competent, able to be, do, etc. something. Also ellipt. Also const. that. b. specif. Deserving, fit (to incur a penalty).(1) 1375 Barb. xvii 912.
He wes worthi a prynce to be That couth [etc.] c1420 Wynt. viii 6640.
Ane awenture … That for the douchtynes of deid Is worthe baithe to wryte and reid ?14.. Ship Laws c. 3 (H1).
And the maistir of that schip by or sell ony thing to sell agane that is worthy to sell to the wynning of xii d. … he sall [etc.] 1526 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 82.
This inquiest fyndis certane induellaris of this town abyll and worthty [MS worchty] to be maid burgess. Of the quhilkis thre ar burges ayris 1533 Gau 101/30.
He maid hir vorthty to beir His veilbelouet sone a1578 Pitsc. (1728) 81.
Familiars … who were not worthy to have been with a king … but rather … to have kept sheep 1581–2 Inverness Rec. I 291.
The haill cordinar craft … fyndis William Dict wourde and qualifeit to be ane buytht haldar 1583 Lanark B. Rec. 89.
Wirdie 1585 James VI Ess. 9.
None worthier … To … gaine the laurell grene 1617–18 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 82.
I assure thé one of them must be a strainge creature and not woordye to leive 1675 St. A. Baxter Bks. 138.
By givin the said decan the lie and wther wordis (not worthie to be putt in wreit)ellipt. a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 158.
He suld be … byschape mad of that cite, For thar-to worthiest wes he 1483 Edinb. Hammermen's Seal of Cause.
That al vnfre hammirmen … cum to the masteris of the saidis craftis or he be maid maister to be examit gif he be worthi tharto 1555 Corr. M. Lorraine 404.
I thank the gret God that has maid me saye happe as to be ane of yowr grace sarwandis sowbeit [erron. for howbeit] I be lytyll worde therfor(2) 1567 G. Ball. 37.
I am worthie now no moir That ony me thy sone suld call c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxx 12.
I am abaysed how I dar be sa bauld, Befoir Thy godlie presens till appeir … Quha am nocht wourdie that the earth suld beirb. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 280.
Quhilk [sc. man] and he be wnkynd is vorthi gret pwnissione eftirwart a1500 Henr. Fab. 1466 (Bann.).
I grant offens is done to thyne estait, Thairfoir I wirdy am to suffer deid a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 437.
If I … to bondage me bynde I war wourthy to be Hingit heigh on ane tre 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 61.
The … puneisment that is due and worthy to be execute

5. Deserving of. Also with omission of of.(1) a1568 Bell. in Bann. MS 367a/heading.
Verry notable And wirdy of commendatioun 1562 Inverness Rec. I 76.
Jams Paterson … gef in ane petition to the prouest [etc.] … that of thair gudnes tha wald have respect to hym, and gyf tha thocht hym word of the forsaid quartar Drake and xl s. fysching that tha wald dispone it to hym a1578 Pitsc. II 68/29.
Thocht thaies sayingis appeir scornefull and vorthie of derisioun to ȝour lordschippis nevirtheles thai ar verrie wychtie to me 1581 Burne Disput. 146b.
That in thame thair is na thing vordie of condemnatione 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 114.
Thow was alse wordie of the fyir as scho was 1606 Inverness Rec. II 45.
In ony cause or fact virdie of deprivatioun 1609 Laing MSS 113.
These recompensis to himself and his successours whairof he wes then thoght wourthie 1614 Misc. Bann. C. III 211.
Great and loveing respect has been borne to him be all honest men, whairof he hes provin most wourthie 1615 Highland P. III 191.
Woorthie of all rigorous punischement 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 14 May.
It wes deponit be ane worthie of creddeit a1700 Mare of Colinton 642.
I leave my head to Sanny Purdie, A man whereof I think him wurdie(2) c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 418.
Al is kepit wncertane to the end that na man wat quethir he be worthy to joy or to payne in the warld to cum 1533 Boece 60b.
Ferichare … for the weill of Scotland had done mony actis wourthy remembrance 1591 Irvine Mun. II 30.
I will superseid the … geving up of my compt till the samyn tak ane end and find me wirdy ane rewaird 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xiii 7.
A painfull pastour, worthy such a place 1627 Justiciary Cases I 72.
It sall be judget in law nottour and manifest adulterie worthie the said pane of daith 1641 Dumbarton B. Rec. 63.
That the silver wark within this burgh is skairs worthie the taking in 1685 Caldwell P. 145.
I took boat from Middleburgh to Dort; nothing occurred worthie noticeing

6. a. Of (great) value, useful, = Worth adj. 1 b. b. Of a specified value, = Worth adj. 2 a.a. c1450 Cr. Deyng (STS) 12, 13.
It may awaill rycht mekile till have a gude ende … fore ded … is mar preciouxe and worthy is maist terrebile of al thing … ande in-samekile as the saull is mare precious & worthy than the body, in-samekile is the ded of it mare perulus c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. v 13.
Ye ar salt of the erde: that gif the salt vanyse away, quharein sal it be saltit? to nathing is it worthi ouer, but that it be castin outb. 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 203.
Togidder with thair hattis, plaidis, swirdis, quhinȝearis, and uther geir that they had, worthie the sowme of £100

B. noun. A distinguished or important person. Also coll. Cf. 1 g above. c1450-2 Howlat 849 (A).
The Pape … Wosche with thir worthyis [B. wirthyis], and went to counsall a1500 Rauf C. 275.
Wachis and wardroparis all war away, That war wont for to walkin mony worthy a1500 Rauf C. 752.
Befoir mony worthie he dubbit him knicht, Dukis and digne lordis in that deir hall a1568 Bann. MS 224a/19.
Wald God that wirthy wist my wo and pane 1638 Henderson Serm. 336.
Not only is the faith of men noted and commended by the spirit of God, but also the faith of women: and among the judges, Deborah, Jael, &c., are commended as worthies, and courageous in God 1669 Jus Populi To the Reader 9.
The same spirit of madnesse and malignancy, which had raged … from the very beginning … did act those in power aganist these worthiescoll. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1333.
With all the wourthy that were, Erll, duke and douch-spere a1500 Seven S. 255.
The worthy of the cite … Gretlie for him can thai murn

C. adv. In a worthy, noble or distinguished manner; excellently; valiantly, bravely. Also proverb. 1375 Barb. xiii 168.
Schyr Eduuard the Bruce & his men … Fechtand … Sa hardy worthy & sa fyne 1460 Hay Alex. 1736.
Arestes Arides and Liquanore Haid done thair dett so worthe before And mony ane haid woundit in the chase a1500 Rauf C. 360.
Thay callit it the best Ȝule than, And maist worthie began, Sen euer King Charlis was man c1475 Wall. ix 42.
A fair new barge rycht worthi wrocht for wer 1641 Hist. Fam. Seton 663.
[An] Act of exoneration … [declares that he] heath in all integritie … walked woorthie of so great trustproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1166.
Manie foule fillock hes oxen and ky, and manie gude mannis bairne few wun wirdie