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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.

Worthynes, Worthines, n. Also: worthynesse, worthenes, wourthines, wordynes, -ines, wirdines. [ME and e.m.E. worthynes (1340), worþines (Trevisa), worthynesse (c1400), wurthyness (1455), worthiness (1541), woorthynesse (1577).] Applied to persons, things, etc.: The quality or state of being worthy; nobility, honour, esteem, standing; fitness; ability, competence.(a) 1375 Barb. iv 35.
It wes gret sorow sekyrly That so worthy persoune as he Suld on sic maner hangyt be, Thusgate endyt his worthynes 1375 Barb. xx 230 (C).
Ȝour hert that illwmynyt wes Of all bounte and worthynes, Will that I in my ȝeemsell tak ?1438 Alex. i 1478.
Thare price and thare worthynes Gart thame endure trauale and pane c1420 Wynt. iv 2492.
Commendyt off gret douchtynes, Off worschype, wyt, and worthynes, Honest, habyll, and avenand … he was 1456 Hay I 261/19.
Sum othir … that knewe the gudenes and the worthynes of the woman 1456 Hay II 20/24.
Quhen a king makis a knycht, he sulde mak him lord and governour of grete landis and contreis efter his worthines 1456 Hay II 48/24.
Quhare the hardy and worthy knychtis apperis in worthynes in bataill place 1456 Hay II 90/32.
Worthynesse 1460 Hay Alex. 19338.
Als for the worthynes of the romance Quhilk treittis of wisdome and of guide governance a1500 Henr. Orph. 6.
So that his hert he mycht enclyne … The more to vertu and to worthynes c1475 Wall. vii 401.
Had he the warld and be wrachit off hart He is no lord as to the worthines It can nocht be, but fredome, lordlyknes c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 135/4.
Blyth Aberdeane … Unto the heaven ascendit thy renoun is Off vertew, wisdome, and of worthines 1575 Edinb. Test. III 330b.
That my sone … serue my lord Maxwell … quhill the said James be of worthines to serue him self a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 151.
He was sum tyme Governor of Scotland during the minoritie of Queyne Marie, and that alsweill for his awin worthenes as for the consanguinitie to the Prence a1605 Montg. Sonn. ix 11.
Thoght worthynes of wreches be invyde, Ȝit wonted verteu ay the grener grouis(b) c1460 Regim. Princ. 136 (Maitl.).
Vertew is grund of alking grace … Als weill of wirschip as of wourthines(c) c1530-40 Stewart in Bann. MS 216a/3.
To declair the … grit bountie that in to ladeis is The wirdines and verteus excellense … My barbir tung is vnwirthy a1568 Bann. MS 225b/26.
Fair weill fra me my gudly grace Fair weill the well of wirdines(d) 1564 Edinb. B. Rec. III 188.
That thai … tak their jugement of the wordynes of the said assay gevar and of the justnes of the coloure 1607 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 72.
Thy wordines Is pair my pen to wreatt