I. ˈwərth intransitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English weorthan; akin to Old High German werdan to become, Latin vertere to turn, Lithuanian versti to overturn, Sanskrit vartate he turns
Date: before 12th century
archaic : become — usually used in the phrase woe worth
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English weorth worthy, of (a specified) value; akin to Old High German werd worthy, worth
Date: before 12th century
1. archaic : having monetary or material value
2. archaic : estimable
•
- for all one is worth
III. noun
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : monetary value
farmhouse and lands of little worth
b. : the equivalent of a specified amount or figure
a dollar's worth of gas
2. : the value of something measured by its qualities or by the esteem in which it is held
a literary heritage of great worth
3.
a. : moral or personal value
trying to teach human worth
b. : merit , excellence
a field in which we have proved our worth
4. : wealth , riches
IV. preposition
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : equal in value to
b. : having assets or income equal to
2. : deserving of
well worth the effort
•
- worth one's salt