I. |ən+ adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from un- (I) + worthy
1.
a. : lacking in excellence or value : poor , worthless
the precincts of the Minister are quite clear of any unworthy building — S.P.B.Mais
the tremendous advances of science and technology have somehow led us to believe that other kinds of knowledge are unworthy — C.S.Kilby
b. : of a contemptible nature : base , dishonorable
no right to employ other men on unworthy tasks, whether we pay them well or not — W.R.Inge
the right to dismiss or expel … a student whose conduct is deemed unworthy — Villanova College Cat.
2. : not meritorious : undeserving
ration cards to citizens previously held politically unworthy — Frank Gorrell
— often used with of or to
unworthy of continued confidence — H.S.Drinker
a vile man … deemed unworthy to discharge the duty — J.G.Frazer
3. : not corresponding to desert : unmerited , unjustified
an unworthy treatment of a potentially fine subject — Anthony Boucher
4. : unbecoming — usually used with of
such bargaining seemed unworthy of a self-respecting nation — S.E.Morison & H.S.Commager
II. noun
: an unworthy person
a whole gallery of … worthies and unworthies come to life — Times Literary Supplement
III. adverb
archaic : unworthily