"Worth," n.

1. Pecuniary value; {dag}price; {dag}money.
c825 Vesp. Psalter xliii. 13 {Edh}u bibohtes folc {edh}in butan weor{edh}e. c893 ÆLFRED Oros. IV. x. 198 {Th}eh {th}e he hie sume wi{edh} feo {asg}esealde,..he {th}æt weor{edh} nolde a{asg}an. 971 Blickling Hom. 89 Hire inno{th} {th}u {asg}efyldest ni{asg}on mona{th} mid ealles middan{asg}eardes weor{th}e. c1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxvi. 9 {Th}ys mihte beon {asg}eseald to miclum weor{th}e, and {th}earfum {asg}edæled. c1175 Lamb. Hom. 31 {Th}et he nime {th}a ilke ehte o{edh}er his wur{edh}. a1225 Ancr. R. 150 Nis heo uniseli {th}et mit te wur{edh} of heouene bu{edh} hire helle? 1297 R. GLOUC. (Rolls) 7674 {Th}e King Willam uorto wite {th}e wur{th} of is londe Let enqueri streitliche [etc.]. a1300 Cursor M. 12390 Treen beddes for to make, Was he wont for worth to take. 1390 GOWER Conf. II. 46 That al the gold of Cresus halle The leste coronal of alle Ne mihte have boght after the worth. c1450 Godstow Reg. 539 He sholde yeve to them eschaunge to the worthe of the same acris. 1581 A. HALL Iliad I. 1 Chryses..with things of price,..His daughter captiue helde by Greekes by worth hir home to buy.

 

   2. The relative value of a thing in respect of its qualities or of the estimation in which it is held.
  Freq. with implication of high value: cf. b.
1340 Ayenb. 82 Hit ssewe{th} {th}et {th}e wordle is ydel, ine byinge vyl, in wor{th} biter. 1390 GOWER Conf. I. 25 Of Selver that was overforth Schal ben a world of lasse worth. 1570 LEVINS Manip. 174/2 Ye Worth of a thing, precium, dignitas. 1599 STORER Life & D. Wolsey C3, A man made old to teach the worth of age. 1605 CAMDEN Rem., Epitaphs 42 This bad inscription which I insert more for the honor of the name, then the worth of the verse.

 

3. The character or standing of a person in respect of moral and intellectual qualities; esp. high personal merit or attainments.
  In early use also comprising rank or dignity.
1591 SHAKES. Two Gent. II. iv. 102 His worth is warrant for his welcome hether. 1593 {emem} Rich. II, III. iii. 110 By the Worth and Honor of himselfe,..His comming hither hath no further scope, Then for his Lineall Royalties.