Worthy has 8 different meanings across 3 categories:
Noun · Adjective · Proper Noun
an important, honorable person (word is often used humorously)
"he told his story to some conservative worthies"
"local worthies rarely challenged the chief constable"
a distinguished or eminent person
"The city honored him as a worthy citizen whose decades of service inspired countless others."
In plain English: A worthy is an old-fashioned term for someone who deserves respect because of their good actions or character.
"The judge awarded him his due, stating that he was worthy for his years of service."
To render or treat as worthy; exalt; revere; honour; esteem; respect; value; reward; adore.
"The community came together to honor and esteem the veteran who had sacrificed so much for their safety."
In plain English: To make something seem important enough to be worth your time and effort.
"The architect decided to worthy this new wing with careful attention to detail, though that usage is rare and often confused; in standard modern English, 'worthy' functions primarily as an adjective rather than a verb."
having worth or merit or value; being honorable or admirable
"a worthy fellow"
"a worthy cause"
having qualities or abilities that merit recognition in some way
"behavior worthy of reprobation"
"a fact worthy of attention"
having worth, merit, or value
"The old library is worthy of preservation because it holds so many rare and valuable books."
In plain English: Worthy means deserving of something good, like respect or an award.
"The candidate seemed worthy of winning the election because she worked hard for her community."
Usage: Use "worthy" to describe someone who deserves honor or high regard based on their qualities. It is often paired with the preposition "of," as in being worthy of praise.
A surname.
"The Worthys were known for their generosity throughout the village."
The word worthy comes from Old English, where it originally described something as deserving of its value. It entered modern usage by combining the root for "worth" with a suffix meaning "-like," creating an adjective that has retained this core sense over time.