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Worthy vs Worthwhile - What's the difference?

worthy | worthwhile |

As adjectives the difference between worthy and worthwhile

is that worthy is having worth, merit, or value while worthwhile is good and important enough to spend time, effort, or money on.

As a noun worthy

is a distinguished or eminent person.

As a verb worthy

is to render or treat as worthy; exalt; revere; honour; esteem; respect; value; reward; adore.

worthy

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) worthy, wurthi, from (etyl) *.

Adjective

(er)
  • having worth, merit or value
  • * Shakespeare
    • These banished men that I have kept withal / Are men endued with worthy qualities.
  • * Sir J. Davies
    • This worthy' mind should ' worthy things embrace.
  • honourable or admirable
  • deserving, or having sufficient worth
  • Suited; befitting.
  • * Shakespeare
    • No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway.
  • * Bible, Matthew iii. 11
    • whose shoes I am not worthy to bear.
  • * Milton
    • And thou art worthy that thou shouldst not know / More happiness.
  • * Dryden
    • The lodging is well worthy of the guest.
    Derived terms
    * worthily * worthiness

    Noun

    (worthies)
  • a distinguished or eminent person

    • Related terms

    * -worthy * unworthy

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) worthien, wurthien, from (etyl) .

    Verb

  • To render or treat as worthy; exalt; revere; honour; esteem; respect; value; reward; adore.
    • And put upon him such a deal of man, That worthied him, got praises of the king [...]'' — Shakespeare, ''King Lear .
  • * 1880 , Sir Norman Lockyer, Nature :
    • After having duly paid his addresses to it, he generally spends some time on the marble slab in front of the looking-glass, but without showing the slightest emotion at the sight of his own reflection, or worthying it with a song.
  • * 1908 , Edward Arthur Brayley Hodgetts, The court of Russia in the nineteenth century :
    • And it is a poor daub besides," the Emperor rejoined scornfully, as he stalked out of the gallery without worthying the artist with a look.
  • * 1910 , Charles William Eliot, The Harvard classics: Beowulf :
    • No henchman he worthied by weapons, if witness his features, his peerless presence!
    Derived terms
    * (l) * (l) ----

    worthwhile

    English

    Alternative forms

    * worth while

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Good and important enough to spend time, effort, or money on.
    • Doing volunteer work to help others is truly worthwhile .

    Related terms

    *