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Worthiest of blood

Worthy \Wor"thy\, a. [Compar. Worthier; superl. Worthiest.] [OE. worthi, wur[thorn]i, from worth, wur[thorn], n.; cf. Icel. ver[eth]ugr, D. waardig, G. w["u]rdig, OHG. wird[=i]g. See Worth, n.]

  1. Having worth or excellence; possessing merit; valuable; deserving; estimable; excellent; virtuous.

    Full worthy was he in his lordes war.
    --Chaucer.

    These banished men that I have kept withal Are men endued with worthy qualities.
    --Shak.

    Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be.
    --Milton.

    This worthy mind should worthy things embrace.
    --Sir J. Davies.

  2. Having suitable, adapted, or equivalent qualities or value; -- usually with of before the thing compared or the object; more rarely, with a following infinitive instead of of, or with that; as, worthy of, equal in excellence, value, or dignity to; entitled to; meriting; -- usually in a good sense, but sometimes in a bad one.

    No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway.
    --Shak.

    The merciless Macdonwald, Worthy to be a rebel.
    --Shak.

    Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear.
    --Matt. iii. 11.

    And thou art worthy that thou shouldst not know More happiness.
    --Milton.

    The lodging is well worthy of the guest.
    --Dryden.

  3. Of high station; of high social position. [Obs.]

    Worthy women of the town.
    --Chaucer.

    Worthiest of blood (Eng. Law of Descent), most worthy of those of the same blood to succeed or inherit; -- applied to males, and expressive of the preference given them over females.
    --Burrill.