Search the Dictionary

oduction, or series of preliminary remarks. This superficial tale Is but a preface of her worthy praise. Shak. Heaven's high behest no preface needs. Milton.

Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something else; more desirable; as, a preferable scheme. Addison.

A sense of one's own worth, and abhorrence of what is beneath or unworthy of one; lofty self-respect; noble self-esteem; elevation of character; dignified bearing; proud delight; -- in a good sense. Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride. Goldsmith. A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote…

Worthy to be published. [R.]

ake place; to occur. [Obs.] He will, after his sour fashion, tell you What hath proceeded worthy note to-day. Shak.

To put to a wrong or unworthy use; to make a base employment of; to debase; to abuse; to defile. So idly to profane the precious time. Shak.

se. "Domestic prolusions." Thackeray. Her presence was in some measure a restraint on the worthy divine, whose prolusion lasted. Sir W. Scott.

To devote to base or unworthy purposes; to give up to low or indiscriminate use; as, to prostitute talents; to prostitute official powers. Milton.

Giving reason or occasion for pride or self-gratulation; worthy of admiration; grand; splendid; magnificent; admirable; ostentatious. "Of shadow proud." Chapman. "Proud titles." Shak. " The proud temple's height." Dryden. Till tower, and dome, and bridge-way proud Are mantled with a golden cloud. Keble.…

A trustworthy citizen; a skilled workman. See Citation under 3d Commune, 1.

A magpie; a piet. [Prov. Eng.] Here cometh the worthy prelate as pert as a pyet. Sir W. Scott.

To carry through; to go through to the end. [Obs.] Never worthy prince a day did quit With greater hazard and with more renown. Daniel.

Capable or worthy of being quoted; as, a quotable writer; a quotable sentence. -- Quot`a*bit"i*ty, n. Poe.

y institutions making small loans at a low rate of interest, for a designated purpose, to worthy members only.

Worthy of rebuke or reprehension; reprehensible. Shak.

Suitable to be recommended; worthy of praise; commendable. Glanvill. -- Rec`om*mend"a*ble*ness, n. -- Rec`om*mend"a*bly, adv.

Refused; rejected; hence; left as unworthy of acceptance; of no value; worthless. Everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. 1. Sam. xv. 9.

; as, to have a high regard for a person; -- often in the plural. He has rendered himself worthy of their most favorable regards. A. Smith. Save the long-sought regards of woman, nothing is sweeter than those marks of childish preference. Hawthorne.

Worthy of regard or notice; to be regarded; observable. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Suitable or fit to be relied on; worthy of dependance or reliance; trustworthy. "A reliable witness to the truth of the miracles." A. Norton. The best means, and most reliable pledge, of a higher object. Coleridge. According to General Livingston's humorous account, his own village of Elizabethtown was not much more re…