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Worthy of respect; fitted to awaken esteem; deserving regard; hence, of good repute; not mean; as, a respectable citizen. "The respectable quarter of Sicca." J. H. Newman. No government, any more than an individual, will long be respected, without being truly respectable. Madison.

Tricks deserving the halter; roguery. [Obs.] "Saucy merchant . . . so full of his ropery." Shak.

Deserving scorn; paltry. [Obs.]

Deserving to be considered; important; momentous; as, a significant event. Significant figures (Arith.), the figures which remain to any number, or decimal fraction, after the ciphers at the right or left are canceled. Thus, the significant figures of 25,000, or of .0025, are 25.

d superficial writer. Burke. That superficial judgment, which happens to be right without deserving to be so. J. H. Newman. -- Su`per*fi"cial*ly, adv. -- Su`per*fi"cial*ness, n.

Obtaining or deserving thanks; thankworthy. [R.] Ladies, look here; this is the thankful glass That mends the looker's eyes; this is the well That washes what it shows. Herbert.

Not obtaining or deserving thanks; unacceptable; as, a thankless task. To shepherd thankless, but by thieves that love the night allowed. Chapman. -- Thank"less*ly, adv. -- Thank"less*ness, n.

Deserving thanks; worthy of gratitude; mreitorious. For this thankworthy, if a man, for conscience toward God, endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 1 Pet. ii. 19.

Admitting of being safely trusted; justly deserving confidence; fit to be confided in; trustworthy; reliable. Your trusty and most valiant servitor. Shak.

One of no merit; one who is nor deserving or worthy. [Obs.] Shak.

Not deserving rebuke or censure; blameless. 1 Tim. vi. 14.

Not worthy; wanting merit, value, or fitness; undeserving; worthless; unbecoming; -- often with of. -- Un*wor"thi*ly, adv. -- Un*wor"thi*ness, n.

Worthy; estimable; deserving esteem; as, a valuable friend; a valuable companion. Valuable consideration (Law), an equivalent or compensation having value given for a thing purchased, as money, marriage, services, etc. Blackstone. Bouvier.

Capable of being venerated; worthy of veneration or reverence; deserving of honor and respect; -- generally implying an advanced age; as, a venerable magistrate; a venerable parent. He was a man of eternal self-sacrifice, and that is always venerable. De Quincey. Venerable men! you have come down to us from a former ge…

Revengeful; deserving revenge. [Obs.] Spenser. -- Venge"a*bly, adv. [Obs.]

Liable to, or deserving, vituperation, or severe censure.

Deserving of; -- in a good or bad sense, but chiefly in a good sense. To reign is worth ambition, though in hell. Milton. This is life indeed, life worth preserving. Addison.

Full of worth; worthy; deserving. Marston.

Destitute of worth; having no value, virtue, excellence, dignity, or the like; undeserving; valueless; useless; vile; mean; as, a worthless garment; a worthless ship; a worthless man or woman; a worthless magistrate. 'T is a worthless world to win or lose. Byron. -- Worth"less*ly, adv. -- Worth"less*ness, n.…

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 th…