worth¹ (wûrth)
n.

1. The quality that renders something desirable, useful, or valuable: the worth of higher education.
2. Material or market value: stocks having a worth of ten million dollars.
3. A quantity of something that may be purchased for a specified sum or by a specified means: ten dollars' worth of natural gas; wanted their money's worth.
4. Wealth; riches: her net worth.
5. Quality that commands esteem or respect; merit: a person of great worth.

adj.

1. Equal in value to something specified: worth its weight in gold.
2. Deserving of; meriting: a proposal not worth consideration.
3. Having wealth or riches amounting to: a person worth millions.

idioms:

for all (one) is worth

1. To the utmost of one's powers or ability.

for what it's worth

1. Even though it may not be important or valuable: Here's my advice, for what it's worth.

[Middle English, from Old English weorth.]

worth² (wûrth)
intr.v. Archaic, worthed, worth·ing, worths.
To befall; betide: "Howl ye, Woe worth the day!" (Ezekiel 30:2).

[Middle English worthen, from Old English weorthan.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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