| / English Dictionary |
WORTH
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The quality that renders something desirable or valuable or useful
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("worth" is a kind of...):
quality (an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "worth"):
value (the quality (positive or negative) that renders something desirable or valuable)
merit; virtue (any admirable quality or attribute)
demerit; fault (the quality of being inadequate or falling short of perfection)
praisworthiness (the property of deserving praise)
worthwhileness (value sufficient to repay time or effort spent)
price (the high value or worth of something)
Antonym:
worthlessness (having no qualities that would render it valuable or useful)
Derivation:
worth ((often used ironically) worthy of being treated in a particular way)
worthy (having worth or merit or value; being honorable or admirable)
Sense 2
Meaning:
French couturier (born in England) regarded as the founder of Parisian haute couture; noted for introducing the bustle (1825-1895)
Synonyms:
Charles Frederick Worth; Worth
Classified under:
Instance hypernyms:
clothes designer; couturier; designer; fashion designer (someone who designs clothing)
Sense 3
Meaning:
An indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
Example:
10 dollars worth of gasoline
Classified under:
Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure
Hypernyms ("worth" is a kind of...):
indefinite quantity (an estimated quantity)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "worth"):
ha'p'orth; halfpennyworth (the amount that can be bought for a halfpenny)
penn'orth; pennyworth (the amount that can be bought for a penny)
Derivation:
worth (having a specified value)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Having a specified value
Example:
an appraisal determined the antique carved chair was worth $900
Classified under:
Similar:
valuable (having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange)
Derivation:
worth (an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value)
Sense 2
Meaning:
(often used ironically) worthy of being treated in a particular way
Example:
a deserving cause
Synonyms:
deserving; worth
Classified under:
Similar:
worthy (having worth or merit or value; being honorable or admirable)
Domain usage:
irony (a trope that involves incongruity between what is expected and what occurs)
Derivation:
worth (the quality that renders something desirable or valuable or useful)
Context examples:
‘And what are they worth?’ I asked.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
It was plain from every line of his body that our new hand was worth his salt.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
They make sure that the risks are small and are worth the potential benefits.
(Clinical Trials, NIH: National Institutes of Health)
If the case is not ready to be heard until later in the year, it may be worth trying to settle in December or the first half of January.
(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)
He thought to himself, “If the giant sees me going in, my life will not be worth much.”
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
What is it worth? What have I done? It is my ruin forever!
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
But if I was to use this against you, d’ye see, it would be worth ’undreds in my pocket.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
William, they advance upon us; and, by my soul! it is a sight that is worth coming over the seas to see.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Nothing happened worth mentioning in this voyage.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
‘I must see that paper, Musgrave,’ said I, ‘which this butler of yours thought it worth his while to consult, even at the risk of the loss of his place.’
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
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