English edit

Etymology edit

From worthly +‎ -ness.

Noun edit

worthliness (uncountable)

  1. The state or condition of being worthly; valuableness; importance; stateliness; dignity; worthiness; excellence.
    • 1862, Robert Vaughan, Henry Allon, The British quarterly review:
      We confess it appears to us that knowledge of character, quick perception into the worth or worthliness of those about us, in no degree depends on, or can be governed by, any system or theory whatever.
    • 1909, The Medical standard:
      Some undergraduates will advance while some graduates will retreat, so that in the end their worthliness may be cancelled in parallel lines.

Derived terms edit