stalworth

English

Etymology

From Middle English stalworth, stal-worth (“physically strong, hardy, robust; brave, courageous”), from Old English stǣlwierþe (“able to stand in good stead, serviceable”), probably from staþol (“establishment; foundation”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand (up)”)) or stǣl (“place; condition, stead”) + -wierþe (suffix meaning “able to, capable of”) (probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wert- (“to rotate, turn”)). Displaced by stalwart, which forms a doublet. Compare staddle and worth.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈstɔːl.wəθ/, /ˈstɒl-/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈstɔl.wɚθ/, /ˈstɑl-/
• Hyphenation: stal‧worth

Adjective

stalworth (comparative more stalworth, superlative most stalworth)

1. (archaic or obsolete) Stalwart.
   • 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard:

     Our blooming friend, the handsome and stalworth Magnolia, having got a confidential hint from agitated Mrs. Mack, trudged up to the mills, in a fine frenzy, vowing vengeance on Mary Matchwell, for she liked poor Sally Nutter well.

Derived terms

• stalworthly
• stalworthness

Noun

stalworth (plural stalworths)

1. (archaic or obsolete) Stalwart.

Anagrams

• throw salt

Middle English

Adjective

stalworth (superlative stalworthest)

1. stalworth
   • 13th–14th century, Sir Orfeo; republished as Ann S. Haskell, editor, A Middle English Anthology, Detroit, Mich.: Wayne State University Press, 1985, →ISBN, page 247:

     Orfeo was a king, / In Inglond an heighe lording, / A stalworth man and hardi bo, / Large and curteys he was also.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Descendants

• English: stalworth