worthiness

• worthynesse (obsolete)

From Middle English worthynesse, equivalent to worthy +‎ -ness.

• IPA^(key): /ˈwɜː(ɹ)ðɪnəs/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

worthiness (countable and uncountable, plural worthinesses)

1. (uncountable) The state or quality of having value or merit.
   • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter I, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, pages 15-16:

     But, unlike the generality of her age, love now occupied no place in the future. How could she ever believe in the worthiness of any one? or, if she believed, it could never so interest her again.

2. (countable) The result or product of having value or merit.
3. (uncountable) The state or quality of being qualified or eligible.
4. (countable) The result or product of being qualified or eligible.

• shire towns