Where does “worthiest” come from?
Worthiest derives from Middle English worthy, formed from Middle English -y (an adjectival suffix) added to worth, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wer- meaning to turn or bend.
worthiest (English): superlative form of worthy: most worthy
Definitions
- superlative form of worthy: most worthy
Ancestry of “worthiest”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | worthy | having worth, merit, or value; honourable or... |
| 2 | Middle English | worthy | worthy, noble, brave |
| 3 | Middle English | worth | to become |
| 4 | Old English | weorþ | worth, deserving; honoured, esteemed; worth,... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | werþaz | worthy, valuable |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wert- | to turn, to rotate |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |