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Righteous vs Worthy - What's the difference?

righteous | worthy | Related terms |

As adjectives the difference between righteous and worthy

is that righteous is free from sin or guilt while worthy is having worth, merit, or value.

As verbs the difference between righteous and worthy

is that righteous is to make righteous; specifically, to justify religiously, to absolve from sin while worthy is to render or treat as worthy; exalt; revere; honour; esteem; respect; value; reward; adore.

As a noun worthy is

a distinguished or eminent person.

righteous

English

Alternative forms

* (l), (l)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • free from sin or guilt
  • moral and virtuous, suggesting sanctimonious
  • justified morally
  • (slang, US) awesome

    • Derived terms

    * righteousness * self-righteous

    Verb

    (es)
  • To make righteous; specifically, to justify religiously, to absolve from sin.
  • * 2009 , (Diarmaid MacCulloch), A History of Christianity , Penguin 2010, p. 101:
    • Thus for the purposes of being ‘righteoused ’, the Law was irrelevant; yet Paul could not bear to see all the Law disappear.

    worthy

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) worthy, wurthi, from (etyl) *.

    Adjective

    (er)
  • having worth, merit or value
  • * Shakespeare
    • These banished men that I have kept withal / Are men endued with worthy qualities.
  • * Sir J. Davies
    • This worthy' mind should ' worthy things embrace.
  • honourable or admirable
  • deserving, or having sufficient worth
  • Suited; befitting.
  • * Shakespeare
    • No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway.
  • * Bible, Matthew iii. 11
    • whose shoes I am not worthy to bear.
  • * Milton
    • And thou art worthy that thou shouldst not know / More happiness.
  • * Dryden
    • The lodging is well worthy of the guest.
    Derived terms
    * worthily * worthiness

    Noun

    (worthies)
  • a distinguished or eminent person

    • Related terms

    * -worthy * unworthy

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) worthien, wurthien, from (etyl) .

    Verb

  • To render or treat as worthy; exalt; revere; honour; esteem; respect; value; reward; adore.
    • And put upon him such a deal of man, That worthied him, got praises of the king [...]'' — Shakespeare, ''King Lear .
  • * 1880 , Sir Norman Lockyer, Nature :
    • After having duly paid his addresses to it, he generally spends some time on the marble slab in front of the looking-glass, but without showing the slightest emotion at the sight of his own reflection, or worthying it with a song.
  • * 1908 , Edward Arthur Brayley Hodgetts, The court of Russia in the nineteenth century :
    • And it is a poor daub besides," the Emperor rejoined scornfully, as he stalked out of the gallery without worthying the artist with a look.
  • * 1910 , Charles William Eliot, The Harvard classics: Beowulf :
    • No henchman he worthied by weapons, if witness his features, his peerless presence!
    Derived terms
    * (l) * (l) ----