(a) To exist, be; also, come into being, come into existence; (b) present tense with future sense; worthe non him ilich, no one like him shall exist, there shall be nobody like him.

(a) With noun, adj., or prep. phrase as complement: to be (sb. or sth., in a certain condition, etc.) [occas. difficult to distinguish from sense 3.(a)]; ~ (ben worthen) feie, be fated to die; also, be about to die, be dying; (b) in present tense with future sense.

In constructions expressing possession: (a) in phrases with a dat. pron., imitative of a Latin dative of possession;—freq. in present tense with future sense; (b) as copula with the gen.: to be (someone’s), belong to (sb.).

In the subjunctive mood, expressing what is wished, hoped for, etc.: (a) worthe, may (sb.) be (happy, healthy, ever dwelling with God, etc.), may (sth.) be (as it is in heaven), may there be (no offense against God), etc.; worthe werste, may (sb.) fare the worst; (b) worthe wel, wel worthe, may (sb. or sth.) be well; worthe (ivel and) wo, wo worthe, woe (and evil) be (to sb. or sth.), may woe (and evil) betide (sb. or sth.); wo worthe on, woe be on (sb.).

(a) With noun, pron., adj., or prep. phrase as complement: to become (sb. or sth., a certain way, etc.); ben worthed; ~ afire, catch fire; ~ ded, die; ~ anoied (iwraþþed, ofdred, ofwundred), become annoyed (enraged, afraid, amazed); ~ to, become (a doctor, many, etc.); also, develop into (weeds); ben worthed til, be converted to (a Christian), become; (b) in present tense with future sense; (c) with clause as complement: to become (as if sth. were so).

(a) To undergo transformation (into sth. else), change in form or substance, turn; ben worthed; ~ al to teres, fig. to dissolve in tears; (b) ~ to lire (sorwe), to fall to ruin (wretched condition); ~ (ben worthed) to nought, turn to nothing, come to nought; also, disappear, vanish.

(a) To happen, occur, come to pass;—sometimes used in impers. constructions; ben worthen; ~ of, become of (sb. or sth.), happen to; also, come to pass by means of (sth.) [quot. c1175(?OE) HRood]; (b) ~ to bettre, to turn out for the better; ben worthen to, of a condition: has turned out to be one of (honor, well-being).

As the auxiliary of the passive voice: (a) in present or past tense as simple substitute for ben with p.ppl.; (b) in present tense with future sense; also, in pleonastic construction: ich worthe ben brought, I will be brought; (c) in subjunctive constructions of wishing, willing, etc.: awaried worthe he (swikedome), waried worthe the wight, etc., be he (treachery, etc.) accursed; blessed worthe thou, may you be blessed; thanked worthe him, be he thanked, may he be thanked; etc.

To mount; with adverbs: ~ doun, dismount; ~ (ben worthen) up, mount up, mount a horse; also, mount a woman [quot. c1400(c1378)]; also, with prep. phrases: ~ on (up, upon), mount upon (a horse, horse’s back, Fortune’s wheel, etc.); also fig.

In phrase: leten ~, to leave (sb., an animal) alone, let be.

In misc. senses: (a) to move, go; also in fig. context; ~ awei (hennes), pass away, die; (b) to incline (to sin); (c) ?to drive (sb. to destruction); (d) ~ over, to overcome (sb.), subdue; (e) ppl. worthen, accomplished, completed.