stalworth
English
Etymology
From Middle English stal-worth (“physically strong, hardy, robust; brave, courageous”), from Old English stǣlwierþe (“able to stand in good stead, serviceable”),[1] 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”)). Compare staddle and worth.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈstɔːlwəθ/, /ˈstɒl-/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈstɔlwɚθ/, /ˈstɑl-/
- Hyphenation: stal‧worth
Adjective
stalworth (comparative more stalworth, superlative most stalworth)
- (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.
- 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard
References
- “stal-worth, adj.” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 13 March 2018.
Anagrams
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