Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WORTH, n. [Sax. weorth, wurth, wyrth; G. werth; D. waarde; Sw. värd; Dan. værd; W. gwerth; L. virtus, from the root of vireo. The primary sense is strength.]

1. Value; that quality of a thing which renders it useful, or which will produce an equivalent good in some other thing. The worth of a day's labor may be estimated in money, or in wheat. The worth of labor is settled between the hirer and the hired. The worth of commodities is usually the price they will bring in market; but price is not always worth.
2. Value of mental qualities; excellence; virtue; usefulness; as, a man or magistrate of great worth. As none but she, who in that court did dwell / Could know such worth, or worth describe so well. – Walter. All worth consists in doing good, and in the disposition by which it is done. – Dwight.
3. Importance; valuable qualities; applied to things; as these things have since lost their worth.