Meaning of "Worth" (Vol. v., p. 509.).—As this suffix enters into the composition of many of our English surnames, particularly in the northern counties, Mr. Lower (and probably your readers in general) will be glad to have the explanation of an able Anglo-Saxon scholar and antiquary, the late lamented Mr. John Just of this town, whose merits as a philosopher and etymologist were highly appreciated by the learned societies in this district. It occurs in a paper read at a chapter of the Rosicrucians in Manchester a few months since:
"Worth.—Weorthe, Anglo-Saxon, a field, &c. Worth means land, close, or farm. It does not necessarily imply any residence, although thereon might be a hall or mansion. It likewise sometimes means nothing more than road or public way. Hence it is connected with the names of many places on our old roads, as Ainsworth, Edgeworth, on the Roman military road to the north; Failsworth, Saddleworth, on the Roman military road from Manchester to York; Unsworth, Pilsworth, on the old road between Bury and Manchester; also Ashworth, Whitworth, Butterworth, on old roads, and connected with old places, near Rochdale. Whether originally land, closes, or farms, worths were acquired properties. The old expression of 'What is he worth?' in those days meant, 'Has he land? Possesses he real property?' If he had secured a worth to himself, he was called a worthy person, and in consequence had worship, i. e. due respect shown him. A worth was the reward of the free; and perchance the fundamentals of English freedom were primarily connected with such apparently trivial matters, and produced such a race of worthies as the proud Greeks and haughty Romans might not be ashamed of. Worth is pure Anglo-Saxon. The Scandinavians applied it not in their intercourse with our island."
Broctuna.
Bury, Lancashire.
Khond Fable (Vol. vii., p. 452.).—This fable is clearly from Lokman, of which the following is Hélot's translation:
"Une moustique se posa un jour sur la corne d'un taureau, et, pensant qu'elle pouvait être trop lourde pour lui, elle lui dit: 'Si je te suis à charge, fais-le-moi savoir afin que je m'envole.' Le taureau lui répondit: 'Je ne t'ai point sentie au moment où tu es descendue, je ne saurai pas davantage quand tu t'envoleras.' Cette fable regarde celui qui cherche à s'attribuer de l'honneur et de la gloire tandis qu'il est faible et méprisable."
The sense of the Bull's reply in Arabic seems to be:
"O you, whatever you are [Ya hadi], I did not know when you descended, nor shall I know when you take yourself off [Taterin]."
A pointed reply, leaving the mosquito one horn of the dilemma.
T. J. Buckton.