noteworthy

The word "noteworthy" is a transparent English compound formed from two native elements. The first part, "note," originates from the Latin 'nota,' meaning a mark or sign, which entered English via Old French. The second part, "worthy," is of Old English origin, from 'wurþig,' meaning valuable or deserving. When combined, the literal construction "deserving of a note or mark" perfectly captures the modern abstract sense of being sufficiently interesting or important to merit attention or remark. This logical compounding reflects a straightforward method in English for creating descriptive adjectives.

Structure: note (mark, observation) + worthy (deserving of) - note: From Old English 'notu' (use, benefit) and Latin 'nota' (mark, sign). In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning a mark, sign, or observation. - worthy: From Old English 'wurþig' (having worth, valuable). In this compound, it functions as an adjective-forming suffix meaning "deserving of" or "fit for".