trustworthy
Meaning
able to be relied on as honest, truthful, or dependable.
Structure
Usage
he is considered a trustworthy source of information.
we need a trustworthy babysitter for the weekend.
the company built a reputation for being honest and trustworthy.
Etymology
The word 'trustworthy' is a transparent compound formed from two Old English elements. 'trust' originates from the Old Norse 'traust', meaning confidence or help, which itself is related to the Proto-Germanic traustą, implying firmness and security. The suffix '-worthy' derives from Old English 'wurþig', meaning deserving or of value, connected to the concept of worth. The compound's logic is direct: describing someone who is 'deserving of trust' or 'worthy of confidence', evolving from the literal combination of these two concepts into a single adjective denoting reliability.
Analysis
trust (from old english 'trēow', meaning faith, confidence; functions as the core noun/root). worthy (from old english 'wurþig', meaning deserving, suitable; functions as an adjective-forming suffix).