Why is the word 'worth' an adjective

Predicatively, what would it be worth?

[nq:1]Some dictionaries say the word "worth" is an adjective. Why? Itacts like preposition.[/nq]
I agree it's not an ordinary adjective: it forms such sentences as "He's worth listening to", but it's still an adjective. The interesting thing about it is that it can only be used in this predicative way we can't say "*He's worth." I suppose the best way to understand this is to think of it as me

Thank you for your kindly reply. But I still don't understand why "worth" is an adjective rather than preposition. The preposition phrase can also be used in predicative way, but, unlike preposition, the adjective cannot have its object. So "worth" should be classified as preposition.

"Mike Lyle" wrote >

[nq:2]I agree it's not an ordinary adjective: it forms such ... containing the ideas of both the adjective and the preposition.[/nq]
[nq:1]Thank you for your kindly reply. But I still don't understand why "worth" is an adjective rather than preposition. The preposition phrase can also be used in predicative way, but, unlike preposition, the adjective cannot have its object. So "worth" should b

[nq:1]NSOED classes this use of "worth" as a "predicative adjective (now usually with prepositional force)".[/nq]
I think the only possible answer to "Why don't we call it a preposition?" is that it doesn't feel quite like one. I suppose it doesn't feel quite like a preposition because we are vaguely conscious of its origin as an adjective, and because we have a rather rigidly set mental list

Worth is a NOUN that is sometimes used as an adjective, just like any other noun.
He lives in the house.
He had a house party.

[nq:1]Worth is a NOUN that is sometimes used as an adjective, just likeany other noun. He lives in the house. He had a house party.[/nq]
I'm not at all sure of that certainly not sure enough to indulge in capital letters on the subject. There do seem to be some differences in forms found in A-S, though it isn't quite clear to me.

In any case, the question here and it's a good questio

[nq:2]NSOED classes this use of "worth" as a "predicative adjective (now usually with prepositional force)".[/nq]
[nq:1]I think the only possible answer to "Why don't we call it a preposition?" is that it doesn't feel ... one day be called a preposition, like such compounds as "beside", "despite", and "notwithstanding"; but perhaps the time isn't ripe.[/nq]
This reminds me of the preposit

[nq:2]I wouldn't mind betting, though, that it will one day ... "beside", "despite", and "notwithstanding"; but perhaps the time isn't ripe.[/nq]
[nq:1]This reminds me of the prepositional use of 'concerning' e.g. hewrote concerning the car accident. All dictionaries now classify thisuse as a preposition, but this was once disputed. The 1828 Webster's dictionary says "This word has been consi

He simply lists it as an adjective.
However, I have looked in several online dictionaries and found that some of them (including Merriam Webster Online) classify "worth" (in the relevant sense) as a preposition. So it all depends on which dictionary you consult...