Worse

Worse
Worse Worse, a., compar. of {Bad}. [OE. werse, worse, wurse, AS. wiersa, wyrsa, a comparative with no corresponding positive; akin to OS. wirsa, OFries. wirra, OHG. wirsiro, Icel. verri, Sw. v["a]rre, Dan. v["a]rre, Goth. wa['i]rsiza, and probably to OHG. werran to bring into confusion, E. war, and L. verrere to sweep, sweep along. As bad has no comparative and superlative, worse and worst are used in lieu of them, although etymologically they have no relation to bad.] Bad, ill, evil, or corrupt, in a greater degree; more bad or evil; less good; specifically, in poorer health; more sick; -- used both in a physical and moral sense. [1913 Webster]

Or worse, if men worse can devise. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

[She] was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. --Mark v. 26. [1913 Webster]

Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse. --2 Tim. iii. 13. [1913 Webster]

There are men who seem to believe they are not bad while another can be found worse. --Rambler. [1913 Webster]

``But I love him.'' ``Love him? Worse and worse.'' --Gay. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • worse — ► ADJECTIVE 1) less good, satisfactory, or pleasing. 2) more serious or severe. 3) more ill or unhappy. ► ADVERB 1) less well. 2) more seriously or severely. ► NOUN ▪ …   English terms dictionary

  • worse — [wʉrs] adj. [ME < OE wiersa (used as compar. of yfel, bad, EVIL), akin to OHG wirsiro, prob. < base of OHG & OS werran, to confuse] 1. compar. of BAD1 & ILL1 2. a) bad, evil, harmful, unpleasant, etc. in a greater degree; …   English World dictionary

  • Worse — Worse, n. 1. Loss; disadvantage; defeat. Judah was put to the worse before Israel. Kings xiv. 12. [1913 Webster] 2. That which is worse; something less good; as, think not the worse of him for his enterprise. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Worse — Worse, adv. [AS. wiers, wyrs; akin to OS. & OHG. wirs, Icel. verr, Goth, wa[ i]rs; a comparative adverb with no corresponding positive. See {Worse}, a.] In a worse degree; in a manner more evil or bad. [1913 Webster] Now will we deal worse with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Worse — Worse, v. t. [OE. wursien, AS. wyrsian to become worse.] To make worse; to put disadvantage; to discomfit; to worst. See {Worst}, v. [1913 Webster] Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us and worse our foes. Milton. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • worse — O.E. wiersa, wyrsa, from P.Gmc. *wers izon (Cf. O.S. wirs, O.N. verri, Swed. värre, O.Fris. wirra, O.H.G. wirsiro, Goth. wairsiza worse ), comparative of PIE *wers to confuse, mix up (Cf. O.H.G. werra strife, O.S …   Etymology dictionary

  • worse — worse·ment; worse·ness; worse; …   English syllables

  • worse — comparative of ILL …   Medical dictionary

  • worse — 1 adjective 1 (the comparative of bad) not as good as someone or something else, or more unpleasant or of a lower standard: The meal couldn t have been much worse. | worse than: The weather was worse than last year. | there s nothing worse than… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • worse — worse1 [wə:s US wə:rs] adj [: Old English; Origin: wiersa, wyrsa] 1.) [the comparative of bad] more unpleasant, bad, or severe →↑better worse than ▪ The violence was worse than we expected. ▪ The traffic is much worse after five o clock. ▪ The… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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