Forms: see WEAR v.1; also 7 wooren. [pa. pple. of WEAR v.1]
1. Impaired by wear or use, or by exposure; showing the results of use or attrition.
1508. Fisher, 7 Penit. Ps. cii. Wks. (1876), 196. Heuen & erth shall perysshe … theyr condycyons shall in maner be olde & worne.
1563. in Inuentaires de la Royne Descosse (Bannatyne Club), 57. Mair ane vther coitt of blew veluot weill auld and worne.
1573. Baret, Alv., s.v., Old worne houses and rotten, exesæ ædes.
1575. A. Fleming, Virg. Bucol., VI. 17. The waightye pott of Bacchus with worne eares [attrita ansa].
1576. Turberv., Venerie, xxii. 64. Whether it be a worne footing or a sharpe cuttyng foote.
1817. Keats, Spec. Induction, 15. From the worn top of some old battlement.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, iii. His dress consisted of … a worn dark suit.
1847. A. Gatty, Bell, Pref. The worn pen of an habitual sermon writer.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 31 March, 8/1. By the new arrangement, bankers in the country are deprived of all excuse for not sending in their worn coins.
1913. Edith Wharton, Custom of Country, II. xv. 203. Had put aside the curtains of worn damask to strain her eyes into the darkening square.
b. fig. Of words or ideas: Hackneyed by use or repetition; trite.
1569. Roest, trans. J. van der Noot’s Theat. Worldlings, 37. Hys woren Romyshe trashe patched and newly redressed.
1642. R. Carpenter, Experience, III. v. 47. According to the worne axiome of Divinity, Grace perfecteth nature.
1853. Landor, Imag. Conv., L. Philippe & Guizot, Wks. 1876, VI. 565. There you will see the most honourable men at the helm of government, who never thought their worn words worth keeping any more than their worn cloaths.
2. Of persons: Wasted, enfeebled or exhausted by toil, exposure, age, anxiety or ill-health; showing signs of such enfeeblement. (Cf. care-worn.) Also of animals.
1508. [see 1].
1573. Baret, Alv., s.v., An old worne souldiour.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 64. Finding him so worne and wasted with continuall mourning.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, IX. 164. Though … The hie and mightie gods should say they would againe renew To youth my worne corpse.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1368/1. To doctor Sanders a naturall borne subiect, but an vnnaturall worne priest.
1690. Pepys, Mem. Navy (1906), 85. A worn unassisted Secretary.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, XI. 400. So worn, so wretched, so despis’d a Crew.
1814. Wordsw., Excurs., VII. 906. To conceal Tender emotions spreading from the heart To his worn cheek.
1842. Dickens, Amer. Notes, viii. The President … looked somewhat worn and anxious, and well he might. Ibid. (1853), Bleak Ho., xxiv. I … was shocked to see the worn look of his handsome young face.
1863. T. B. Aldrich, Lander, Poems 121 (Cent.).
| Lead the worn war-horse by the pluméd bier— | |
| Even his horse, now he is dead, is dear! |
1870. Huxley, Lay Serm., iii. 48. The serene resting-place for worn human nature,—the world of art.
b. Of land: Spent, exhausted, no longer fertile.
1681. R. Knox, Hist. Ceylon, 20. Which Inclosures they will keep up for several years, until the Ground becomes so worn, that the Flowers will thrive there no longer.
1860. Worcester cites Gray.
† 3. Of time, a period: Past, spent. Obs.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., V. i. 142. Infirmitie (Which waits vpon worne times).
4. With adv. (See also WORN-OUT.)
a. Worn-down: in senses 1, 2 above.
1814. Sporting Mag., XLIV. 147. The poor worn-down sort [of horses] are the most common victims of this barbarity.
1833. C. Lyell, Princ. Geol., III. 265. A worn-down crater.
1845. Darwin, Voy. Nat., xix. (1873), 440. The worn-down sandstone.
1849–52. Todd’s Cycl. Anat., IV. 876/2. The old worn-down tooth is shed.
b. Worn-in, ingrained by attrition or exposure to weather. (Cf. INWORN.)
1883. Gd. Words, Aug., 543/2. Weather-stain and worn-in dirt.
† c. Worn-up (WEAR v.1 10 b) = WORN-OUT 2.
1812. Sporting Mag., XXXIX. 209. A purchaser of worn-up horses.
Hence Wornness, worn condition.
1873. Mrs. Whitney, Other Girls, vi. 72. The first poetry, the first fresh touches [of her new life] … were passed into established use, and dulled into wornness and commonness.
