Forms: α. 1 wiersa, wirsa, 1–2 wyrsa (1 wuyrsa), 2 wursa, 2–6 wurse, 4 wirse, 3 wrse, 3–6 wurs; 3– worse, 3–6 worsse, 4 worss, 3–7 wors, 6 woorse, wourse, 7 wours, 9 vulgar wuss. β. 2 wærsa, wersa, 2–6 werse (3 Orm. werrse), 3 weorse, 4 wersse, 4–5 vers, 4–6 wers, 5 werce; 5–6 wars, warsse, 5–6, 8–9 north. warse. [OE. wyrsa, wiersa = OFris. wirra, werra (for *wirsa, *wersa by assimilation), OS. wirsa, OHG. wirsiro, -ero, -oro (MHG. wirser), ON. verri (for *wersi; Sw. värre, Da. værre; see WAR a.), Goth. wairsiza:—OTeut. *wersizon, f. root *wers-, found in OS., OHG. werran, G. (ver-) wirren to entangle, confound (see WAR sb.1) + -izon- compar. suffix.
For the graphic change of wu- to wo- see the notes to WORM sb. and WORRY v. The β-forms appear first in northeast midland texts and are app. due to Scandinavian.]
A. adj. Used as the comparative of BAD, EVIL, ILL, or as the opposite of BETTER.
1. More reprehensible morally; more wicked, depraved or vicious; more cruel, unkind or ill-conditioned.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xiv. § 3. Þi hi send wyrsæn þonne nytenu þy hi nellað witan hwat hi sint.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xii. 45. Ðonne gæð he, and hym to ʓenimð seofun oþre gastas wyrsan þonne he.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron., an. 979 (Laud MS.). Ne wearð Angelcynne nan wærsa dæd ʓedon. Ibid. (1154), an. 1140. Oc æfre þe mare he iaf heom, þe wærse hi wæron him.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 82. Idel speche is vuel; ful speche is wurse.
c. 1300. Havelok, 1100. He werse was þan Sathanas.
1340. Ayenb., 64. Ine þise zenne [of swearing] byeþ þe cristene worse þanne þe sarasyn.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 348. Þei stelen pore mennis children, Þat is werse þan stele an oxe.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Nun’s Priest’s T., 466. Now certes I were worse than a feend If I to yow wolde harm or vileynye. Ibid. (1396), Lenvoy a Bukton, 18. Bet ys to wedde than brenne in worse wise.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xxx. 195. It is saide in old sawes … Wars pepill wars lawes.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., III. ii. 132. Three Iudasses, each one thrice worse then Iudas.
1671. H. M., trans. Erasm. Colloq., 226. And didst thou return holy from thence?… Nay somewhat worse than I went.
1718. Prior, An Epitaph, 26. So ev’ry Servant took his Course; And bad at First, They all grew worse.
1818. Wilberforce, in Life (1838), IV. 395. Keswick worse now as to morals than thirty years ago.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, IV. 232. The song Might have been worse and sinn’d in grosser lips Beyond all pardon.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xi. ‘He be a bad’n, sure enough, Mr. Horrocks remarked; ‘and his man Flethers is wuss.’
1863. W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, iii. 69. Considering it no worse to employ myself usefully than to pass the time loitering about.
b. qualifying an agent-noun.
1653. in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 547. Wors livers then my self have seen their errors.
1871. Geo. Eliot, Middlemarch, xxxv. II. 199. I only hope and trust he wasn’t a worse liver than we think of.
c. Worse and worse = worse in an increasing degree, progressively worse.
1535. Coverdale, Ecclus. iii. [26]. He that is frowarde of hert wyll euer be the worse and worse.
1567–9. Jewel, Def. Apol. (1611), 151. That the Wicked and Wilfull … should … wax woorse and woorse.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. Proem. i. The world … being once amisse growes daily wourse and wourse.
2. More harmful, painful, grievous, regrettable, unpleasant, offensive, unfavorable, unlucky, etc.
Beowulf, 2969. He … forʓeald hraðe wyrsan wrixle wælhlem þone.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxix. § 2. Hwylc is wirsa wol … þonne he hæbbe on his ʓeferrædenne … feond & freondes anlicnesse? Ibid. (c. 897), Gregory’s Past. C., xvii. 122. Oft sio wund bið ðæs þe wierse & ðy mare, ʓif hio bið unwærlice ʓewriðen.
971. Blickl. Hom., 243. Þy læs wen sie þæt … God … us sende on wyrsan tintreʓo.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. ix. 16. Se slite byð þe wyrsa [peior scissura fit].
c. 1200. Ormin, 7395. Þa beþ hemm ȝarrkedd mare inoh & werrse pine inn helle, þann iff [etc.].
c. 1230. Hali Meid. (1922), 19. Se herre degre, se þe fal is wurse.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7691. Wo so come to esse him riȝt of eni trespas, Bote he payde him Þe bet, þe wors is ende was.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 366. Now is my prison worse than biforn.
a. 1440. Sir Eglam., 293. Yn werse tyme blewe he never hys horne.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Auian, xiii. Werse is the stroke of a tonge than the stroke of a spere.
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. xiii. (1883), I. 116. Whiche nowe, beinge men, nat onely haue forgotten their congruite … but, that wars is, hath all lernynge in derision.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., II. 300. And to that horrible cruell dede be gaue no wurse name but vncomely demeanure.
1580. G. Harvey, Three Proper Lett., 35. Non omni dormio, worse lucke.
1596. Edward III., II. i. 451. Lillies that fester smel far worse then weeds [= Shaks. Sonn., xciv. 14.]
1597. Middleton, Hist. Chinon., V. F 4. Closelie pent vp in delights, farre more worse vnto her than darke Dungeons.
1602–12, 1693. [see REMEDY sb. 1 b].
1634. A. Warwick, Spare Min., I. (ed. 2), 14. I will either make my fortunes good, or bee content they are no worse.
1658. Style, Rep., 23. Oftentimes dubious words shall be taken in the worse sense.
1685. Dryden, Sylvæ, Pref. a 3. But it will be ask’d why I turn’d him into this luscious English, (for I will not give it a worse word). Ibid. (1697), Æneis, IV. 526. What have I worse to fear?
1732. Pope, Ep. Bathurst, 319. Which of these is worse, Want with a full, or with an empty purse?
1775. Sheridan, St. Patrick’s Day, I. i. I never see her but she puts me in mind of my poor dear wife. O’Con. Ay, faith; in my opinion she can’t do a worse thing.
1834. Marryat, P. Simple, xxxviii. ‘If the weather becomes worse—’ ‘It can’t be worse,’ interrupted O’Brien, ‘it’s impossible to blow harder.’
1835. T. Mitchell, Acharn. of Aristoph., 584, note. This word [λιπαρός] bore two meanings; its better sense implying brightness and splendour, its worse betokening fatness and grease.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, vi. Come, you drop that stick or it’ll be worse for you.
1870. J. H. Newman, Gram. Assent, II. x. 398. If logic finds fault with it, so much the worse for logic.
1871. Geo. Eliot, Middlemarch, xxv. II. 56. No very good news; but then it might be worse.
1876. Q. Victoria, More Leaves (1884), 333. The rain continued persistently, having got worse just as the prayer began.
1879. McCarthy, Donna Q., I. 55. There are worse things to be endured in life than being thought too much of by one’s husband.
1881. Miss Braddon, Asphodel, II. 6. If you have not profited by my outlay, so much the worse for you.
† b. Harder to deal with, more difficult. Obs.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 50. Þe blake cloð … is þiccure aȝein þe wind, & wurse to þurhseon.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1114. Vor ȝif hii adde o þing iwonne of castel oþer of toune, Wel þe worse it wolde be to bringe hom þer doune.
c. More unattractive; more unsuitable or unfitting; more faulty, incorrect, ill-conceived, etc.
1640. Hobbes, Hum. Nat., Ep. Ded. (1650), A 7. For the Stile, it is therefore the worse, because, whilst I was writing, I consulted more with Logick then with Rhetorick.
1666. Earl Orrery, St. Lett. (1742), 187. The argument was bad, the plot worse, the contempt of authority worst of all.
1741. C’tess Pomfret, in C’tess Hartford’s Corr. (1805), III. 85. I … went to see the palace of prince Giustiniani. In my life I never saw a worse.
a. 1745. Swift, Story Injured Lady (1746), 2. She has bad Features, and a worse Complexion.
1797. Ht. Lee, Canterb. T. (1799), I. 338. Nothing makes a man worse company than being in love with his own thoughts.
1841. W. Spalding, Italy & It. Isl., I. 372. They were much given … to fixing maximum prices on provisions of every sort, but in respect to corn they did what was even worse.
1841. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, lxv. ‘Worse manners,’ said the hangman,… ‘I never see in this place afore.’
1847. Ruxton, Adv. Mexico, xxxiii. 306. Old manuscripts, written on bad paper, and with worse ink.
1868. A. L. Gordon, in Turner & Sutherland, Developm. Austral. Lit. (1898), 201. Mount … has a head worse if possible for business than mine.
d. With agent-noun: More unskilful or inefficient; that does the work more badly. Also, more addicted to some (specified) bad habit.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 136. If I was a bad Carpenter, I was a worse Taylor.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., xvii. (1842), 459. These remarks … become more applicable, when the substance acted upon is a worse conductor of electricity.
1871. Geo. Eliot, Middlemarch, xxiii. II. 21. I never heard but one worse roarer in my life, and that was a roan.
1898. J. Arch, Story of Life, xii. 281. The more uneducated a man is the worse hand he is at waiting.
e. Worse and worse: cf. 1 c.
1154. O. E. Chron., an. 1137 (Laud MS.). And ðæt lastede þa .xix. wintre wile Stephne was king & æure it was werse & werse.
c. 1522. Skelton, Why nat to Courte? 132. Whyles he doth rule, All is warse and warse.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. IV., 2 b. All thynges…, as well in the realme as without, waxed worsse and worsse.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., V. ii. 93. Worse and worse, she will not come: Oh vilde, intollerable, not to be indur’d.
1682. Lond. Gaz., No. 1760/2. The affairs of Hungary grow worse and worse.
1720. Lady B. Germaine, in Ctess. Suffolk’s Lett. (1824), I. 73. Worse and worse here every day—no soul left that we know but Lady Kit and Mrs. Coke.
1735. Pope, Donne Sat., iv. 121. So when you plague a fool, tis still the curse, You only make the matter worse and worse.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., iii. 13. I have been patient, but it’s growing worse and worse—flesh and blood can’t bear it any longer.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, iv. ‘This is worse and worse,’ said Lady Gethin, gravely.
3. Less good, not so good, inferior; of lower quality or value.
Beowulf, 1212. Wyrsan wiʓfrecan wæl reafedon æfter guðsceare.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxx. § 1. Ic wat … þæt mæniʓne mon sceamaþ þat he wiorðe wyrsa þonne his eldran wæron.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John ii. 10. Ælc man sylþ ærest god win & þonne hiʓ druncene beoð þæt þe wyrse byð.
c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 65. Þe þingð ðat þu naust naht to wurðin … ane wurse mann ðane ðu art.
c. 1200. Ormin, 14064. Siþþenn he biginneþþ To brinngen forþ summ werrse win, Son summ þe follc iss drunnkenn.
c. 1205. Lay., 383. Heo wes a cheuese, hire cheap wes þe wrse.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 38. O gode pertre coms god peres, Wers tre, vers fruit it beres.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 190. And so þei menen þat crist … nedid alle prestis to leue þe betre and take the worse lif.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Reeve’s Prol., 18. That ilke fruyt [the medlar] is euer leng the wers Til it be roten.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 5. Men sein it [the world] is now lassed, In worse plit than it was tho.
1481. Cely Papers (Camden), 65. I saw newer Hollendars make whorsse payment in my dayys.
1573–80. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 35. The soile and the seede, with the sheafe and the purse, the lighter in substance, for profite the wurse.
1594. Knaresb. Wills (Surtees), I. 200. My worse cloke.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lvii. § 1. They which at all times haue opportunitie of vsing the better meane to that purpose, will surely hold the worse in lesse estimation.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., III. i. 139. The Master is a Wise and Valiant Romane, I neuer thought him worse. Ibid. (1606), Ant. & Cl., III. ii. 52. He ha’s a cloud in ’s face. Eno. He were the worse for that, were he a Horse.
1615. J. Taylor (Water P.), Urania, xliii. B 8 b. Worse then the dust, that vnder-foot is trod.
1654. Gayton, Pleas. Notes, I. 2. I attribute this Costivenesse … to his yeares, being on the worse side of forty.
1759. Brown, Compl. Farmer, 32. Sheep … should be bought from a worse land to bring on to a better.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., IV. viii. Though it is acknowledged, that the commodity of the distant country is of a worse quality than that of the near one.
1770. Cases temp. Hardwicke, 35. It can never be interpreted, that removing oneself from a worse prison to a better is a surrender of oneself into custody.
1820. Scott, Monast., Introd. Ep. ‘They are prime stanes’…; ‘warse than the best wad never serve the monks, I’se warrant.’
1894. Times, 10 July, 11/3. [Tennis] Two fine chases—worse than a yard and better than half a yard—materially helped him to the seventh [game].
† b. Of silver or coin: Of less value than (a specified standard). Obs.
1488–9, 1676, 1681. [see STERLING B. 3].
1549. Latimer, Ploughers (Arb.), 27. The sayinge is, that since priests haue bene minters, money hath bene wourse then it was before.
1715. in Lond. Gaz., No. 5349/3. A certain Person was indicted for selling Silver Wares worse than Sterling. Ibid. (1716), No. 5404/4. Silver … one third Part worse than the said Act directs.
1782. in Phil. Trans. (1803), XCIII. 135. The coins were worse than standard.
† c. In phrases implying loss or defeat, as the worse deal, end, part, side. Obs.
a. 900. Cynewulf, Crist, 1225. Ond þær womsceaþan on þone wyrsan dæl fore scyppende scyrede weorþað.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 21466. Þan said þat juu, bi sant drightin Mi thinc þe wers part es mine.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, II. 29. Þat ȝere men of þat side schal haue the worse ende and be ouercome.
14[?]. Guy Warw. (Cambr. MS.), 602. Wyth pryde he wolde juste wyth Gye: The worse parte come hym bye. Ibid., 3537. Yf he falle on þe warse syde.
a. 1530. J. Heywood, Play of Love, 1258 (Brandl). Then shall I shewe such a thyng in this purs As shortly shall shewe herein your part the wurs.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut., lxxiii. 449/1. He shall obtayne no right in Law. And if he doe, yet shall he haue the worse end of the staffe.
d. To be worse than one’s word: to fail to carry out, or act up to, what one has promised.
1672. Wycherley, Love in a Wood, V. v. 89. Will you be worse then your word?
1715. De Foe, Fam. Instruct., I. viii. (1841), I. 139. I will not be worse than my word to my lady.
1826. Galt, Last of Lairds, xxxix. 352. Mrs. Soorocks was not worse than her word, for [etc.].
e. Worse half: used jocularly to match better half (see BETTER A. 3 c).
1783. H. Walpole, Lett. to Lady Browne, 19 Oct. It is not fit my better-half should be ignorant of the state of her worse-half.
1884. Flor. Marryat, Under Lilies & Roses, iv. The preparations would serve to occupy our time, whilst our worse halves are out shooting.
4. Predicatively (often with the: see THE adv.). a. Of persons: Less fortunate, less well off; in less favorable circumstances or position. Const. for (some person or thing that causes deterioration or loss).
a. 1122. O. E. Chron., an. 1064 (Laud MS.). Swa þet seo scyre & þa oðra scyre þe þær neh sindon wurdon fela wintra þe wyrsan.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 303. Wenestu þat haueck bo þe worse Þoȝ crowe bigrede him bi þe mershe?
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 231. For þe wers is no weih, wis ȝif he seme, Þouh he finde oþur folk folewen his dedus.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 26. And drink whon þou druiȝest, but do hit not out of Resun, Þat þou worþe þe worse whon þou worche scholdest.
c. 1520. Skelton, Magnyf., 1761. To make fayre promyse, what are ye the worse?
a. 1542. Sir T. Wyatt, Poems (1913), I. 150. A diligent knave that pikes his maisters purse May please him so that he withouten mo Executor is, and what is he the wourse?
1595. Shaks., John, I. i. 183. A foot of Honor better then I was, But many a many foot of Land the worse. Ibid. (1596), Merch. V., III. ii. 263. When I told you My state was nothing, I should then haue told you That I was worse then nothing. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., V. i. 30. Thou shalt not be the worse for me, there’s gold. Ibid. (1610), Temp., II. i. 261. Say, this were death That now hath seiz’d them, why they were no worse Then now they are.
1621. Lady M. Wroth, Urania, I. 1. Miserable Vrania, worse art thou now then these thy Lambs; for they know their dams, while thou dost liue vnknowne of any.
a. 1708. Beveridge, Thes. Theol. (1711), III. 203. Thou art never the worse, for others being better.
1777. Sheridan, Sch. Scand., III. i. I hadn’t the Pleasure of knowing his Distresses till he was some thousands worse than nothing.
c. 1784. Johnson, in Mrs. Piozzi, Anecd. (1925), 43. How would the world be worse for it,… if all your relations were at once spitted like larks, and roasted for Presto’s supper?
1840. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ser. I. Jackdaw of Rheims. Nobody seem’d one penny the worse!
b. Less well in health, physical condition, or spirits; less hale or strong.
The worse for (Sc. of): overcome or intoxicated by (liquor, drink). Also transf.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Mark v. 26. [Hire] hit naht ne fremode, ac wæs þe wyrse.
1388. Wyclif, Mark v. 26. [She] was nothing amendid, but was rather the wors.
c. 1440. Partonope, 6402 (E.E.T.S.). Forthewyth was broghte hym hys hakeneye, Neyther better ne worse, but in þe same a-Raye As he hym fryste broȝte frome the foreste: He semyd no-þynge a lusty beste.
1508. Kennedie, Flyting, 464. And now thy wame is wers than ewir it was.
1540. Palsgr., Acolastus, IV. vi. V iv b. It liketh me not to remember it .i. I am the worse whan i thynke on it.
1552. Huloet, Warsse to be for age, vetutesco.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 3. Ther’s no doubt his Maiesty Will soone recouer his accustom’d health. Gray. In that you brooke it ill, it makes him worse. Ibid. (1597), 2 Hen. IV., II. iv. 113. I am the worse when one sayes, swagger.
1603. Dekker, Wonderful Year, E 2 b. There was she worse then before.
1776. Trial of Nundocomar, 23/1. He was at first very ill, then got better; he is now worse.
1837. Lockhart, Scott, IV. viii. 261. He answered, that he had ridden more than forty [miles], a week before,… and felt nothing the worse.
1856. Merivale, Rom. Emp. (1871), V. xliii. 196. Germanicus grew rapidly worse.
1861. Flor. Nightingale, Nursing, 10. I hope you were not the worse for my visit.
(b) 1835. Marryat, Jac. Faithf., i. My mother had retired to her bed a little the worse for liquor.
1871. Geo. Eliot, Middlemarch, xxxix. II. 316. When a man … has … made himself the worse for liquor, he’s done enough mischief for one day.
1881. J. B. Gough, Sunlight & Shadow, 266. Who ever saw me the worse for drink?
1885. Stevenson, Prince Otto, III. ii. 268. To tell you the open truth, your Highness, I was the worse of drink.
1913. Spect., 24 May, 874/1. A learned judge said of Mr. Gladstone that he was often ‘the worse’ for flattery.
c. Of things: In less good condition; showing signs of damage, deterioration, or loss of quality. Const. for (see 4 a), obs. or dial. of.
It would be none the worse for: i.e., it would be all the better for, would be improved by. colloq.
c. 1290. St. Dominic, 64, in S. Eng. Leg., 279. Þat writ lay longue in þat fuyr, and neuere þe weorse it nas, Ne nouȝt i-wemned of one letter.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., XI. 101. Let brede hem [sc. olives], lest they hete and be the wers.
1546, 1706, 1711. [see WEARING vbl. sb.1 3].
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 207. What were thy lips the worse for one poore kis?
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. xii. 35. Euery matter worse was for her melling.
1753–4. Richardson, Grandison, II. xviii. 129. Sir Charles answered … That he would take a survey of the timber upon his estate, and fell that which would be the worse for standing.
1782. Cowper, John Gilpin, 183. A hat not much the worse for wear.
1824. in Spirit Public Jrnls. (1825), 213. His face … rather the worse of the dirt by which it was encased.
1835. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Greenwich Fair. Blue satin shoes ard sandals (a leetle the worse for wear).
1839. Fr. A. Kemble, Resid. Georgia (1863), 20. Their allowance of rice and Indian meal would not be the worse for such additions.
1883. D. C. Murray, Hearts, xvii. (1885), 137. Her finery was naturally all the worse for having been fine.
1911. Athenæum, 19 Aug., 216/3. We do not know that his book is much the worse for this avowal of purpose.
Mod. His coat would be none the worse for a good brushing.
d. Worse and worse: cf. 1 c, 2 e.
1471. Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 23. Saturne thus felyng hym in grete sorow & trowble and alwey wors and wors as a fore is sayd.
1553. Respublica, IV. iii. 1019. Truelie, I fele miselfe hitherto wurse and wurse.
1605. Shaks., Macb., III. iv. 117. I pray you speake not: he growes worse and worse.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xiv. ‘Well, Jane?’ ‘Wuss and wuss, Miss B.,’ Firkin said, wagging her head. ‘Is she not better then?’
5. Comb., as worse-natured, -tempered adjs.
1648. Jenkyn, Blind Guide, Pref. A 3. His being badly nurtur’d formerly, and worse natur’d still.
1659. Gentl. Calling, 446. These differ from the former … as a worse natured fool from a better.
1747. Richardson, Clarissa, I. ii. 10. My poor sister is not naturally good-humoured…. She must therefore have appeared to great disadvantages when she aim’d to be worse-temper’d than ordinary.
B. absol. or as sb. Chiefly ellipt. or absol. uses, with or without the def. or indef. article.
1. A person who is less good, virtuous, kindly, etc. As pl., those who are worse.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 85. In halie chirche boð betere and wurse.
13[?]. Cursor M., 1057 (Gött.). Caym was þe feindes fode, was neuer wers of moder born.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 80. Boþe burnes & burdez, þe better & þe wers, Laþez hem alle luflyly to lenge at my fest.
a. 1529. Skelton, Agst. Garnesche, iv. 17. Beholde thi selfe, and thou mayst se; Thow xalte beholde no wher a warse.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Envoy 12. The better please, the worse despise, I aske nomore.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., III. ii. 116. I feare there will a worse come in his place. Ibid. (1606), Ant. & Cl., I. ii. 68. And let her dye too, and giue him a worse, and let worse follow worse.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 903. He … shall see her gaind By a farr worse.
1823. Byron, Juan, X. lxvii. That worse than worst of foes, the once ador’d False friend.
1901. Westm. Gaz., 6 Nov., 2/4. Fool will take Fool, and Worse take Worse.
† b. The worse: the Evil One, the Devil. Obs.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 187. Iob … þe wan wið þe wurse. Ibid., 191. Neddre smuhgð diȝeliche. Swo doð þe werse.
c. 1205. Lay., 1140. Temple heo funden þar ane … þe wrse hit hafde to welden. Ibid., 11091. Þe wurse [c. 1275 þe feond] hine luuede. Ibid., 29188. Crist seolue he forsoc and to þan wursen he tohc.
c. sb. pl. (One’s) worses = inferiors. (Nonce-use, after betters.)
1873. Ruskin, Fors Clav., xxviii. 9. Speaking to you, then, as workers, and of myself as an idler, tell me honestly whether you consider me as addressing my betters or my worses? Ibid., 18. The question whether you are the betters or the worses of your masters.
2. Something worse; what is more evil, harmful, grievous, unlucky, etc.; a greater degree of badness.
Beowulf, 1739. He þæt wyrse ne con.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., x. Hu meaht þu þonne mænan þæt wyrse & þæt laðre nu ðu ðæt leofre hæfst ʓehealden?
a. 900. Cynewulf, Elene, 1039. He þæt betere ʓeceas … & þam wyrsan wiðsoc.
c. 1205. Lay., 3431. Ich wende swiðe wel to don ac wurse ich habbe vnderfon. Ibid., 24822. Ȝif þu swa nult don Þu scalt wursen vnderfon.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 2432. Alas! he seyde, y hider cam! Fro wycke vntil wors y nam.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1074. Now is wykke i-turned vnto worse.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 515. Wers than this can nat be said for me.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, I. 10. This tyrant too, whose senses stil to worse and worse do runne.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. iii. 46. For feare of worse, that may betide.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. iii. 301. Oh no, the apprehension of the good Giues but the greater feeling to the worse. Ibid. (1602), Ham., III. iv. 179. Thus bad begins, and worse remaines behinde. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., III. ii. 79. To feare the worst, oft cures the worse.
1614. Bp. Hall, Recoll. Treat., 974. Weake and base mindes euer incline to the worse.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 128. Though thereby worse to me redound.
a. 1796. Burns, Grace bef. Dinner. And, if it please thee, Heavenly Guide, May never worse be sent.
1812. Byron, Ch. Har., I. iv. Worse than adversity the Childe befell.
1824. Scott, Redgauntlet, ch. xx. With fair warning not to come back on such an errand, lest worse come of it.
1864. Tennyson, Enoch Arden, 742. That which he better might have shunn’d, if griefs Like his have worse or better.
1864. G. A. Lawrence, Maurice Dering, I. 132. You had better take yourself off peaceably, before worse comes of it.
1869. Morris, Earthly Par., III. 423 (Lovers of Gudrun). Ah, farewell, Lest of mine eyes thou shouldst have worse to tell Than now thou hast!
1896. A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, xliv. Dust’s your wages, son of sorrow, But men may come to worse than dust.
b. To do worse: to behave more wickedly, badly, foolishly, etc.; also, with dative of person or to, to deal with or treat (a person) more harshly or unkindly.
Orig. const. with the adv.: see WORSE adv. 1, 1 b. In the early examples given here, the inflexion seems to indicate the neut. adj. or quasi-sb., and the word is perh. usually so apprehended in later use. Cf. do good, GOOD sb. 5 a.
1154. O. E. Chron., an. 1137 (Laud MS.). Næure hethen men werse ne diden þan hi diden. Ibid., 1140. He … dide þanne wærse þanne he hær sculde.
c. 1200. Moral Ode, 223 (Trin. MS.). Werse he doð his gode wines þan his fiendes.
c. 1205. Lay., 3496. Nule heo me do na wurse þanne hire lond forwurnen. Ibid., 29186. Gurmunddes mon he bicom: ne mihte he na wurse don, for crist seolue he forsoc.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1408. Hweþer deþ wurse, flesch þe gost?
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 8696. Syn þey had mercy & pyte, Wirse þan þey schul nought do we.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 250. Why schulde noȝt men now reprove popes, ȝif þei don now wersse?
c. 1386. Chaucer, Squire’s T., 592. Who kan sey bet than he, who kan do werse? Ibid. (1396), Lenvoy a Bukton, 17. But yet lest thow doo worse, take a wyfe.
c. 1500. Medwall, Nature, II. 245. In good fayth syr ye may do wurs.
1535. Coverdale, Jer. iii. 5. Thou speakest soch wordes, but thou art euer doinge worse, and worse.
1605. Shaks., Macb., IV. ii. 71. To do worse to you were fell Cruelty.
c. What is less good or precious or valuable. (Cf. WORSE a. 3.)
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, III. Wks. 1922, II. 22. Never after to feede of worse then furmentie.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. vii. 55. Neuer so rich a Iem Was set in worse then gold.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 102. For what God after better worse would build?
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 289. All below, whether by Nature’s Curse, Or Fate’s Decree, degen’rate still to worse.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., lvi. That thorn-pressure which must come with the crowning of the sorrowful Better, suffering because of the Worse.
d. Used as an alternative or addition to an unfavorable epithet or characterization = something worse still. Usually or worse, and worse.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XVIII. 72. Men may lykne letterid men to a lussheborgh, oþer werse.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 1011. A vyllayne orels wers sothly thou was borne.
1653. Walton, Angler, vii. 147. I might say more of this, but it might be thought curiosity or worse.
a. 1734. North, Ld. Kpr. Guilford (1742), 224. The Man’s Wife was his Nurse, or worse.
1851. Kingsley, Yeast, xiii. They say, sir, he went up to court, and slandered the nuns there for drunkards and worse.
1898. ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, xxv. 269. Everybody knows that it is a disgrace or worse—perhaps a crime.
3. In phrases with a preposition. a. For better, for worse, also for better or (for) worse: used where an issue is doubtful or beyond human control.
To put to better and to worse: ? to subject to every kind of luck (quot. c. 1430).
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 24. For bet, for wers, for oght, for noght, Scho passeth nevere fro my thoght.
c. 1430. Chev. Assigne, 244. I wolle putte my body to better & to worse, To fyȝte for þe qwene.
a. 1500. Sarum Manuale, In sponsalibus (Rouen 1501), fo. xlvii. I N. take the N. to my wedded wif to haue and to holde fro this day forward for bettere for wers for richere for pouerer.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 59 b. And so for better or worse, the Frencheman called the Englisheman knaue and went away with the stockdoues.
1639. J. Clarke, Parœm., 122. For better for worse.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, lix. Mr. Towlinson … informs the kitchen that him and Anne have now resolved to take one another for better for worse.
1871. Smiles, Charac., i. (1876), 10. Character is undergoing constant change, for better or for worse.
1905. H. W. Boynton, Bret Harte, 85. He had also, for better or worse, a decided instinct to invest human nature … with certain attributes of ideal grace.
b. For († to, † into) the worse: chiefly used to indicate the result of a change in condition or quality, fortune, or circumstances.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxiv. 113. Þe iournee chaunged efter to þe werse.
1548. Forrest, Pleas. Poesye, 352. The worlde is chaunged from that it hathe beene, Not to the bettre but to the warsse farre.
1620. [? G. Brydges], Horæ Subs., 319. Honor nourisheth in light and vain men a wrong opinion of their own worth, and consequently, often changeth their manners into the worse.
1668. Dryden, Maiden Q., III. i. All we have done succeeds still to the worse.
a. 1712. W. King, Letter, Wks. 1776, III. 272. It is thy curse Ever to change, and ever for the worse.
17[?]. [Burns], Carl, an the king come, ii. I trow we swapped for the warse.
1835. T. Mitchell, Acharn. of Aristoph., 263, note. The Doric character generally was undergoing a most important change for the worse.
c. From bad († evil, † ill) to worse.
1549. Latimer, 4th Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 121. He by vnrepentaunce fell frome euyll to worse, and frome worse, to worste of all.
1550. Lever, Serm. (Arb.), 32. You whych haue gotten these goodes into your own handes, to turne them from euyll to worse.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 73. Suche driftes draue he, from yll to wars and wars.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Feb. 12. Must not the world wend in his commun course From good to badd, and from badde to worse, From worse vnto that is worst of all…?
1639. J. Taylor (Water P.), Pt. Summers Travels, 43. You draw us from bad to worse, and from worse to worst.
1649. C. Wase, Sophocles, Electra, 38. See then lest Bad enough to Worse advance.
1667. Milton, P. L., XII. 106. Thus will this latter, as the former World, Still tend from bad to worse.
† d. (To judge) to the worse: disadvantageously, unfavorably. Obs.
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Par. Rom. xiv. 39. Take heede that no man iudge others actes to the worse [nec alius alium judicet in malum].
e. (To differ) for the worse: to one’s disadvantage.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. xi. 83. The situation of the Quaker differed from that of other dissenters, and differed for the worse.
4. The worse, the losing or less desirable part (in a contest, or the like); disadvantage. Cf. A. 3 c and WORST sb. 8. Chiefly in the phrases that follow (b, c, d).
c. 1205. Lay., 26594. And ær heo to-tweinden Þe wurse wes Rom-leoden. Ibid., 26997. Bruttes wokeden þa & heore wes þat wurse.
14[?]. Guy Warw. (Cambr. MS.), 11073. He þoght, þe warse went on hys syde.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 7760 (Trin.). Of þis batail þat was so snel þe wors [Cott. force, Gött. fors] on kyng saul fel.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, i. 39. I byleue, yf the kynge beseege the castelle that the worsse shalle retourne vnto hym.
b. To have the worse: to be worsted or defeated in a contest. Also gen. to have the disadvantage in a comparison with another.
c. 1205. Lay., 26712. Þa iwræð sone Þat Bruttes hafden þat wurse.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 16373. He þat hit gan, þe worse he hadde.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 48. Þenne is me lyȝtloker hit lyke & her lotes prayse, Þenne wyþer wyth & be wroth & þe wers haue.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 490. Yow loueres axe I now this question, Who hath the worse [v.r. werse], Arcite or Palamon?
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 380. Wicke is to stryve and have the worse.
c. 1450. Merlin, iii. 56. In that bataile was grete mortalite on bothe parties, but the hethen peple hadde moche the werse.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VII. xxx. 261. Sir Gawayne and syr Trystram mette, and there syr Gawayne had the werse.
1567. Painter, Pal. Pleas., II. xxx. 352 b. In the end, the Salimbenes had the worsse [in a skirmish with the Montanines].
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. v. 15. Was neuer man, who most conquestes atchieu’d, But sometimes had the worse, and lost by warre.
1860. Emily Eden, Semi-attached Couple, iv. Perhaps the instinct that always leads a man to foresee when an impending explanation is not likely to end in his favour, prompted him to divine that he should have the worse of this.
1888. Oman, Hist. Greece, xv. (1901), 142. A running fight ensued, in which the invaders had greatly the worse.
† c. To go (away) with, to go (or come) to, unto, by the worse: to be defeated or worsted, fail, miscarry.
(a) c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 49. The folk of Troye hem seluen so mysledden That with þe worse at nyght homward þey fledden.
1632. Holland, Cyrupædia, I. 12. Went he any time away with the worse? very pleasant he was and laughed at himselfe most of all.
(b) 1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. ix. 46. Fyghte not with the swerde ye had by myracle, til that ye see ye go vnto the wers.
1532. Tindale, Exp. v–vii Matt. vii. (c. 1550), 87 b. Which handes, if thou for werines once let fal, thou goest to the worse immediatly.
1591. Savile, Tacitus, Hist., II. xi. 67. In those ordinary bickerings … he commonly went to the worse. Ibid., Agricola, 251. Now sommer and winter alike they went to the worse [tum aestate atque hieme iuxta pellebantur].
1597. Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 96. As Truth got euer the vpper hand,… so the brochers and vpholders of falshood came euer to the worse.
(c) 1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 310. The beginning should procede of you, whiche in the cause are inferiours, and goe by the worse.
1565. Golding, Cæsar, I. 23 [c. 31]. To whom the Heduanes and their confederates had diuerse tymes gyuen battell: wherin going by the wors, they had receyued great domage.
1641. C. Burges, Serm., 5 Nov., 55. Have they not miscarried, and gone by the worse all along?
1641. J. Shute, Sarah & Hagar (1649), 34. Neither let us despair of them, because they have been foiled, that they will still hereafter go by the worse.
1671. Milton, Samson, 904. In argument with men a woman ever Goes by the worse.
† d. To put to the (or one’s) worse: to defeat, worst, discomfit, in a contest or conflict. Obs.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. lviii. 512. He put me to the werse or on foot or on horsbak.
c. 1482. J. Kay, trans. Caoursin’s Siege of Rhodes, Ded. in Gibbon’s Crusades, etc. (1870), 136. But ther [at Rhodes] he was put to hys worse and to shame.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Pessundo, to cast vnder foote, to put to the warse.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 78. For euer, if they chaunced to skirmishe, the Frenchmen were put vnto the worse.
1584. Powel, Lloyd’s Cambria, 9. When he had by the space of ten yeares warred with diuers Kings, and often put them to the woorse.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Ivstine, IV. 22. He was twice put vnto the worse [IV. iv. 9 duobus proeliis victus].
1611. Bible, 2 Chron. vi. 24. If thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 265. Aretas … took the field againe, but was put to the worse.
† e. To wring to the worse: to vex, distress. Obs.
1553. Ascham, Germany, Wks. (1904), 133. Octauio was euermore wrong to the worse by many and sundry spites.
