Obs. exc. in nonce-use. Forms: 1 wyrsian, wyrsiʓan, 2 wursien, 3 wurse(n, wursi, wursin, werse(n, Orm. werrsenn, 4 worsi, 4, 6–7, 9 worse. [OE. wyrsian, f. wyrsa WORSE a. Cf. Fris. wersia to resist, withstand, OHG. wirsôn (MHG. wirsen, würsen) to make worse.]
1. intr. To become or grow worse, deteriorate.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter, xxxvii. 6. Fuladun & wyrsadon [deterioraverunt] wundsweðe mine.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 124. He sceolde beon ascyred fram manna neawiste, ʓif his hreofla wyrsiʓende wære.
a. 1023. Wulfstan, Hom., xxxiii. (1883), 158. Folclaʓa wyrsedan ealles to swyðe.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron., an. 1085 (Laud MS.). & aa hit wyrsode mid mannan swiðor & swiðor.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 47. Þa sende me claðes … for to biwinden þe rapes, þet his licome þe feble wes ne sceolde noht wursien.
c. 1205. Lay., 18931. Ȝif ich wilne æhte, Þenne wursede [c. 1275 wersede] ich on crafte.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 326. Þe wunde þet euer wurseð an hond, & strengre is forte helen.
a. 1240. Sawles Warde, in O. E. Hom., I. 265. Sikere ha beoð … of þulli blisse, þat hit ne mei neauer mare lutlin ne wursin.
1340. Ayenb., 33. Efterward comþ werihede þet makeþ þane man weri and worsi uram daye to daye.
1854. Sir J. D. Hooker, in L. Huxley, Life (1918), I. 352. Evil as our days are, whether they mended or worsed, it would [etc.].
2. trans. To make worse, impair, injure, blemish.
c. 1200. Ormin, 11845. To wersenn & to niþþrenn uss Biforenn Godess ehne.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 428. Ȝe muwen muchel þuruh ham beon i-goded, and i-wursed [MS. T. wursnet].
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2165. Þet tet wake ules ne wursi neauer mi mod.
a. 1240. Ureisun, in O. E. Hom., I. 202. Mine sunnen habbeð grimliche iwursed me.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 811. Hire holy maidenhod Þat neuer for no þing i-worsed nas.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 161. Oþer creaturis ben beterid, and noon ben worsid, bi þis ȝifte. Ibid., III. 349. Whan þei maken freris, þat ben worsid bi þis makyng, þei don hem a goostli harm.
1598. R. Haydocke, trans. Lomazzo, To Rdr. Other Translators, who are reputed to haue taken great paines in worsing their authors.
1616. Breton, Good & Bad, 39. His breeding may eyther better or worse him.
1621. Quarles, Esther, Wks. (Grosart), II. 52/1. What’s good, (like Iron) rusts for want of vse, And what is bad, is worsed with abuse.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 440. Perhaps more valid Armes,… when next we meet, May serve to better us, and worse our foes.
1867. A. Trollope, Last Chron. Barset (1869), I. xlii. 446. [Waiter at country inn loq.] Them as goes away to better themselves, often worses themselves, as I call it.
1886. Referee, 21 Feb., 7/4. Instead of bettering it [sc. their condition] they have ‘worsed’ it.
