[f. WORSE a. + -NESS. Cf. WORSERNESS.] The quality or state of being worse or inferior.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., I. 187. And siþ þe worsnesse of þing is matere of sorewe, man shulde have more sorewe for synne þan for ony oþer þing.
1845. Sir J. D. Hooker, in L. Huxley, Life (1918), I. 207. The badness of the specimens, the worseness of the published descriptions.
1871. Ruskin, Fors Clav., v. 23. We will have … no equality…; but recognition of every betterness that we can find, and reprobation of every worseness.
1913. J. Hunter, in L. S. Hunter, Mem. (1921), 248. He said I was worse than when I came the first time—the worseness due, no doubt, to the strain and worry of last winter.
† b. spec. Quality below the standard for gold or silver. Cf. WORSE a. 3 b and BETTERNESS 1 b.
1782. in Phil. Trans. (1803), XCIII. 135. The accuracy of these assays was farther confirmed, by nearly the same average of worseness being found upon more than 170000 guineas.
