Also 6 wurser, woorser, 9 vulgar wusser. [A double comparative, f. WORSE a. and adv. + -ER3. Cf. lesser.
The word was common in the 16th–17th c. as a variant of ‘worse,’ in all its applications. In modern use, it is partly a literary survival (esp. in phrases like the worser part, sort, half), partly dial. and vulgar.]
A. adj. = WORSE a.
1495. Trevisa’s Barth. De P. R., XIX. cvi. ll viij/1. Morethrumbles egges ben lyke to Geys egges but they ben lesser … and worser of smellynge.
1553. Brende, trans. Q. Curtius, VII. 122 b. Fearing the sequel of worser inconueniences.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 127. If one should sett Lukes Veluet against Geane Veluette, the Lukes will appeare better, and the Geane will seeme worser.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Duke of Suffolk, xxiii. To preserve me from a wurser yll.
c. 1566. Merie Tales of Skelton, in Wks. (1843), I. lix. The one woulde call thother Swanborn, the whyche they dyd take for a worser woorde then knaue.
1572. R. T., Discourse, 40. Vniuster then Pilate, worser then Lucifer.
1573–80. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 99. What worser for barlie than wetnes and cold?
1582. T. Watson, Centurie of Love, xxx. (Arb.), 66. In harder case and worser plight am I.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 33. They are not onely not inferior to any nation in the world in the excesse of apparell, but are farre woorser, if woorser can be.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., V. iii. 36. Chang’d to a worser shape thou canst not be.
1595. Markham, Trag. Sir R. Grinuile, clxxi. His pure part, from worser parts refind.
1605. London Prodigal, V. i. 68 (Brooke). Such bad beginnings oft haue worser ends.
1605. Rowlands, Hell’s broke loose, To Rdr. (Hunterian Club), 7. All composed of the scumbe and waste worser-sort.
1633. Ford, Love’s Sacrif., V. i. K 2. I find she is A diuell, worser then the worst in hell.
1638. Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. i. § 8. 36. The conclusion alwaies followes the worser part, if there be any worse.
a. 1639. W. Whateley, Prototypes, I. iv. (1640), 15. We must speake of Caine, who being the elder brother was yet the worser man.
1643. Trapp, Comm. Gen. xxxviii. 26. The worser sort of Papists.
1667. Termes de la Ley, 352. It is there taken in the worser sense.
1682. Norris, Hierocles, 88. Hence ’tis that the worser actions are accompany’d with the worser pleasures.
1713. Derham, Phys.-Theol., III. iv. 83. Our own great infirmities and failings … deserve a worser place, a more incommodious Habitation.
1742. Lond. & Country Brewer, I. (ed. 4), 38. The worser earthy Part of the Hop is greatly the Cause of that rough, harsh, unpleasant Taste.
1783. Burns, Remorse, 9. Or worser far, the pangs of keen Remorse.
1811. Southey, in Edinb. Ann. Reg., II. I. 417. Upon the convention of Cintra ministers had chosen the worser part.
1827. [see HALF sb. 4 b].
1829. Southey, Sir T. More, II. 208. Lawcraft, if not a twin-fiend with Priestcraft, is … perhaps the worser devil of the two.
1854. S. Austin, Germany, 312. The worser part of the press was timid, venal and obsequious.
1871. M. Collins, Inn of Strange Meetings, 33. One might imagine it a worser Troy.
1876. Farrar, Marlb. Serm., xxvii. 272. He must break, if need be, his old life in two, and fling away the worser half.
1887. Morris, Odyss., XI. 621. For I, e’en I, the bondsman of a worser man was made.
vulgar. 1837. Dickens, Pickw., xxii. You might ha’ made a worser guess than that, old feller.
1845. Disraeli, Sybil, III. i. ‘It’s the butties,’ said Nixon; ‘they’re wusser nor tommy.’
b. absol. and ellipt.
1586. Warner, Alb. Eng., I. iv. (1592), 13. He … setteth Tenedos on fire, whose fearefull flames espide, Gaue Sommons vnto carelesse Troy for worser to prouide.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, ii. (1617), 22. [He] shall not bee able to discerne which is the worser.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 269. If thou shalt reserue the better for thy selfe, and giue the worser vnto God.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., IX. 394. A worser neuer liued.
1635. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Banish’d Virg., 58. If the change chance to be from a bad Prince to a worser.
1660. Gauden, God’s Gt. Demonstr., 50. There is no necessity … to make evil deeds good by doing worser.
1680. W. Allen, Peace & Unity, 75. This was no call to the better sort of Christians to separate from the worser.
1840. G. Godwin, Last Day, i. 5. Fanny, you are a hignorant creature, and Mr. Brisk’s a worser.
1887. Field, 19 Feb., 233/1. I hear it was a toss up which day was the better or ‘wusser’ of the two.
† c. sb. pl. (One’s) inferiors. Obs.
1581. Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., II. (1586), 91 b. They ought to beholde their inferiours with a more gratious eie,… by meanes whereof they get the good will of their worsers.
B. adv. = WORSE adv.
1560. Pilkington, Expos. Aggeus, C iiii b. And the worser learned be preferred afore the better, to the ministery,… let not the better disdayn him.
1573–80. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 90. There pasture and cattel … worser do fare.
1584. Lyly, Campaspe, V. i. How like you this? doth he well? Diog. The better, the worser. Ibid., V. iv. I pray thee, what doost thou think of loue? Diog. A little worser then I can of hate.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., IX. li. 232. But thus do ye, nay worser.
1604. Shaks., Oth., IV. i. 105. How do you Lieutenant? Cas. The worser, that you giue me the addition. Ibid. (1606), Ant. & Cl., II. v. 90. I cannot hate thee worser then I do, If thou againe say yes.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Woman’s Prize, III. i. ’Twould make his head ake worser than his horns do.
1628. Mad Pranks Robin Goodfellow (Percy Soc.), 45. My hostesse asked me how I liked this tale? I said, it was … good enough to passe time that might be worser spent.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 435. Where he does well, none does better, but where ill, none worser.
1664. J. Webb, Stone-Heng (1725), 21. His Draught … I am confident you will like the worser, because he likes it so well.
1674. trans. Palafox’s Cong, China, xxiv. 429. The other Chinese Merchants … were much worser used.
1700. T. Brown, Amusem. Ser. & Com., 48. Persons … that have a great deal of Idle Time lying upon their Hands, and can’t tell how to employ it worser.
1835. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Pawnbroker’s Shop. Your poor dear wife as you uses worser nor a dog.
