Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Worse — Worse, a., compar. of {Bad}. [OE. werse, worse, wurse, AS. wiersa, wyrsa, a comparative with no corresponding positive; akin to OS. wirsa, OFries. wirra, OHG. wirsiro, Icel. verri, Sw. v[ a]rre, Dan. v[ a]rre, Goth. wa[ i]rsiza, and probably to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
worse — ► ADJECTIVE 1) less good, satisfactory, or pleasing. 2) more serious or severe. 3) more ill or unhappy. ► ADVERB 1) less well. 2) more seriously or severely. ► NOUN ▪ … English terms dictionary
worse — [wʉrs] adj. [ME < OE wiersa (used as compar. of yfel, bad, EVIL), akin to OHG wirsiro, prob. < base of OHG & OS werran, to confuse] 1. compar. of BAD1 & ILL1 2. a) bad, evil, harmful, unpleasant, etc. in a greater degree; … English World dictionary
Worse — Worse, n. 1. Loss; disadvantage; defeat. Judah was put to the worse before Israel. Kings xiv. 12. [1913 Webster] 2. That which is worse; something less good; as, think not the worse of him for his enterprise. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Worse — Worse, adv. [AS. wiers, wyrs; akin to OS. & OHG. wirs, Icel. verr, Goth, wa[ i]rs; a comparative adverb with no corresponding positive. See {Worse}, a.] In a worse degree; in a manner more evil or bad. [1913 Webster] Now will we deal worse with… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Worse — Worse, v. t. [OE. wursien, AS. wyrsian to become worse.] To make worse; to put disadvantage; to discomfit; to worst. See {Worst}, v. [1913 Webster] Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us and worse our foes. Milton. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
worse — O.E. wiersa, wyrsa, from P.Gmc. *wers izon (Cf. O.S. wirs, O.N. verri, Swed. värre, O.Fris. wirra, O.H.G. wirsiro, Goth. wairsiza worse ), comparative of PIE *wers to confuse, mix up (Cf. O.H.G. werra strife, O.S … Etymology dictionary
worse — worse·ment; worse·ness; worse; … English syllables
worse — comparative of ILL … Medical dictionary
worse — 1 adjective 1 (the comparative of bad) not as good as someone or something else, or more unpleasant or of a lower standard: The meal couldn t have been much worse. | worse than: The weather was worse than last year. | there s nothing worse than… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
worse — worse1 [wə:s US wə:rs] adj [: Old English; Origin: wiersa, wyrsa] 1.) [the comparative of bad] more unpleasant, bad, or severe →↑better worse than ▪ The violence was worse than we expected. ▪ The traffic is much worse after five o clock. ▪ The… … Dictionary of contemporary English
