释义 |
worseness|ˈwɜːsnɪs| [f. worse a. + -ness. Cf. worserness.] The quality or state of being worse or inferior.
c1380Wyclif 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. 1845Sir J. D. Hooker in L. Huxley Life (1918) I. 207 The badness of the specimens, the worseness of the published descriptions. 1871Ruskin Fors Clav. v. 23 We will have..no equality..; but recognition of every betterness that we can find, and reprobation of every worseness. 1913J. 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.
1782in 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. |