worseradj.n.adv.
/ˈwəːsə/, U.S. /ˈwərsər/ Now chiefly British regional, U.S. regional, and nonstandard. Also literary (somewhat archaic) in some uses.Common in the 16th–17th centuries as a variant of worse in all its senses. In recent use chiefly regional and nonstandard, but also found as a literary survival (especially in phrases like the worser half, the worser kind, the worser part, the worser sort). Sometimes also deliberately used as an intensified comparative with the sense ‘even worse’.
A. adj.
1. More harmful, painful, offensive, unpleasant, or severe; = worse adj. 2a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worse > [adjective]
werrarc1475
worser1495
decayeda1522
derogate1608
depraved1610
deteriorated1656
worserer1720
worsened1822
1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) xix. cvi. sig. llviij/1 Morethrumbles egges ben lyke to Geys egges: but they ben lesser..and worser of smellynge.
1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus Hist. vii. f. 122v Fearing the sequel of worser inconueniences.
1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Suffolk xxiii To preserve me from a wurser yll.
1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 17v What worser for Barley, then wetnesse and colde?
1605 London Prodigall sig. F4 Such bad beginnings oft haue worser ends.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) v. iv. 7 Chang'd to a worser shape thou canst not be. View more context for this quotation
1682 J. Norris tr. Hierocles Golden Verses 88 Hence 'tis that the worser actions are accompany'd with the worser pleasures.
1783 R. Burns Commonplace Bk. Sept. in Wks. (2014) I. 42 Or worser far, the pangs of keen Remorse.
1874 Tract Mag. 5 147 Soon after that he caught a downright bad cold somehow, and it kept growing worser and worser.
1895 S. Crane Red Badge of Courage x. 103 I bet yeh 've got a worser one than yeh think. Ye'd better take keer of yer hurt.
1903 Insurance Times May 193/1 Then matters got worser.
1989 J. Sullivan Only Fools & Horses (2000) II. 6th Ser. Episode 4. 87/2 Look, me and Rodders can wing it! We've got over worser problems than this.
2012 D. L. Cook Best of David L. Cook 15 Seems like as time goes by the hate gets worser.
2. More reprehensible morally, more wicked; less virtuous; having a more evil disposition; more cruel or unkind; = worse adj. 1. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > [adjective] > worse
worseOE
waura1325
worser1548
1548 T. Cranmer Catechismus sig. M.iv Some of them be the worser in deede, contynuynge in theyr synnes all the dayes of theyr lyfe.
1572 C. Carlile Disc. Peter f. 40 Vniuster then Pilate, worser then Lucifer.
1633 J. Ford Loves Sacrifice v. sig. K2 I find she is A diuell, worser then the worst in hell.
1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Gen. xxxviii. 26) 299 The worser sort of Papists.
1680 W. Allen Perswasive to Peace & Unity (ed. 2) 75 This was no call to the better sort of Christians to separate from the worser.
1702 L'Estrange's Visions of Quevedo Burlesqu'd 168 I..Too soon found worser Sinners.
1829 R. Southey Sir Thomas More II. 208 Lawcraft, if not a twin-fiend with Priestcraft, is..perhaps the worser devil of the two.
1845 B. Disraeli Sybil II. iii. i. 14 ‘It's the butties’, said Nixon; ‘they're wusser nor tommy.’
1923 Official Proc. Western Railway Club 15 Jan. 19 I imagine I can see them daily practicing their oratorical gestures in front of a mirror of prejudice—and then repeating to themselves over and over ‘Every day, in every way, I am growing worser, worser, worser.’
1940 V. Woolf Let. 15 May in J. T. Banks Congenial Spirits (2003) 428 I should have been a worser woman without Bernard Shaw.
a1945 C. Williams Outl. Romatic Theol. (1990) vii. 68 Other and worser emotions may imitate it, so easily deceived is man.
3. Less good, not so good, inferior; of lower quality or value; less favourable, advantageous, or attractive; more unskilful or inefficient; = worse adj. 3.
ΚΠ
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique ii. f. 69 If one shoulde set Lukes Ueluet against Geane veluet, the Lukes wil appere better, and the Geane wil seeme worser.
1563 in G. J. Piccope Lancs. & Cheshire Wills (1857) I. 135 Halfe a dosyn of fustian pillowes and the worser chafer and a possenet.
?1567 Merie Tales Master Skelton sig. Aviv The one woulde call thother Swanborn, the whyche they dyd take for a worser woorde then knaue.
1582 T. Watson Ἑκατομπαθία: Passionate Cent. Loue xxx. sig. D3v In harder case and worser plight am I.
1605 S. Rowlands Hell's broke Loose To Rdr. sig. A2 All composed of the scumbe and waste worser-sort.
1635 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Donzella Desterrada 58 If the change chance to be from a bad Prince to a worser.
1667 Termes de la Ley 352 It is there taken in the worser sense.
1713 W. Derham Physico-theol. iii. iv. 83 Our own great infirmities and failings..deserve a worser place, a more incommodious Habitation.
1735 W. Ellis London & Country Brewer I. x. 66 The worser earthy part of the Hop is greatly the cause of that rough, harsh unpleasant taste.
1792 C. Smith Desmond II. xvi. 234 Our learned in the laws undertake ‘To make the worser seem the better reason’.
1811 R. Southey in Edinb. Ann. Reg. 1809 2 i. 417 Upon the convention of Cintra ministers had chosen the worser part.
1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) xxii. 224 You might ha' made a worser guess than that, old feller.
1871 Archaeologia 43 101 Vegner's paper was bad, his ink worse, his pen ‘worser’ still, spitting strangely.
1901 Chem. News 2 Aug. 59/1 Unfortunately the worser kinds of red-lead were not preserved.
1968 H. B. Fowler in D. Hall Mod. Stylists iii. 83 Typical of the worser kind of present-day writing.
1992 Learning Disability Q. 15 27/2 They made statements such as ‘I ain't never gonna get there’, and ‘I'm gettin worser’.
4. Less well; more ill, distressed, or upset. Cf. worse adj. 4.
ΚΠ
1834 F. Marryat Jacob Faithful II. vi. 131 Well, I dreamed of your mother all that night, and the next day went to see her, and felt worser and worser each time.
1862 A. S. Roe Like & Unlike iv. 68 Peter is getting worser and worser every day; he ain't long for here.
1900 M. N. Carter N. Carolina Sketches 30 Miry allowed they'd feel worser if he was to marry a poor girl like her.
1928 R. Edgeworth Let. 26 Mar. in D. Edgeworth Gryphons of Sandhills (2001) 286 Franklin has been up there about four weeks for treatment and got worser last week.
2014 R. Morgan Road from Gap Creek i. 16 When a preacher comes to comfort you it always makes you feel worser.
B. n.
1. † a. That which is worse; that which is more evil, more harmful, or inferior in quality. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1508 Mirk's Festyuall (de Worde) f. xliiv And [he] gyueth grace to deme the better from the worser.
1579 in M. A. Havinden Househ. & Farm Inventories Oxfordshire (1965) 110 2 Iron bound cartes viz. the best carte ys prysed at 40s. and the worser att 20s.
1586 W. Warner Albions Eng. i. iv. 13 He..setteth Tenedos on fire, whose fearefull flames espide, gaue Sommance vnto carelesse Troy for worser to prouide.
1612 J. Davies Muses Sacrifice sig. O3 Sith Comparisons are but too blame betweene things so repugnant (for, they doe But shew the ods vnto the worsers shame.
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 269 If thou shalt reserue the better for thy selfe, and giue the worser vnto God.
1660 J. Gauden Μεγαλεια Θεου 50 There is no necessity..to make evil deeds good by doing worser.
1840 New Monthly Mag. May 93 The hastonishing halteration for the worser.
1899 C. Geary Rural Life 119 ‘You took your husband for better, for worse.’ ‘That is true,..but I niver thought as 'ow there'd be such a lot o' the worser.’
1901 ‘A. Forbes’ Odd Fish 59 There's worser to come yet.
1912 Rep. 30th Ann. Lake Mohonk Conf. Friends of Indian 181 To have the best in every man govern the worser in every man.
b. A person who or animal which is worse; one who is more wicked or inferior in qualities or performance.
ΚΠ
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. ix. 394 A worser neuer liued.
1844 Miss Child Spinster at Home 393 Saw ye ever a Worser? Said the man at the show, Saw ye ever a Worser? And made a low bow.
1887 Field 19 Feb. 233/1 I hear it was a toss up which day was the better or ‘wusser’ of the two.
1903 Lit. Digest 24 Oct. 532/1 The better man had hounded the worser to a point that justified the worser in this act.
1969 D. Wright Deafness (1990) iv. 40 There were, however, two notorious thugs. The worser..was a dedicated artist in the various..sleights for the infliction of agony without leaving a mark.
2. In plural. With possessive: a person's inferiors. Cf. better n.1 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > the common people > socially inferior person > [noun] > collectively
vulgarsa1513
worsers1581
unconscionable1607
lower class1637
the lower orders1679
worses1857
lesser breeds1897
lower depths1902
1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. ii. f. 45 They ought to beholde their inferiours with a more gracious eye,..by meanes whereof, they get the good will of their worsers. [No corresponding word in the French original.]
1793 S. Gunning Mem. Mary III. xxxvii. 153 Every one will speak his mind, and care no more for their betters than for their worsers.
1844 Ainsworth's Mag. 6 111 An immoral actor is driven from the stage by his worsers.
1950 Times 23 Dec. 7/5 The elders and betters of every generation have always been anxious and apprehensive about the habits of their youngers and ‘worsers’.
1984 D. Langford Leaky Establishment (2003) xxii. 175 Why couldn't this lot imitate the decently double-glazed silence and expressions of their elders and worsers?
2015 Washington Post (Nexis) 25 Oct. e12 I learn from m' betters. And I learn from m' worsers.
C. adv.† 2. More unfortunately, unluckily, or unhappily; with less success; = worse adv. 2. Obsolete.
1. More badly, wickedly, or reprehensibly; more severely or harshly; more imperfectly, carelessly, or incorrectly; = worse adv. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worse > [adverb]
worseeOE
waurc1175
downhilla1398
downwarda1400
worser1547
bastardlike1563
degenerously1627
degenerately1645
witheringly1815
1547 W. Baldwin Treat. Morall Phylos. iii. sig. P.viiv Tresures which falsehod semeth to augment, Are euylly gotten, and worser are spent.
1560 Bp. J. Pilkington Aggeus the Prophete sig. C iiii b And the worser learned be preferred afore the better, to the ministery,..let not the better disdayn him.
1596 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) ix. li. 234 But thus do ye, nay worser.
1628 Robin Good-Fellow, his Mad Prankes ii. sig. F2v 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.
1644 M. Newcomen Sermon 19 Israel hath sinned..and yet worse, they have even taken of the accursed thing: and worser yet, they have also stollen.
1671 tr. J. de Palafox y Mendoza Hist. Conquest of China by Tartars xxiv. 429 The other Chinese Merchants..were much worser used.
1700 T. Brown Amusem. Serious & Comical v. 48 Persons..that have a great deal of Idle Time lying upon their Hands, and can't tell how to employ it worser.
1710 W. Fleetwood Serm. preach'd before Lords 20 The Word of God..was never worser used, by Furious, Ignorant, Misguided..Spirits.
1778 F. Burney Evelina II. ix. 66 I..did every thing in the world, and was used worser than a dog, and all for the sake of serving of him.
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. II. 151 Your poor dear wife as you uses worser nor a dog.
1861 Househ. Jrnl. 26 Oct. 54/2 He that put him there will soon be sent where he'll be treated even worser than Tim at Ballinamore.
1880 Scribner's Monthly Sept. 763 I'll whup her worser'n he done.
1895 ‘Rosemary’ Under Chilterns i. 32 My ole master used to cut me about worser nor that.
1929 H. W. Odum in A. Dundes Mother Wit (1973) 185 Boys..tore out to barroom worser than bloodhounds after raw beef.
2002 D. H. Sterry Chicken (2003) xiv. 156 The madder I get the worser I play.
2014 Sc. Express (Nexis) 21 Oct. 19 The Crazed Nats merely respond by shrieking ‘even mair benefits!’ and ‘wa'll soak yer rich even worser!’
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > [adverb] > more or most
worseeOE
worsteOE
waurc1175
worser1573
1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 37v There pasture & cattle..worser do fare.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iv. i. 103 How doe you now Leiutenant? Cas. The worser, that you giue me the addition. View more context for this quotation
1891 W. Morris & E. Magnusson tr. Story Howard the Halt 65 Ye..were well worthy to come off the worser for your fraud's sake.
3. † a. With verbs of liking, pleasing, and valuing: to a lesser degree, less well; = worse adv. 3a. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adverb] > to a lesser extent
lesseOE
worseeOE
lessera1500
worser1584
1584 J. Lyly Alexander, Campaspe, & Diogenes v. i. sig. E3v Sylui. How like you this? doth he well? Diog. The better, the worser.
1584 J. Lyly Alexander, Campaspe, & Diogenes v. iv. sig. F2v Apel. I pray thee, what dost thou think of loue? Diog. A litle worser then I can of hate.
1665 J. Webb Vindic. Stone-Heng Restored 21 His Draught..I am confident you will like the worser, because he likes it so well.
b. As an intensifier, with verbs of hurting, harming, hating, etc.: more greatly, severely, or intensely; in a greater degree; = worse adv. 3b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > in or to a greater degree or extent > specifically of something bad
worse?a1425
worsera1616
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. v. 91 I cannot hate thee worser then I do, If thou againe say yes. View more context for this quotation
a1625 J. Fletcher Womans Prize iii. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ooooo2v/1 Twould make his head ake worser then his hornes doe.
1877 F. H. Burnett Surly Tim 110 Tha conna hurt me worser.
1954 P. O'Brian Road to Samarcand (2007) i. 15 He hated her worser'n poison.
1990 W. W. Johnstone Brotherhood of Gun vii. 53 I hate a gawddam 'Pache worser than I do anythin' else.
Compounds
worser half n. = worse half n. 2; cf. better half n. 2a.
ΚΠ
1826 W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1827) II. 388 These fair helpmates are as convivial..as their ‘worser halves’.
1855 C. Aston They are only Cousins I. xii. 137 If ‘woman's mission’ consist in keeping their worser-halves in order.
1920 S. Lewis Main St. iv. 41 Ladies and worser halves, the bride!
2004 I. Marcuse Under Manhattan Bridge xi. 77 It's so nice to see you, Ms. Servi, rather than your worser half.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
worserv.
/ˈwəːsə/, U.S. /ˈwərsər/ rare.
1. † b. transitive (reflexive). To impair one's social or economic standing. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To make worse; = worsen v. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worse > [verb (transitive)]
worsec1175
worsena1250
appair1297
impair1297
pairc1330
aggregea1382
appalea1500
emperish1509
empyre1566
worser1590
worst1602
improve1609
pejorate1653
vilioratea1722
misimprove1847
nastify1873
1590 T. Rogers Miles Christianus 33 Let al men that haue iudgement iudge, whether that by your abridging and adding, you haue bettered, and not rather worsered this Catechisme.
1824 C. Fry Assistant of Educ. Sept. 137 What cannot be worsered may be bettered, they say.
1842 Collectanea Glocestr. 283 Worsered, made worse.
1917 Pottery, Glass & Brass Salesman 27 Sept. 14/1 Ken Wedgwood, after being acclaimed the coming winner at the luncheon period, threw down his rooters by ‘worsering’ his game just eleven strokes as compared with his morning exhibition.
1992 L. H. Aragón & L. T. Fuentes in F. E. Cuevas-Pérez Rice in Lat. Amer. 77 This phenomenon has been further worsered by drainage works that have regrettably and inexplicably been carried out.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > poverty > impoverish oneself [verb (reflexive)]
ruinate1547
ruin1585
waste1599
worsen1828
worser1851
1851 J. F. W. Johnston Notes N. Amer. II. xx. 174 It is especially the place for the labouring man, for he cannot worser himself; and, if he is industrious, is always getting better.
1886 Suppl. Cambr. Rev. 24 Feb. p. lxix/2 What are you doing with yourself now, now—gaining or losing, advancing or deteriorating, bettering or worsering yourself, which is it?
1906 Macmillan's Mag. Oct. 914 She says, ‘Be going to better myself, Guv'nor.’ I says, ‘Take care you don't worser yourself.’
2. intransitive. To become worse; = worsen v. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worse > [verb (intransitive)]
worseeOE
aswindc885
worsena1250
appair1340
impair1340
fainta1375
pairc1390
vade1471
decay1511
decline1530
degenerate1545
lapse1641
addle1654
sunset1656
deteriorate1758
worst1781
descend1829
disimprove1846
slush1882
devolute1893
worser1894
1894 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Sentinel 18 Jan. 5/5 The Silks are as low as we have ever known silks to be, or will ever be unless conditions keep on worsering—a thing not likely to continue.
1960 Reno (Nevada) Evening Gaz. 11 Apr. 4/6 The Cuban revolt is worsering.
Derivatives
ˈworsering n. = worsening n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worse > [noun] > making or becoming
impairingc1380
failinga1382
aggrievance1502
decaying1530
fading1578
worsinga1583
rusting1597
degeneration1607
degenerating1611
improvementa1617
going back1631
aggravidizationa1641
disimprovement1649
decidence1655
deterioration1658
pejoration1658
exaggeration1661
marasmus1681
sinking1701
unimprovement1760
worsening1811
worsering1883
1883 Cent. Mag. Oct. 827/2 This, be it for the bettering or the worsering of the type, is to our democratic..civilization forbidden forever.
2007 U. Khopkar et al. Handbk. Dermatol. Drug Therapy xxiv. 297 Temporary worsering of acne.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.n.adv.1495
v.1590