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单词 worst
释义

worstadj.n.

Brit. /wəːst/, U.S. /wərst/
Forms:

α. early Old English wierrest, Old English uirrest (Northumbrian), Old English wirest (rare), Old English wirrest (rare), Old English wurrest (Northumbrian), Old English wyrest, Old English wyrrest, Old English wyrryst (rare), Old English wyrsest (rare), Old English–Middle English wyrst, Old English (rare)–1600s wurst, early Middle English vyrste, early Middle English wurest, Middle English wrst, Middle English wrste, Middle English wyrste, Middle English–1500s wurste, Middle English–1600s worste, Middle English (2000s– Scottish) wirst, Middle English– worst, late Middle English wste (probably transmission error), 1500s voirst (Scottish), 1500s wourst, 1500s–1600s woorst, 1800s– wust (English regional).

β. Old English (rare)–early Middle English werrest, Old English (rare)–1500s werst, early Middle English werest, early Middle English werrst ( Ormulum), Middle English uerste, Middle English verst, Middle English werste, Middle English wrast (northern), Middle English–1500s warste, Middle English–1500s (1800s– English regional (northern) and Irish English (northern)) warst, 1800s wast (English regional (Norfolk)); Scottish pre-1700 verst, pre-1700 verste, pre-1700 wariste, pre-1700 werst, pre-1700 1700s– warst, 1800s– waurst.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.
Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian wirst , Old Saxon wirsisto , wirristo , Old High German wirsisto (Middle High German wirsest , wirst , early modern German wirst , werst ), Old Icelandic verstr , Old Swedish värster (Swedish värst ), Old Danish värst , værst (Danish værst ) < a suffixed form (superlative: see -est suffix) of the same Germanic base as worse adv. Compare worst adv. Compare also worsest adj. and worstest adj.On the use as a suppletive superlative form, see discussion at worse adj. The Old English α. forms show different phonological developments of inherited *wirr- before i of the suffix (which was subsequently reduced and syncopated). Early West Saxon wierr- (late West Saxon wyrr- ) shows i-mutation of *io by breaking, while Anglian wyrr- shows i-mutation of u by retraction. While the early β. forms partly reflect the regular Kentish development of y to e , in other cases (in sources associated with Mercian influence) their origin is less clear. In Middle English these forms have a much wider distribution than in Old English, being dominant in the north and east (including East Anglia), and also quite frequent in other midland and even southern texts. The same is true for the corresponding β forms at worst adv., worse adv., and worse adj. The geographical distribution suggests some degree of Scandinavian influence; compare Old Icelandic verstr and the Scandinavian forms cited at worst adv., worse adv., and worse adj., and compare also waur adj., waur adv. On the modern standard form and pronunciation compare discussion at worm n. and work v., and see further E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §90.
A. adj. The superlative of bad adj., evil adj., and ill adj.; used as the opposite of best adj.
1. Most reprehensible morally, most wicked; least virtuous; having the most evil disposition; most cruel or unkind.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > [adjective] > worst
worsteOE
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xxi. 153 Gong inn, geseoh ða scande & ða wierrestan ðing ðe ðas menn her doð.
eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) (2009) I. xxix. 525 Þæt is swiðe sweotol tacn þæm wisan þæt he ne sceal lufian to ungemetlice ðas woruldgesælða, forðæm [h]ie oft cumað to ðæm wyrrestum monnum.
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) iv. 211 Þu ne cuþest þone soðan freond, & for ði þu beurne on ðam wyrstan fynd.
a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 77 Gif ðu luuest ðo ilche ðe ðe luuiȝeð: ne don swa ðe werste menn of ðe woreld?
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 8616 Þe worste men of þe lond, & mest cruel al so, He wolde make is conseilers.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 3057 Pride, Which is the werste vice of alle.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Shipman's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 161 Myn housbonde is to me the worste man That euere was.
c1475 Mankind (1969) l. 304 He ys worst of þem all.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Warste of all, nequissimus, pessimus.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) iv. ii. 39 Strange vnvsuall blood, When mans worst sinne is, He do's too much Good. View more context for this quotation
1711 A. Pope Ess. Crit. 33 The worst Avarice is that of Sense.
1737 A. Pope Epist. of Horace ii. i. 3 Chaucer's worst ribaldry is learn'd by rote.
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 299 It will be impossible to keep the new tribunals clear of the worst spirit of faction. View more context for this quotation
1829 E. Bulwer-Lytton Devereux I. i. iii. 29 The worst passions are softened by triumph.
1880 E. White Certainty in Relig. 62 The apostles do not hesitate to attribute the worst motives to corrupters of the truth.
1918 Cornhill Mag. June 562 Able editors, who most often quoted what was worst and most Prussian in Carlyle.
1979 R. Thompson Unfit for Modest Ears ii. vii. 117 Yet before we equate ‘the great bawdy house of Whitehall’ with the worst excesses of Caligulan Rome, we should note some mitigating factors.
2013 P. B. Barry Evil & Moral Psychol. i. 17 As this elevator descends, it moves past levels populated by worse and worse sorts of people until it arrives at the basement, home to the morally worst sort of people.
2.
a. Most harmful, painful, offensive, unpleasant, unfavourable, or severe.In quot. c1400: most difficult (cf. sense A. 2b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > [adjective] > worse or worst (of state of affairs)
worseeOE
worsteOE
waura1325
worsen1634
worstest1768
the mind > emotion > suffering > cause of mental pain or suffering > [adjective] > most grievous or unpleasant
worsteOE
eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) (2009) I. xxvii. 510 Ðæt is þæt sweotoloste tacen þæs mæstan yfeles on þisse weorulde, and þæs wyrrestan edleanes æfter þisse worulde.
OE St. Andrew (Corpus Cambr.) in F. G. Cassidy & R. N. Ringler Bright's Old Eng. Gram. & Reader (1971) 216 Ic wæs getogen to þæm wyrstan tintregum, and þu me ne æteowdest.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1086 Swylc coðe com on mannum þet fullneah æfre þe oðer man wearð on þam wyrrestan yfele, þet is on ðam drife.
a1225 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Lamb.) 217 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 173 Þe þe deþ is wille mest, he haueð wurst mede.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Bodl.) (1934) 18 (MED) He..Bed..keasten hire i cwalm-hus..me droh hire þus in-to dorkest wan, & wurst in to cumene.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Royal) (1850) Rev. xvi. 2 A wounde feers and worst [a1425 L.V. werst; L. vulnus saevum et pessimum].
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 2121 (MED) The worste speche is rathest herd And lieved.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 14555 Of alle him fell þe werst lot.
c1400 (?c1280) Old Test. Hist. in F. J. Furnivall Adam Davy's 5 Dreams (1878) l. 100 Þre þinges on erþe beþ þat men mowen nouȝth y-knowe... þe werst is þe fierþe.
a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 140 Homely enemyes ben þe worste.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ix. l. 300 I traist to god our werst dayis ar gane.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Worste tyme for a publycque weale, alienissimum rei publice tempus.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iv. f. 176v Yf he be angry, and fyerce, and round, he is worst of all.
1596 Raigne of Edward III sig. D2 Poyson shewes worst in a golden cup. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iii. iii. 137 Giue the worst of thought, The worst of word. View more context for this quotation
1639 S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus Admirable Events 123 He repaires to his owne house, meager, pale, and in the worst case that can be imagined.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 462 But pain is perfet miserie, the worst Of evils. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis ix, in tr. Virgil Wks. 475 That hope alone will fortifie my Breast Against the worst of Fortunes, and of Fears.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 234 We thought they ought to be every one of 'em put to the worst of Deaths.
1765 T. Gray Shakespeare in Corr. Gray & W. Mason (1853) 340 8 What awaits me now is worst of all.
1805 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 14 227 Bleeding had been attended with the worst consequences.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xiv. 98 Our worst piece of work was now before us.
a1871 T. Carlyle Reminisc. (1881) II. 240 It was by her address and invention that I got my sooterkin of a ‘study’ improved out of its worst blotches.
1881 W. Collins Black Robe I. 272 ‘How does Stella bear it?’ ‘In the worst possible way..In silence.’
1947 J. Thurber Let. 17 Nov. (2002) 417 I had one of the worst cataracts in history and also one of the most mysterious eyes.
1953 N. Mailer Let. 22 Aug. in Sel. Lett. (2014) 145 If I have to hump for a living in a couple of years, it may not be the worst thing in the world for me.
1958 G. Greene Our Man in Havana (1962) 54 Wormold's worst fears about the new model had been justified.
2016 H. Bourne How Hard can Love Be? iv. 48 A few other ‘fun’ instruments that looked like my worst nightmare realized.
b. In predicative use, with to and infinitive. Of the object of an action: least readily susceptible to the specified action; hardest to do something to. Formerly also with passive infinitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > [adjective] > most
worsta1398
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. xiii. ii. 650 Put watir is thikkest and worste to defye [L. indigestibilior]..for stondynge of the watir.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Kiiii Moste perillous kynde of leprey & worst to be cured.
1568 T. North tr. A. de Guevara Dial Princes (rev. ed.) iv. ii. f. 113v Those that are alwayes least woorth, and of least calling, doo presume & take vpon them most, & also are woorst to please of al others.
1639 J. Clarke Paroemiologia 87 The best things are worst to come by.
1691 Hutcheson's 45 Serm. on CXXX Psalm xx. 221 As ye say of Hecticks, they are worst to be discerned, but easily cured in the beginning, but when continued in, they are easily discerned, and worse to be cured.
1789 J. Johnston Serm. Pract. Subj. xii. 293 As it is the most fatal disease of the human heart, so it is of all others the worst to cure.
1836 A. Murray Northern Flora I. 51 The Agrostides are the worst to eradicate of any grasses I am acquainted with.
1993 Compute Oct. 92/2 Dan Riddle, customer service manager for Mindcraft, considers fantasy role-playing games to be the worst to debug because everyone plays them differently.
2014 T. N. Flynn & A. A. J. Marley in S. Hess & A. Daly Handbk. Choice Modelling viii. 184 Tick which aspect of this would be best to live with and which would be worst to live with.
c. That has a (specified) undesirable characteristic to the greatest degree; most prone to some (specified) bad habit; most inveterate, incorrigible, or incurable.
ΚΠ
1593 G. Harvey Pierces Supererogation 9 I appeale to my worst ennemy, whether he euer read a more pestilent example of prostituted Impudency?
1612 J. Smith Map of Virginia 88 It shall not so much passionate me, but I will doe my best for my worst maligner.
1676 J. Dryden Aureng-Zebe i. 13 And yet believe your self, your own worst Foe.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa IV. xv. 70 I wish it had been a pole-ax, and in the hand of his worst enemy.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop ii. lvi. 111 My worst enemies..never accused me of being meek.
1854 J. S. Mill Lett. (1910) II. App. A. 371 His worst flatterer is himself.
1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 12 The man of the world, that worst enemy of the world.
1890 Stock Grower & Farmer 26 July 6/3 We had an old pinto that was the worst bluffer that I ever saw.
1932 ‘L. G. Gibbon’ Sunset Song i. 37 Old Pooty was maybe the worst stutterer ever heard in the Mearns.
1997 S. Rowan tr. H. Börnstein Mem. Nobody 183 Penal prosecutions were begun against the worst plotter of the riots.
2014 N.Y. Times Mag. 7 Dec. 24/2 They asked police commanders to submit a list of each precinct's 25 worst offenders.
3.
a. Least good; of lowest quality or value; least desirable; most faulty or incorrect.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > [adjective] > most
worsteOE
lastc1275
tail1473
worstest1768
eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) ii. xvi. 196 Late mylt hryþeres flæsc, gæten & hiorota, buccena is wyrrest & ramma & fearra.
?a1289 Ancrene Riwle (Cleo.: Scribe D) (1972) 244 (MED) Werrest [?c1225 Scribe A Ha..hudeð hare hale clað & doð on alre uueward fiterokes al to torene; c1230 Corpus Cambr. uuemest].
c1330 (c1250) Floris & Blauncheflur (Auch.) (1966) l. 287 (MED) About þe orchard goþ a wal; Þe werste ston is cristal.
c1330 Sir Orfeo (Auch.) (1966) l. 367 Þe werst piler on to biholde Was al of burnist gold.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1969) Jer. xlviii. 34 Þe watris forsoþe of nemrym shul ben werst [a1425 L.V. ful yuele].
1493 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 82 iii syluer sponys of the werste sorte.
a1500 (a1400) Sir Amadace (Adv.) (1810) l. 345 (MED) The warst hors is worthe ten pownde Of hom all that here gon.
1540 in J. W. Clay Testamenta Eboracensia (1902) VI. 113 To John Colson my worst chamlet dublet.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 26v The werst walle for to wale..Was faurty cubettes by coursse.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes 38 marg. The more hast ye wurst speede.
1563 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates (1888) I. 114 The best geris tane away and sauld, and the werst reseruit.
1580 T. Tusser Fiue Hundred Pointes Good Husbandrie (new ed.) f. 21 Graie wheat is the grosest, yet good for the clay, though woorst for the market, as fermer may say.
1644 J. Milton Areopagitica 3 Naturall endowments haply not the worst for two and fifty degrees of northern latitude.
1654 E. Gayton Pleasant Notes Don Quixot iv. viii. 226 He was secure, being on the worst side of fifty.
1733 A. Pope Of Use of Riches 15 In the worst Inn's worst room.
1740 E. Montagu Let. 25 Jan. (1809) I. 82 Living in a cottage on love is certainly the worst diet and the worst habitation one can find out.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones III. viii. vii. 197 To charge the same for the very worst Provisions, as if they were the best. View more context for this quotation
1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 167 They drew me thretteen pund an' twa, The vera warst.
a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 26 My talents they were not the worst.
1839 E. W. Lane tr. Thousand & One Nights I. 127 One of the worst dogs is then slipped at the herd.
1855 Poultry Chron. 3 466 It was the worst [show] I ever saw, cattle included.
1882 F. W. Farrar Early Days Christianity II. 156 The Greek of the Apocalypse is so ungrammatical and so full of solecisms as to be the worst in the entire Greek Testament.
1934 D. Thomas Let. ?Mar. (1987) 100 Here, in this worst of provincial towns, I am so utterly removed from any intellectual life at all.
1989 Blue Jeans 21–8 Oct. 24/2 This is commonly thought by movie ‘buffs’ to be one of the worst films ever.
2009 Atlantic Monthly Sept. 36/2 Hendrix..snaking onstage to give the worst performance of ‘Voodoo Child (Slight Return)’ on record.
b. Of a person: most unskilful or inefficient; that carries out an activity most badly; least qualified to be what is specified. Also: (of a thing) least suitable for some purpose.
ΚΠ
c1300 Our Lady comes to Devil in Publ. Mod. Lang. Assoc. Amer. (1923) 38 319 (MED) Þu ert euere mi worste freond among alle mi fon.
1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) x. xvi. sig. Biii The werst of them wille not be lyghtly matched of no knyghtes that I knowe lyuynge.
1565 T. Hall in J. Hall Expositiue Table To Rdrs. in tr. Lanfranc Most Excellent Woorke Chirurg. sig. N.iii Not the worste wryter of that age, as hys so muche profytable doctrine, in suche breuity, dothe ryght well declare.
a1639 H. Wotton Earl of Essex & Duke of Buckingham: Parallel in Reliquiæ Wottonianæ (1672) 177 The Earl was the worst Philosopher, being a great Resenter, and a weak Dissembler of the least disgrace.
1696 H. Prideaux Lett. (1875) 182 For then ye University would have the disposall of their liveings, wch now they give to ye worst men they can find.
1759 tr. Voltaire Let. Author Orphan of China 33 One of the worst Poets in England.
1822 Museum of Foreign Lit. July 81 Its substratum being..the worst conductor of heat.
1827 R. Southey Select. from Lett. (1856) IV. 436 Burnaby Green was the worst of translators.
1924 A. Huxley Let. 9 Aug. (1969) 231 The people who have deliberately set out to put great thoughts into verse have generally been the worst poets on record.
1968 B. Cleary Ramona Pest i. 27 Ramona got benched, and she's the worst rester in the class.
2010 Khuluma (Kulula Airlines) Mar. 30/2 If you were the day's worst golfer?
†4. In predicative use. Most unfortunate or badly off. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > [adjective] > in less fortunate circumstances > in worst circumstances
worst1608
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xv. 23 To be worst, The lowest and most deiected thing of Fortune. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iii. i. 126 Or to be worse then worst Of those, that lawlesse and incertaine thought, Imagine howling. View more context for this quotation
1654 C. Sydenham Hypocrisie Discovered vi. 159 When he comes to action he is as dead, and as low as may be; and as I told you, he is poorest and worst at last.
B. n. Usually with the.
1.
a. A person who is the most objectionable or least estimable in character, behaviour, accomplishments, etc. Also with plural agreement: such people as a class.
ΚΠ
OE Andreas (1932) 1592 Þæs weorodes eac ða wyrrestan, faa folcsceaðan, feowertyne gewiton mid þy wæge in forwyrd sceacan.
lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) (2009) I. xxvii. 297 Forðæm we symle seofiað ymbe ðone anwald.., þonne we geseoð þæt he cymð to þam wyrrestum & to þam þe us unweorþoste bioð.
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 68 (MED) When y myself haue þourhsoht, y knowe me for þe wrst of alle.
?1518 A. Barclay Fyfte Eglog sig. C.ivv The worste remayneth, gone ben the meke and Iust.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) i. ii. 60 And let worse follow worse, till the worst of all follow him laughing to his graue. View more context for this quotation
1633 G. Herbert Temple: Sacred Poems 15 Judge not the preacher... The worst speak something good.
1704 tr. P. Baldæus True Descr. Malabar & Coromandel in A. Churchill & J. Churchill Coll. Voy. III. 644/2 Among the Nairos those who call themselves Amok are the worst, being a Company of Desperadoes, who engage themselves and their families by Oaths to revenge such Injuries as are done them.
1757 W. Wilkie Epigoniad ix. 270 Favor, your sex and innocence will plead, Ev'n with the worst.
1827 R. Pollok Course of Time I. i. 32 Lovely to the worst she [sc. Virtue] seems.
1880 Ld. Tennyson First Quarrel xiii An' she wasn't one o' the worst.
1898 R. Kipling Day's Work 388 Mr. Pepper himself, beyond question a man of the worst.
1920 W. B. Yeats Michael Robartes & Dancer 74 The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.
1988 M. Binchy Silver Wedding iv. 99 Palazzo's not the worst. That's a great Irish expression for you, to say a man is not the worst, it's grudging praise.
2013 E. Huang Fresh off Boat xi. 166 Those kids were the worst. Bunch of cokeheads with ribbon sandals, rollin' around with croakies, popped collars, and sweaters around their necks.
†b. spec. The Devil. Cf. worse n. 2b. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > a devil > the Devil or Satan > [noun]
devileOE
Beelzebubc950
the foul ghosteOE
SatanOE
warlockOE
SatanasOE
worsea1200
unwinea1225
wondc1250
quedea1275
pucka1300
serpenta1300
dragon1340
shrew1362
Apollyon1382
the god of this worldc1384
Mahoundc1400
leviathan1412
worsta1425
old enemyc1449
Ruffin1567
dismal1570
Plotcocka1578
the Wicked One1582
goodman1603
Mahu1603
foul thief1609
somebody1609
legiona1616
Lord of Flies1622
walliman1629
shaitan1638
Old Nicka1643
Nick1647
unsel?1675
old gentleman1681
old boy1692
the gentleman in black1693
deuce1694
Black Spy1699
the vicious one1713
worricow1719
Old Roger1725
Lord of the Flies1727
Simmie1728
Old Scratch1734
Old Harry1777
Old Poker1784
Auld Hornie1786
old (auld), ill thief1789
old one1790
little-good1821
Tom Walker1833
bogy1840
diabolarch1845
Old Ned1859
iniquity1899
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Eph. vi. 16 The firy dartis of the worste [E.V. c1384 Douce 369(2) the worste enmye].
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 32v Thou sot with vnsell, seruand of o þe worst.
2.
a. That which is most objectionable or deplorable as regards morals, taste, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worst > [noun]
worstOE
worstnessa1629
worstest1832
OE Daniel 215 Nymðe hie friðes wolde wilnian to þam wyrrestan, weras Ebrea, guman to þam golde, þe he him to gode teode.
OE Hymns (Julius A.vi) xiii. 4 in H. Gneuss Hymnar u. Hymnen im englischen Mittelalter (1968) 279 Vitemus omne noxium, purgemus omne pessimum : utan forbugan ælc þingc deriendlices utan afeormian eall þæt wyrreste.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 66 Idel speche is uuel. ful speche is wurse. attri is þe wurste.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. l. 443 (MED) How so his mouth be comely, His word sit evermore awry And seith the worste that he may.
1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage of Soul (Caxton) (1859) i. xvii. 18 He is..euermore redy to do and say the werst.
a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Trial of Fox l. 805 in Poems (1981) 34 Off euill cummis war, off war cummis werst of all.
1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio Hist. Uniting Portugall to Castill 65 For that we easily encline to the woorst.
1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets cl. sig. I4 In the very refuse of thy deeds, There is such strength and warrantise of skill, That in my minde thy worst all best exceeds. View more context for this quotation
1663 S. Pepys Diary 21 Mar. (1971) IV. 81 The worst I ever said was that that was insolently and illmannerdly spoken.
1855 T. T. Lynch Lett. to Scattered (1872) vii. 95 Unchecked sin tending to the perfect worst in wretchedness because to the perfect worst in character.
1877 T. Martin Life Prince Consort III. lx. 201 So important a member of their body as Lord John Russell had given countenance to the worst that had been said against them.
1935 D. L. Sayers Gaudy Night iv. 82 Calling people names that poor Miss Lydgate didn't know existed—the worst she knows being Restoration drama.
1946 H. N. Wieman Source of Human Good iv. 84 War calls forth the best and the worst that can issue from the hearts of men.
1997 R. A. McCain in D. Lester & B. Yang Econ. & Suicide ix. 74 The worst that the individual can do is act selfishly.
2011 B. Kovarik Revol. in Communication i. 17 Printing helped release the best, and the worst, in human nature.
b. With of: that which is most reprehensible or faulty in the specified person's character.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > [noun] > baser part of character > worst part of character
worst1528
1528 W. Tyndale Obed. Christen Man f. clvijv Considre the story of kynge Iohn, where I doute not but they have put the best and fayrest for them selves and the worst of kinge Iohn.
1599 S. Daniel Civill Wars Eng. iv. in Poet. Ess. sig. Yv When straight the worst of him comes all reueald Which former feare, or rigor kept conceald.
1608 T. Middleton Mad World, my Masters ii. sig. B4v I haue a Grandchild... I loue him; and when I die Ile doe somewhat for him: Ile tel your honor the worst of him, a wilde lad he has beene.
1673 T. Shadwell Epsom-Wells i. 5 You see the best and worst of him.
1790 Monthly Rev. Feb. 201 They know the worst of him is that he shoots at the birds, dances with the girls, eats macaroni, and helps himself to it with his fingers.
1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. vi. 51 Do you know the worst of your father?
1872 ‘G. Eliot’ Middlemarch II. iv. xxxviii. 284 He's Whiggish himself..; that's the worst I know of him.
1897 T. Watts-Dunton Aylwin viii. ii ‘We's all so modest in Primrose Court, that's the wust on us,’ replied the woman.
1920 C. L. Hartt More Diggerettes 9 That's the worst of them French tabs. They look oright, but they're as ignorant as blanky bandycoots.
1962 V. C. Hall Dreamtime Justice 82 ‘You got bushed,’ I pointed out. ‘Came down the wrong river. That's the worst of you Pitt Street bushmen.’
2015 Radio Times 11 July (South/West ed.) 50/2 (advt.) Many acclaimed dramas are dark, doomy and obsessed with the worst of the male psyche.
3. That which is least good in quality or value; the most inferior kind or lowest quality (of an article). Now chiefly as a count noun: a worst score, time, etc., achieved by a competitor (cf. best n.1 5b); also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > inferior thing > [noun] > most
worstOE
worstc1275
muda1586
goldarned1857
OE Blickling Homilies 41 Us is get wyrse þæt we urne ceap teoþian, gif we willaþ syllan ure þæt wyrste Gode.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 179 (MED) Ðe underlinges..unneðes..winnen giet here louerdes rihttes, and hem seluen eten þe werste þat hie of eorðe tilien.
c1250 in Englische Studien (1935) 70 233 (MED) Caym..gaif to touþinke þe worst þat he hedde..Abel þef [read ȝef] criste clene teuþincke.
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 9319 (MED) Tyþe ryȝtly, or elles hyt þe reweþ; Of þe werst þou shalt nat ȝyue.
a1500 (?a1400) Stanzaic Life of Christ (Harl. 3909) (1926) l. 2344 But Caynes cornes God forsok, that of the worst made his offryng.
1513 Last Test. of J. de Veer in Archaeologia (1915) 66 314 Item ij grayles oon of the best another of the worst.
1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 53v Pay God his part furst, and net of the wurst.
1587 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Iland Brit. (new ed.) ii. vi. 167/2 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) I Being sure that they [sc. the clergy] would neither drinke nor be serued of the worst.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 136 The merchants brought with them many Negroes; not the worst of their merchandizes.
1637 S. Rutherford Let. in Joshua Redivivus (1671) 215 The worst of Christ, even his chaff, is better than the world's corn.
1830 Edinb. Rev. July 297 That portion of his two thick volumes which is not made up of statistical tables, consists principally of ejaculations, apostrophes, metaphors, similes,—all the worst of their respective kinds.
1906 Country Life 16 June 885/2 That is by no means to say that A's worst is above B's best.
1981 Washington Post 16 Feb. d1 A strenuous, hilly, three-loop course that allows a runner..to easily record his personal worst.
1991 Philadelphia Inquirer 3 May c1/6 The event has more than its share of mosts and leasts, bests and worsts, predictables, unlikelies and bizarres.
2015 Wall St. Jrnl. 19 Dec. a11/1 His paltry 4.3 yards per rush is the worst among the 10 happy-footed quarterbacks with at least that many carries.
4.
a. That which is most unpleasant, grievous, unfortunate, painful, or hard to bear; a state of things that is most undesirable or most to be dreaded. Formerly also (in quots. 1543, 1591): †an extremely ill-advised course of action (obsolete).In quot. c1275 with alder- prefix; apparently misinterpreted in MS Jesus (see variant reading) as a form of first n.2 (see mid the first at mid prep.1 7e).See also Phrases 1b and to hope for the best and prepare for the worst at hope v. Additions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > most extreme
worstc1275
extremityc1425
extreme fortune1531
exigents1588
fine1596
devil1681
limit1906
the end of the line1948
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > inferior thing > [noun] > most
worstOE
worstc1275
muda1586
goldarned1857
the mind > emotion > suffering > cause of mental pain or suffering > [noun] > what is most hard to bear
worstc1275
limit1906
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > [noun] > imprudence > instance of
worst1543
worst1557
indiscretion1603
imprudence1646
false move1870
c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) l. 121 Worp hit ut mid þe alrewrste [printed alreþrste; a1300 Jesus Oxf. myd þe vyrste] Þat his necke him to berste.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. l. 641 Bot yet the werste of everydel Is last.
a1450 York Plays (1885) 356 Þe werste is paste.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) xii. l. 1222 Off Wallace end my selff wald leiff for dredis To say the werst.
1543 R. Grafton Contin. f. xlv, in Chron. J. Hardyng Wherfore me thinketh it were not the worste to sende to the quene some honourable and trustye personage.
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue i. v. sig. Bii To prouide for the worst, while the best it selfe saue.
1591 H. Savile tr. Tacitus Ende of Nero: Fower Bks. Hist. ii. 39 Neither can it so easily be discerned what had beene best to haue done, as that it was the worst which they did.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. ii. 86 And the worst fall that euer fell.
1607 B. Jonson Volpone v. xii. sig. N3v Take good heart, the worst is past, Sir. You are dis-possest. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare King Lear (1623) iv. i. 8 The Wretch that thou hast blowne vnto the worst, Owes nothing to thy blasts.
1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes v. §15. 428 Wisdome teacheth men to forecast the worst, that they may be provided against the worst.
c1660 J. Gwynne Mil. Mem. (1822) 84 We were prepar'd, as knowing the worst, to receave our doome bravely.
1665 in F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1907) II. 251 I beleeve she conceales the worst from you.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 269 Her Husband..Who guards her, or with her the worst endures. View more context for this quotation
a1796 R. Burns Lett. to Clarinda (1802) xxv. 43 Above that world on wings of love I rise, I know its worst—and can that worst despise.
1796 F. Burney Camilla IV. viii. i. 220 The best thing we can do, is to get off as fast as we can, for fear of the worst.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House xxxvi. 354 I knew the worst now, and was composed to it.
1859 W. Collins Queen of Hearts I. 38 To face the worst that might happen.
1876 Bulwer-Lytton's Pausanias (ed. 2) ii. i. 107 I am prepared then for the worst, even recall.
1893 J. Ashby-Sterry Naughty Girl vii. 68 She turned pale..and fancied the very worst.
1925 Manch. Guardian 6 July 13/2 Should the worst happen..and the mines be stopped.
1953 H. Clevely Public Enemy (1961) 77 Now the worst was over; he no longer had to be constantly on the alert.
2015 N.Y. Times Mag. 10 May 23/4 Hearing jagged fragments of today's news and culture in any of the shows' thousand may-be worlds affirms the value of vigorously imagining the worst.
b. The most painful or unfortunate part, degree, or phase of something lasting over time.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worst > [noun] > part
worsta1413
a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1882) v. l. 727 Þis was yet þe worste of al here peyne.
1595 S. Daniel First Fowre Bks. Ciuile Warres iv. xiv. sig. T2v And onely tell the worst of euery raigne And not the intermedled good report.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 138 Hauing with two daies rest refreshed them, now to begin the worst of their journey.
1649 W. Bullock Virginia impartially Examined iv. 46 They shall..find a safe harbour to retire to, in the worst of the storme.
1697 W. Turner Pool's Compl. Hist. Remarkable Providences Judgm. & Mercy xxii. 100 There was..hope that the worst of the danger was past.
1748 G. Washington Diary 5 Apr. (1976) I. 19 We got under a Straw House untill the Worst of it was over.
1828 Edinb. Rev. Jan. 251 He..laboured, indeed, during the worst of the evil times.
1889 ‘J. S. Winter’ Mrs. Bob (1891) xxii. 252 Miss Theodosia had already got the worst of her grief over.
1919 Glasgow Herald 8 Sept. 7 The confectioners..have got over the worst of their sugar troubles.
1981 L. Coverdale tr. A. Ernaux Frozen Woman (1996) 11 This eighty-year-old woman, swathed in blouses and skirts even in the worst of the dog days, needed neither pity nor protection.
2014 Church Times 7 Feb. 14/4 Seven church halls in Ipswich..are offering beds to rough-sleepers through the worst of the winter.
c. The most painful or unfortunate aspect or circumstance of a situation. Chiefly as subject (often with that-clause as complement) in the worst is. Also followed by of (formerly also †on), in the worst of it is, that is the worst of it, the worst of (something), etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > in adversity [phrase] > at the or one's worst > the worst thing or circumstance is
the worst is1557
the worst of it is1682
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > [noun] > imprudence > instance of
worst1543
worst1557
indiscretion1603
imprudence1646
false move1870
1557 T. North tr. A. de Guevara Diall Princes ii. xxxvii. f. 147v/1 The worst is, that by the relation of the simple, we shuld be condemned.
1581 G. Pettie in tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. Pref. sig. aijv The woorst is, they thinke that impossible to be doone in our Tongue.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. xv. 50 The worst of all was that more then 13000 persons remayned dead.
1682 J. Bunyan Holy War 312 Now the worst on't was, a Chirurgeon was scarce in Mansoul. View more context for this quotation
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 184. ¶5 The worst of it is, that the drowsy Part of our Species is chiefly made up of very honest Gentlemen.
1762 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy VI. xviii. 75 And 'twill be lucky, if that's the worst on't.
1796 tr. F. Le Vaillant New Trav. Afr. II. 60 The worst of the affair was, I did not know how to free myself from this implement of torture.
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas I. i. ii. 27 But paying through the nose was not the worst of it.
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. I. 23 The worst of it is, that having a high regard for the old lady, he wants to make her a convert to his views.
1849 D. Rock Church of our Fathers (1903) I. i. v. 293 But this is not the worst of having a church too near the houses of a small town.
1853 E. C. Gaskell Cranford xiv Here I broke down utterly... The worst was, all the ladies cried in concert.
1873 A. D. Whitney Other Girls vi. 68 And she couldn't help it, poor lady, either; that is the worst of it; one gets so as not to be able to help things.
1899 A. Conan Doyle Duet 74 ‘I feel a little chippy to-day.’ ‘That's the worst of those cheap champagnes.’
1922 V. Jabotinsky Let. 9 Feb. in J. B. Schechtman Life & Times V. Jabotinsky (1956) x. 419 The worst is that the Executive deems it its duty to profess that it is satisfied.
1987 Quarterly (U.S.) Summer 185 The worst of it was he wasn't a hateable guy.
1992 J. Whedon Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film script) (O.E.D. Archive) 125 The worst is, her parents..were gonna send her to the Bahamas for graduation, and she refused.
2014 Forward 31 Oct. 10 And that's not the worst of it. Threats were sent to the Met's leadership and performers.
5. The harshest view or judgement. Esp. with verbs of judging or speaking, as to think the worst, to say the worst (of a person or thing).See also to make the worst of at Phrases 1e, to take (also wrest) to the worst at Phrases 1f.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > misjudgement > [noun] > underestimation or undervaluing > underestimate > the harshest judgement
worstc1390
c1390 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 173 A good word no more wol weye Þat hit liþ on ȝor tonge as liht, As þe worste þat ȝe con seye.
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 3534 (MED) So are þese bakbyters wunne, Þey seye þe werst þat þey kunne.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. l. 4978 (MED) A purpose cast shuld nat be..Nor spoke a-brood amonges folkes rude; For gladly ay þe werst þei conclude Of euery þing.
a1500 ( Pilgrimage of Soul (Egerton) (1953) i. xvii. f. 14 (MED) He is..an open lyere and actour of alle falsheed & vntrowthe, euermore redi to don & say the werste.
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cxix. 20 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 194 Let Princes talk, And talk their worst of me.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) ii. iii. 151 She's my good Lady; and will concieue, I hope But the worst of me. View more context for this quotation
1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena 63 I hold my selfe greatly injured of such as judge of me rather the worst than the best.
1725 A. Pope Let. 10 Dec. in Lit. Corr. (1737) V. 69 Many others whom you do not think the worst of will be gratified by it.
1791 F. Burney Jrnl. Aug. (1972) I. 49 She thinks the worst, & judges the most severely of all mankind, of any person I have ever known.
1871 J. Ruskin Fors Clavigera I. ix. 2 The worst he can venture to say is, that it is ridiculous.
1920 S. Lewis Main St. (1961) xiv. 166 This..is simply part and parcel of your usual willingness to think the worst you possibly can of us poor dubs in Gopher Prairie.
1987 Atlantic Mar. 64/1 To the utter dismay of many traditional players of the game, some of the new generation of Sherlockians seemed to delight in thinking the worst of Holmes and Watson.
2015 Jrnl. Econ. Perspectives 29 74 Many of the arguments..assume the worst about researchers: they are inherently biased and data mine as much as possible until they find results.
6. one's worst: the utmost evil or harm that one can do. Cf. earlier to do one's worst at Phrases 1a(a).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worst > [noun] > to do
one's worstc1425
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > harm, injury, or wrong > [noun] > action > the worst one can do
one's worstc1425
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. l. 414 (MED) Sche haþ hir werst of malis on hym wrouȝt.
?1548 J. Bale Comedy Thre Lawes Nature v. sig. f iiij Tush, I defye thy worst.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry V iii. iii. 88 Therefore to our best mercie giue your selues, Or like to men proud of destruction, defie vs to our worst.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iii. ii. 178 What old, or newer Torture Must I receiue? whose euery word deserues To taste of thy most worst . View more context for this quotation
1696 R. Gould Rival Sisters iii. 32 Here I stand and dare, fearless your worst.
1838 Dublin Univ. Mag. Nov. 521/2 His practis'd eye perceiv'd, from first, That Harry might defy his worst.
1850 J. S. Le Fanu in Dublin Univ. Mag. Feb. 231/1 If you have any charge to make against me, do so; I invite inquiry, and defy your worst.
1954 W. Kaufman tr. F. Nietzsche Thus spoke Zarathustra iv in Portable Nietzsche (1976) 416 Stay with us. Else our old musty depression might seize us again. Even now that old magician has given us a sample of his worst.
2015 N. Conley Pale Highway viii. 61 Hit me with your worst. Trust me, after some of the confessions I've heard, nothing shocks me anymore.

Phrases

P1. Uses of the noun in verb phrases.
a. With to do.
(a) to do one's worst: to do the utmost evil or harm possible; also with to. Often in imperative, as do your worst, as a challenge indicating a lack of fear.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > do harm [verb (passive)] > do the utmost evil or harm possible
to do one's worsta1393
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. l. 1067 (MED) Ha, thou fortune, I thee deffie, Nou hast thou do to me thi werste.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 697 Wyte you well that my name is sir Trystram de Lyones, and now do your warste!
1591 Troublesome Raigne Iohn ii. sig. E v A King is a King, though fortune do her worst.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iii. ii. 26 Treason ha's done his worst . View more context for this quotation
1616 T. Draxe Bibliotheca Scholastica 30 A fig for him. Let him doe his worst.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler iv. 115 Let the winde sit in what corner it will, and do its worst . View more context for this quotation
1713 J. Addison in Guardian 8 July 2/1 To defie the Cold and Rain, and let the Weather do its worst.
1781 W. Cowper Table Talk 729 Satire has long since done his best; and curst And loathsome ribaldry has done his worst.
1842 R. Browning Pied Piper of Hamelin in Bells & Pomegranates No. III: Dramatic Lyrics xi You threaten us, fellow? Do your worst, Blow your pipe there till you burst!
1882 W. Besant All Sorts of Men II. xxxii. 305 Now you may go away and do your worst.
1927 Scots Observer 20 Aug. 2/3 Long after the frost and snow have done their worst with the orchards.
1982 ‘E. Peters’ Virgin in Ice (1984) x. 130 To..cheat those devils who did their worst to thrust him under.
2013 C. Doctorow Homeland v. 80 So yeah, do your worst, steal my laptop, burn down my house, nuke San Francisco, and I'll still have a backup.
(b) to do the worst: = to do one's worst at Phrases 1a(a). Also with to. Now somewhat rare.
ΚΠ
1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) xiv. 48 Blanchardyn herkned the prouost, to whom boldly he answered that he shold doo the best and the worst that he coude [in the joust].
1528 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 177 [He] beds them to do to hym the best and the worst that they can For he setts not a Strawe by them all.
1568 T. North tr. A. de Guevara Dial Princes (rev. ed.) iv. xiv. f. 150v The woorst they can doo, they can but murmur.
1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles xi. 40 I do not feare the flaw, It hath done to me the worst . View more context for this quotation
1752 M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. (1861) III. 139 I hope the Lord Chancellor's decree will be more favourable than our adversaries would have it, and should he do the worst I trust we shall do very well.
1829 W. Scott Anne of Geierstein III. v. 96 It was not expected that we should interfere in the favour of men who had stood prepared to do the worst against us.
1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. III 525 I did the worst to him I loved the most.
1990 D. N. Fewell & D. M. Gunn Compromising Redempt. (2009) ii. iii. 96 Yhwh may do the worst to me, I'll not be parted from you even by death!
b. Expressing a bad outcome.
(a) to come (also †fall, †turn) to the worst: to reach the most undesirable state or condition. Similarly †to go all of the worst.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > happen unfortunately [verb (intransitive)] > turn out as badly as possible
to come (also fall, turn) to the worsta1393
to go all of the worst1542
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 7363 (MED) Falle it to beste or to the werste.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 3278 Ful many a worthi kniht It hadde assaied,..And evere it fell hem to the worste.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) III. 1175 Oftyntymys we do many thynges that we wene for the beste be, and yet peradventure hit turnyth to the warste.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 212v And therefore the matter gooeth not all of the wurst, when the lighter maladie..expelleth and drieueth out the greater.
1642 W. Price Serm. 14 No man precipitantly falls to the worst at first.
1686 N. Tate et al. tr. Heliodorus Æthiopian Hist. viii. 76 If things came to the worst, she resolv'd to involve all together in the same fate.
1763 G. A. Stevens Dramatic Hist. Master Edward ii. 88 Let it even come to the worst, and he should be obliged to draw his sword.
1794 Observ. Emigration Dr. J. Priestly 39 When things come to the worst, there must be a change.
1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting 253 Things never come to the worst but they mend.
1892 E. H. Hallack Our Townships, Farms, & Homesteads 20 He could always get employment of some kind, and if things came to the worst he could go gumming or shoot wattle birds to fill up time.
1959 D. Lessing Each in his own Wilderness 65 If it comes to the worst you'll always take me in.
2016 Daily News (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 6 Apr. 7 You had better be certain that you..are prepared to accept the consequence if it comes to the worst.
(b) to fear the worst: to be afraid that things will turn out as badly as possible; to anticipate the worst possible outcome; spec. to fear that death has occurred or is inevitable.
ΚΠ
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique f. 43v More wisedome it had been, to feare the worst with good aduisement, then euer to hope, and loke stil for the best.
1577 J. Grange Golden Aphroditis sig. Iiv N.O. (fearyng the worste) not certifying hir of the truth.
1587 A. Day Longus's Daphnis & Chloe sig. D3 Failing of Daphnis in the place of their accustomed meetings, seeing therewithall his goats and tender kiddes all scattered and disordered,..she began to feare the woorst.
1671 T. Gumble Life Gen. Monck 248 What further Hostility he might exercise, they knew not, but feared the worst.
1709 J. Swift Corr. 6 Jan. (1963) I. 117 But the World is divided into two Sects, those that hope the best, and those that fear the worst.
1763 Ladies Compl. Letter-writer xv. 38 I knew not what to guess was become of you, and indeed I feared the worst.
1837 Court Mag. Dec. 261/2 There was ample ground for fearing the worst.
1903 N.Y. Times 6 July 1/5 (heading) Cardinals, fearing the worst, give the last sacrament.
1989 Opera Nov. 1311 One feared the worst with excessive pratfalls of the servants during the opening number, but the slapstick was not overdone in the rest of the opera.
2012 Northern Echo 25 Feb. 1 He is lucky to be still with us, he really is. It has been horrendous... We feared the worst.
(c) if the worst come(s) to the worst and variants: if things turn out as badly as possible or conceivable.Occasionally also if (the) worse comes to (the) worst in the same sense.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > unfortunately [phrase] > if things fall out unfortunately
if the worst come(s) to the worst1596
1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. F4v If the worst come to the worst, a good swimmer may doo much.
1597 E. S. Discouerie Knights of Poste sig. C3v If the worst come to the worst, it is but the hiering of a hackney to ryde to London.
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue i. 28 Had the worst come to the worst, yet could we not haue wanted meate and drinke.
1668 J. Dryden Sr Martin Mar-all ii. 14 Why, if the worst come to the worst, he leaves you an honest woman.
1700 T. Brown Amusem. Serious & Comical x. 108 Let the Worst come to'th Worst.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 234 If the worse came to the worst, I could but die.
1821 J. Galt Ann. Parish xiii. 130 Which would have been a witness for the elders, had the worst come to the worst.
1884 A. Daly Pique iv. iii. 86 Take my pistol. If the worst comes to the worst before I come back, give it to them hot and heavy.
1930 F. A. Pottle Stretchers 64 The weather was warm, and if worse came to worst, we could encamp in our pup tents where we were.
1987 Speedway Mail Internat. 26 Sept. 4/4 Should the worst come to the worst and this ban sticks for the full term, he fully intends to ride for Wolverhampton in 1989.
1996 J. King Football Factory (1997) 223 If the old bill nick you and worst comes to worst and you go down for a couple of years.
2010 J. Powell Breaking of Eggs (2011) vi. 119 She said I was young enough to start my life over if the worst came to the worst.
c. Expressing being defeated or overcome.
(a) to have (also get) the worst: (originally) to be defeated in a conflict, contest, etc.; (later also) to be in the most disadvantageous position, to suffer the most. Also (and now only) in to have (also get) the worst of (a conflict, situation, etc.), esp. in to have (also get) the worst of it.Cf. to have the worse at worse adj. and n. Phrases 2b.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defeat > be defeated [verb (intransitive)]
to have (also get) the worsec1275
leesec1300
to lick the dust, the earth1382
to get (also have) the waura1393
to go downa1400
to go away (also flee) with the worsea1413
to have the worsta1470
to go to (also unto) the worse1485
to go by the worse (also worst)1528
to have the overthrow1536
lose1548
tine1681
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 37 Bloyse wrote the batayle worde by worde..how hit began and by whom, and in lyke wyse how hit was ended and who had the worst.
1544 A. Cope Hist. Anniball & Scipio lxii. f. 120v Duryng whych sommer P. Sempronius the consull in Italy fought with Anniball: where the Romayns had the worst, and loste .xii. C. of theyr men.
1576 G. Pettie Petite Pallace 39 You haue had the worst of it, for..you haue been put to double paynes.
1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence Andria ii. v, in Terence in Eng. 43 Nostræ parti timeo. I feare our side will haue the worst.
1621 J. Martyn New Epigrams li. sig. C3v The Country lad..sent his blowes so fast, The Souldier had the worst.
1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena 91 Who..had (without this succour) for all his valour gotten the worst of the day.
1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa iii. iii. 300 There happen'd a fray betwixt the Souldiers..and the Halberdiers.., the last of which had the worst of it.
1710 D. Manley Mem. Europe I. ii. 179 The King of the Bulgarii made a troublesom, uncertain War upon the Empire, which sometimes had the better, oftentimes the worst.
1747 S. Fielding Familiar Lett. David Simple I. xvi. 311 I always get the worst of it; for, as I feel much more for him than he does for me, he is cool; whilst I am upon the rack.
1823 J. Badcock Slang 202 ‘Catch cold (to) at a thing’—to have the worst of betting, of a bargain, or contest.
1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair xlvi. 411 George..bragged..about his valour in the fight,..in which he decidedly had the worst.
1935 Observer 15 Dec. 13/3 The Auguste is the man with the battered bowler hat, his jacket on back to front..who always gets the worst of it.
1961 N. Roy Black Albino (1989) vi. 172 His dog was getting the worst of the fight.
2015 Independent (Nexis) 26 Oct. 30 Parents who interfere in their children's lives invariably end up getting the worst of it.
†(b) to go to (also away with): to be defeated. Obsolete.to go by the worst: see to go by —— 2 at go v. Phrasal verbs 2.
ΚΠ
1529 Malory's Mort Darthur (de Worde) i. ix. sig. avv/1 Fyght not wt the swerde..tyll ye se yt ye go to ye worste [1485 Caxton vnto the wers].
1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ i. ii. 36 There was a shrewd brush lately twixt the young King and his Mother, who..met him in open field.., but she went away with the worst.
(c) to come off with (also †come to, †come by, †come off by, †flee with) the worst: to be defeated. Now only to come off with the worst of it. Cf. to come off 6a(a) at come v. Phrasal verbs 1.
ΚΠ
?a1450 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (St. John's Cambr. L. 1) (1895) iv. l. 49 The folk of Troye hemseluen so myssledden That with the worste [a1413 Pierpont Morgan worse] at nyght homward they fledden.
1597 T. Beard Theatre Gods Iudgements i. xx. 80 His owne side came to the worst, doing more scath to themselues, then to their enemies.
1605 London Prodigall i. i. 51 He is a mighty brawler, and comes commonly by the worst.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. ii. 14 I should knocke you first, And then I know after who comes by the worst . View more context for this quotation
1694 C. Cotton tr. L. Pontis Mem. ii. iv. 212 These Officers were so well satisfy'd with me, and so cruely harrass'd with the scuffles they met with, and where they generally came off with the worst of it.
1710 E. Ward Vulgus Britannicus 1st Pt. 26 Those who laugh'd aloud at first, At last may chance to come by th' worst.
1710 E. Ward Vulgus Britannicus: 3rd Pt. 116 Those who by reviling first Begot the Fray, came off by th' worst.
1745 P. Annet Hist. & Char. St Paul in Coll. Tracts Free Enquirer (1768) 77/2 He buffetted them, and they came off with the worst of it.
1763 Mod. Part Universal Hist. XL. 346 The Chicachas..always came off with the worst.
1834 W. Godwin Lives Necromancers 184 In these wars, the Peris generally came off with the worst.
1842 J. B. Fraser Allee Neemroo I. viii. 195 He had a quarrel with a yaboo in his youth, and came off with the worst of it.
1924 Classical Philol. (1929) 24 134 It is said that when in sport they cast lots or threw dice.., Antony came off with the worst of it.
1992 A. A. Nofi Civil War Treasury (1995) 33 The Indians came off with the worst of it in the ensuing Battle of Wisconsin Heights.
†d. Expressing the inflicting of defeat.
(a) to put to (also at) the worst: to defeat, overcome. Also to drive to the worst. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or defeat
shendc893
overwinOE
overheaveOE
mate?c1225
to say checkmatea1346
vanquishc1366
stightlea1375
outrayc1390
to put undera1393
forbeat1393
to shave (a person's) beardc1412
to put to (also at, unto) the (also one's) worsec1425
adawc1440
supprisec1440
to knock downc1450
to put to the worsta1475
waurc1475
convanquish1483
to put out1485
trima1529
convince1548
foil1548
whip1571
evict1596
superate1598
reduce1605
convict1607
defail1608
cast1610
banga1616
evince1620
worst1646
conquer1655
cuffa1657
trounce1657
to ride down1670
outdo1677
routa1704
lurcha1716
fling1790
bowl1793
lick1800
beat1801
mill1810
to row (someone) up Salt River1828
defeat1830
sack1830
skunk1832
whop1836
pip1838
throw1850
to clean out1858
take1864
wallop1865
to sock it to1877
whack1877
to clean up1888
to beat out1893
to see off1919
to lower the boom on1920
tonk1926
clobber1944
ace1950
to run into the ground1955
a1475 (a1447) O. Bokenham Mappula Angliae in Englische Studien (1887) 10 10 Þe dwellers takyne hit for a pronosticacioun þat for þat ȝere þat part shalle gone vndur & be putte at the worst, and þe oþer part preuaylene.
a1500 (c1465) in J. Gairdner Three 15th-cent. Chrons. (1880) 59 She..put him dyverse tymes at the worste.
?1575 E. Hellowes tr. A. de Guevara Familiar Epist. (new ed.) 338 They liued by robbing and pilling one from another, euermore driuing the weakest to the worst.
1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Destroço Putting to the woorst, putting to flight.
1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence Andria i. iii, in Terence in Eng. 20 Me & illum herus pessundedit. My master hath put him and me to the worst.
1644 J. Vicars Jehovah-Jireh 194 Our left wing being thus put to the worst.
1687 J. Evelyn Diary (1955) IV. 541 The party so exceedingly put to the worst by the preaching & writing of the Protestants.
1726 D. Defoe Polit. Hist. Devil i. v. 76 Putting Michael and all the faithful Army to the worst.
1813 J. Nightingale Beauties Eng. & Wales XIII. ii. 914 Sir William Brereton came in with 1500 horse, by which means the kings forces were put to the worst.
(b) to give (a person) the worst: to defeat or overcome (a person). In later use usually to give (a person) the worst of (also on) it. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1627 in Huntington Libr. Q. (2004) 67 19 But though they did prevaile Against us at the first, Yet wee bore up soe well againe, That we gave them the worst.
a1635 R. Sibbes Learned Comm. 2 Cor. iv. (1656) 137 Cast down, by persecution prevailing; persecution prevailing doth cast men down, and give them the worst in the eye of the world, but yet we are not destroyed.
1684 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 2nd Pt. 128 Why, I would a fought as long as Breath had been in me; and had I so done, I am sure you could never have given me the worst on't . View more context for this quotation
1897 in J. D. Horan Desperate Men (1997) xxviii. 237 You have give us the worst of it all the way through and you must stay out or die.
1901 P. Woodruff Backwoods Philosopher (1998) 193 She used to sit up at night scheming how she could give him the worst of it.
e. to make the worst of: to regard or represent in the most unfavourable light; (also) to derive the least possible advantage or benefit from (a situation, esp. one which is already unsatisfactory). Cf. to make the best of at best adj., n.1, and adv. Phrases 4c(a).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > misjudgement > misjudge [verb (transitive)] > underestimate or undervalue
to make much (also little, nothing, too much, etc.) of (or on)c1395
disprize1480
misprize1483
to make light of1526
extenuate1529
to make the worst ofc1530
seclude?1531
to take (also wrest) to the worst1531
deprisec1550
disparagea1556
undermatch1571
embase1577
underbid1593
underprize1600
underpoise1602
undervalue1611
minorize1615
underspeak1635
underthink1646
underrate1650
minify1676
under-measure1682
underpraise1698
sneeze1806
understate1824
disappreciate1828
under-estimatea1850
minimize1866
to play down1869
worsen1885
to sell short1936
downplay1948
underplay1949
lowball1979
minimalize1979
c1530 A. Barclay Egloges iii. sig. M.ivv For yll wyll makyth, the worst of euery thynge.
1548 R. Crowley Confut. N. Shaxton sig. C i For if they woulde make the worste of it, they can not make it a damnable sinne to saye that ther remaineth bread and wine in the Sacramente.
1627 in J. Rushworth Hist. Coll. (1659) 438 King James, who..wanted not some suggesters about him to make the worst of all mens actions whom they could misreport.
1691 J. Bancroft King Edward III iii. i. 24 We that are given to fasting Eat Fish, and fish is of a Provoking Disgestion, and make the worst of what you were saying, 'twas but veniall.
1737 T. Morgan Moral Philosopher 135 That I may not..be thought to make the worst of a bad Matter, I shall suppose [etc.].
1796 F. Burney Camilla II. iii. viii. 162 But it's over, you know; so what signifies making the worst of it?
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House xxxvi. 363 Now I was hot, and had made the worst of it, instead of the best.
1877 R. C. Trench Lect. Med. Ch. Hist. 115 Roman Catholic writers make no attempt to conceal the depth of desecration and dishonour which the Papacy then passed through; nay, they seem rather to take a pleasure in making the worst of this.
1954 I. Murdoch Under Net (1960) 161 He was now changing over from making the worst of the affair to making the best of it.
2016 Lacombe Globe (Nexis) 21 July a7 The government continually finds ways to make the worst of a bad situation.
†f. to take (also wrest) to the worst, to take at worst: to put the most unfavourable construction upon. Cf. worse adj. and n. Phrases 3d. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > misjudgement > misjudge [verb (transitive)] > underestimate or undervalue
to make much (also little, nothing, too much, etc.) of (or on)c1395
disprize1480
misprize1483
to make light of1526
extenuate1529
to make the worst ofc1530
seclude?1531
to take (also wrest) to the worst1531
deprisec1550
disparagea1556
undermatch1571
embase1577
underbid1593
underprize1600
underpoise1602
undervalue1611
minorize1615
underspeak1635
underthink1646
underrate1650
minify1676
under-measure1682
underpraise1698
sneeze1806
understate1824
disappreciate1828
under-estimatea1850
minimize1866
to play down1869
worsen1885
to sell short1936
downplay1948
underplay1949
lowball1979
minimalize1979
1531 Bp. W. Barlow Dyaloge Lutheran Faccyons To Rdr. sig. a2v A lytle fawte ys not onely taken to the worste, but what so euer ys well done, spoken, or wryten, ys oftymys interpretyd amysse.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Prov. x. D The lippes of the rightuous are occupied in acceptable thinges, but the mouth of the vngodly taketh them to the worst.
1593 G. Harvey Pierces Supererogation 17 Let me not bee mistaken by sinister construction, that wreasteth and wrigleth euery sillable to the worst.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) v. ii. 63 I cannot choose but tell him that I care not, And let him tak't at worst . View more context for this quotation
1637 W. Stirling Darivs v. ii. in Recreations with Muses 108 While they live, we see their glorious actions Oft wrested to the worst.
P2. Uses of the noun with at. Cf. best adj., n.1, and adv. Phrases 3a.
a. at worst.
†(a) In the most evil or undesirable state that can be; at the greatest disadvantage; fallen to the lowest degree of badness, illness, or misfortune; = at the worst at Phrases 2b(b). Obsolete.Frequently in the proverb when things are at worst, they mend (and variants).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > in adversity [phrase] > at the or one's worst
at worsta1398
at the worsta1413
at one's worst1578
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xvii. xcii. 983 Þe herbe is bitter, and þanne vse þerof bredeþ blood atte worste [L. sanguis pessimus generatur], and apeyreþ þe sight.
1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 57v Full ill he did deserue A maisters name, that when his seruant was at worst, Would turne him off, and let him lie.
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Aaa1 A man leaueth thinges at worst, and depriueth himselfe of meanes to make them better. View more context for this quotation
1639 J. Clarke Paroemiologia 122 When the world is at worst it will mend.
1700 J. Dryden tr. G. Boccaccio Cymon & Iphigenia in Fables 542 We were at worst but Wanton; he's Obscene.
1728 C. Cibber Vanbrugh's Provok'd Husband iii. i. 47 When Things are at worst, you know, they may mend themselves!
1770 J. Mulso Let. 30 June in Lett. to G. White of Selborne (1907) 222 The Summer is so bad that we have constant Fires; I therefore expect, as when Things are at worst they mend of Course, that the autumnal Part of the Year will be fine.
1883 Amer. Stationer 6 Sept. 357/2 It is an article of popular faith that ‘when things are at their worst they are sure to mend’, and although it would be difficult to determine the exact point at which things are at worst, [etc.].
(b) Even on the most unfavourable view, estimate, or surmise; (also) if the worst possible outcome occurs.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > hope > [adverb] > with minimum hope
at worst1556
1556 J. Heywood Spider & Flie lix. facing sig. Ccii Prouing you: (at best) nought to win by this war, And prouing you: (at worst) vtterlie to mar.
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes At woorst, if the woorst fall out.
1637 J. Milton Comus 17 Or else some neighbour wood man, or at worst Some roaving robber calling to his fellows.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 100 If our substance..cannot cease to be, we are at worst On this side nothing. View more context for this quotation
1672 J. Dryden Conquest Granada i. v. i. 65 But tis, at worst, but so consum'd by fire As Cities are, that by their falls rise high'r.
1758 J. Blake Plan Marine Syst. 36 He is at worst sure of wholesome bread.
1778 J. Reynolds Disc. Royal Acad. 215 So that not much harm will be done at worst.
1837 W. S. Landor Pentameron & Pentalogia 23 Brutus and Cassius, at worst, but slew an atheist.
1881 M. E. Braddon Asphodel I. vii. 209 This kind of thing went on for another week of weather which at worst was showery.
1931 Amer. Mercury Jan. 82/1 Language purity at best reflects a pedantic attitude and at worst an attitude either aristocratic or chauvinistic.
1965 New Statesman 27 Aug. 286/2 At worst this turns into chemophobia—the belief that artificial chemicals are intrinsically more harmful than natural ones.
2010 Daily Tel. 15 June (Business section) b1/3 The long-term implications are at best a split in the eurozone, at worst the destruction of the euro.
b. at the worst.
(a) Even on the most unfavourable view, estimate, or surmise; if the worst possible outcome occurs; = at worst at Phrases 2a(b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > in adversity [phrase] > at the or one's worst
at worsta1398
at the worsta1413
at one's worst1578
a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1882) v. l. 96 Somwhat shal I seye For at þe worste it may yet shorte oure weye.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xxvi. sig. Yy6 At the worst it is but a bug-beare.
1649 S. Rutherford Free Disputation To Rdr. sig. A3v He is but at the worst, a godly, pious, holy Hereticke, who feareth his conscience more than his Creator.
1729 P. Walkden Diary 25 Nov. (1866) (modernized text) 73 At the worst, I would subscribe to take half a quarter.
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. liv. 238 At the worst, what do they amount to.
1824 R. Southey Let. 29 Aug. in C. C. Southey Life & Corr. R. Southey (1849) I. 137 He had seasons of good-nature, and at the worst was rather to be dreaded than disliked.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop i. ix. 139 I thought..that if a man played long enough he was sure to win at last, or at the worst not to come off a loser.
1871 C. Thirlwall Lett. (1881) II. 267 Urban II pronounced that the killing of an excommunicated person was not a murder, but at the worst an offence to be expiated by a penance.
1939 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 19 Aug. 425/1 At the worst, it is the lesser of two evils.
1978 Jrnl. Post Keynesian Econ. 1 37 At the worst it could induce recession, with an excellent chance of establishing a new post-World War II jobless record.
2016 Scotsman (Nexis) 1 Apr. If you had not carried a knife, the exchange of insults between you and Bailey would have led at the worst to a fist fight.
(b) In the most evil or undesirable state that can be; at the greatest disadvantage; fallen to the lowest degree of badness, illness, or misfortune. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1533 T. More 2nd Pt. Confut. Tyndals Answere iv. p. clxxvi That they shall be no worse parde, not when they be at the very wurste, then faythfull harlottes.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Astrophel & Stella (1591) 39 Yet sighes, deare sighes, indeede true friends you are, That do not leaue your best friend at the wurst.
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xv. 23 Who ist can say I am at the worst . View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) v. ii. 229 Thou hast me, if thou hast me, at the worst . View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iv. ii. 24 Things at the worst will cease or else climbe vpward, To what they were before. View more context for this quotation
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iii. 209 I would be at the worst; worst is my Port. View more context for this quotation
1752 Philos. Trans. 1749–50 (Royal Soc.) 46 533 They begin at the End of Summer, and continue thro' Autumn; being at the worst, when the Atmosphere is most loaded with the Effluvia of stagnating Water.
1771 Hist. Sir W. Harrington (1797) III. 122 Mrs. Stanhope was at the worst.
1823 J. Galt Ringan Gilhaize I. xxxi. 159 While he was at the worst she minded not his condition.
1840 55th Rep. Visiting Justices County Lunatic Asylum at Hanwell 43 He always recognized us, even when he was at the worst.
1898 ‘M. Twain’ Notebk. in Mysterious Stranger (1969) Introd. 8 When his fortunes and his miseries are at the worst, his papa arrives in state in a glory of hellfire.
1917 Lawyers Rep. Annotated 1917C 1172/2 As stated by her husband, ‘she commenced to get worse in 1908, kept getting worse all along on up to 1913, when she was at the worst’.
1947 R. Redgrave & S. Redgrave Cent. Brit. Painters i. 20 ‘When things are at the worst they will mend’, and truly things were at the worst, so far as art goes, when sturdy William Hogarth..began to think for himself.
c. at one's worst: in the most evil or undesirable state that one can be in; at one's greatest disadvantage; fallen to the lowest degree of badness, illness, or misfortune.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > in adversity [phrase] > at the or one's worst
at worsta1398
at the worsta1413
at one's worst1578
1578 A. Golding tr. Seneca Conc. Benefyting vii. xxxi. f. 120 He loueth good men euen when he is at his worst [L. in iniuria].
1661 Bp. H. King Sermon 8 This Tyrant, as Profane as Zedekiah at his worst.
a1712 T. Halyburton Great Concern Salvation (1721) ii. 168 It doth not bespeak Sinners in their lucid Intervals; but, to shew its Power, it reaches them when at their worst.
1845 H. Martineau Let. 15 Mar. in Autobiogr. (1877) III. 245 Your people (never beginning to do their best till they are at their worst).
1846 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. in Wks. II. 168/1 Unhappily Italian poetry in the age of Milton was almost at its worst.
1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 11 A dark and tyrannical superstition at its worst.
1885 Spectator 30 May 716/1 No Dickens himself at his very worst has such tiresome repetition.
1887 G. Saintsbury Hist. Elizabethan Lit. vii. 284 Heywood, even at his worst, is a writer whom it is impossible not to like.
1913 Financial Times 18 Mar. Generally speaking, most drivers are at their worst in gear-changing.
1956 D. Gascoyne Night Thoughts 35 You'd look a million dollars at your worst.
2003 I. Banks Raw Spirit (2004) vi. 128 The slightly wacko characters who at their best keep you wide-eyed and laughing and at their worst still make you laugh.
P3.
a. Chiefly poetic. worst of (all) worsts.
ΚΠ
1616 B. Jonson Epicœne v. iv, in Wks. I. 597 This is worst of all worst worsts! that hell could haue deuis'd! View more context for this quotation
1624 F. Quarles Iob Militant xv. 37 But what is worst of worsts, (Lord) often I Haue cry'd to Thee, a stranger to my cry.
a1644 F. Quarles Shepheards Oracles (1646) x. 125 Bad! Worse! The worst of worsts! The heaviest news That lips ere broach'd, or language can diffuse!
1785 Mem. & Adventures Flea I. vii. 184 There! There! cries John, this is the worst of all worsts;—you shall pay for it among you.
1870 H. Brown Sonnets of Shakespeare Solved 155 How is it he converts her worst of all worsts to the best of all bests?
1885 North-eastern Daily Gaz. (Middlesbrough) 16 Dec. Of all possible evils that can arise..that, to use a strong expression of an old Greek dramatist, would be ‘the worst of worsts’.
1908 J. Davidson Testament 112 And worst of worsts, His chosen race, the Jews..had passed From slavery into slavery.
1973 L. R. Banks One More River xxv. 251 They cowered indoors, expecting the worst of worsts.
2014 P. Khakpour Last Illusion 219 Dozens of broken fried chicken wings,..and, worst of all worsts: two telltale little bones, almost perfectly cleaned.
b. the worst of the worst: those who are objectionable, reprehensible, or wicked to the highest possible degree; (also) that which is unsurpassably painful, unpleasant, or unfortunate; cf. the best of the best at best adj., n.1, and adv. Phrases 4d(b).
ΚΠ
1846 Daily News 9 Apr. 7/5 The sailors who go to Bonny River are the worst of the worst.
1899 San Antonio (Texas) Sunday Light 16 July Of all our evils, the worst of the worst Is home-made infelicity.
1916 N.Y. Times 29 Nov. 10/2 The worst of the worst is come.
1997 J. Fellner Cold Storage vi. 47 The simple fact that prisoners in such facilities have been labeled the 'worst of the worst' encourages correctional officers to view them in a dehumanizing way.
2017 Northern Territory News (Austral.) (Nexis) 28 Apr. 6 One of the six boys he referred to as ‘the worst of the worst’ was 14.
P4. Uses of the adjective.
†a. at (the) worst hand.
(a) In a position of defeat. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defeat > [adverb]
at worst hand1490
the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > small of quantity, amount, or degree [phrase] > at least > on the lowest estimate
at worst hand1490
society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > high price or rate > [adverb] > at highest price
at worst hand1490
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xiv. 352 He saw well that his folke was at the worste hande [Fr. du pire], soo made he to sowne the retrete.
(b) On the lowest estimate; at the worst valuation or interpretation; at least. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia i. in Compl. Wks. (1926) IV. 48 For, in deede, assoone as hee sawe ye Beare coming towardes them,..hee ran headlonge into this Bussh, with full resolution, yt at the worst hand hee woulde not see his owne deathe.
1589 R. Greene Menaphon sig. H4 I am not so farre out of my Arithmetick, but that by Multiplication I can make two of one, in an houres warning, or bee as good as a cypher to fill vp a place at the worst hand.
1621 R. Montagu Diatribæ Hist. Tithes 421 More ignorant barbarisme here, than in Paulus, who at worst hand hath related it in good and true Latine.
1699 tr. Terence Brothers iv. in Terence's Comedies Made Eng. 210 All that are a little down in the world are very suspicious; take every thing at the worst hand, and fancy themselves slighted, cause of their Misfortunes.
1744 W. Notcutt Dying Pastor's Legacy to his People 62 These take every thing at the worst hand.
(c) Most dearly or unprofitably (cf. hand n. 25b). Obsolete.
ΚΠ
a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 191 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) They were driven at the worst hand to sell unto the mercilesse Merchants, their Cowes, Hackneyes [etc.].
1767 N. Forster Enq. Causes Present High Price of Provisions ii. 142 They cannot buy their wheat..of the farmer, but are obliged to buy their flour at the worst hand, meaning of the miller.
1802 Monthly Mag. May 342/2 They [sc. pigeons] will more than pay their way in these dear times of corn, and that purchased at worst hand, and the dung given away.
1839 Manch. Times 5 Oct. Everything is bought at the worst hand.
b. the worst end of the bargain (also stick, staff, etc.): the least desirable or most unpleasant aspect of a situation; the losing position; cf. worse adj. 3b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > be disadvantageous [verb (intransitive)] > have disadvantage
to have (also get) the worsec1275
to have (also get, etc.) the better (or worse) end of the staff1542
disprofit1561
the worst end of the bargain (also stick, staff, etc.)1564
to have the wrong end of the stick?1793
1564 T. Dorman Proufe Certeyne Articles in Relig. f. 92 Yow maie haue cause to thincke, that yow holde by the worst ende of the staffe.
1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe 51 Which had the worst end of the staffe in that sea iourney or canuazado.
1616 R. Cocks Let. in W. Foster Lett. E. India Company from Servants in East (1900) (modernized text) IV. 98 If others will be so foolish to cut their bellies for love (or rather lust) after whores, the worst end of the staff will be their own.
1636 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae (new ed.) 1204 Perceive then ye have then The worst end of the tree.
1680 W. Charleton Enq. Human Nature iii. 137 They that are on the Affirmative part, seem to me to have the worst end of the staff.
1718 D. Defoe Family Instructor II. i. 172 The ladies, if they are enclin'd to find Fault, will perhaps say, I..give them the worst End of the Staff.
1788 P. Gibbes Niece III. xxi. 89 It was ever her way..on perceiving she had the worst end of an argument, to make up in clamour, what she wanted in reason or justice.
1813 Crit. Rev. Feb. 220 Mr. Chubb foreseeing he would have the worst end of the staff in an engagement of this nature, betook himself to his usual resource of calling upon the Lord to have mercy on him.
1835 F. O. J. Smith Let. Post Office Dept. U.S. 22 It is most certain that the contractor had the worst end of the bargain by many thousands of dollars.
1919 Bull. National Tax Assoc. Dec. 80/2 With total exemption of all buildings from taxation, I think the working man is getting the worst end of the stick.
1987 R. Bujang Boria iii. 28 They then leave the stage together, Ah Chong still complaining that he seems to be getting the worst end of the bargain.
2016 Hindu (Nexis) 24 June No wonder women, however strong-willed, get the worst end of the stick.
c. North American colloquial.
(a) (the) worst kind: (used adverbially as an intensifier) very much; very badly, terribly. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > effect produced on emotions > [adverb] > severely or urgently
(the) worst kind1839
in the worst way1871
the worst way1892
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > greatly or very much [phrase] > in or to the greatest degree
never solOE
with (also mid) the mostc1275
for the masteryc1325
to the bestc1390
to the uttermostc1400
at the hardest1429
to the utmostc1450
to the skies (also sky)1559
at float1594
all to nothing1606
to the height1609
to the proofa1625
to the last degree1639
to the welkin?1746
(the) worst kind1839
for all it's worth1864
as —— as they make them?a1880
in the highest1897
to the nth (degree, power)1897
up to eleven1987
1839 F. Marryat Diary in Amer. II. 227 He loves Sal, the worst kind.
1887 F. Francis Saddle & Mocassin 107 He drove him off; but the old bull hated to quit—the worst kind.
1892 Harper's Mag. Feb. 437/2 I want something to read the worst kind.
1904 N.Y. Tribune 26 June (Illustr. Suppl.) 4/4 ‘So you want to go to Cuba, do you?’ asked Colonel Roosevelt. ‘I do, worst kind,’ replied McShane.
1939 Tennessee: Guide to State (Federal Writers' Project) 134 Oh, he's heart-burning the worst kind over that little gal.
(b) in the worst way: (as an intensifier) very much; very badly, terribly. Also the worst way, used adverbially.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > effect produced on emotions > [adverb] > severely or urgently
(the) worst kind1839
in the worst way1871
the worst way1892
1871 Warren (Pa.) Mail 29 Apr. The way they find out whether milk is pure..is to feed some of it to a house cat. If she sticks her nose up at it.., they go for the milkman in the worst way.
1892 H. Campbell Darkness & Daylight xxviii. 569 ‘I've got the yen-yen (opium habit) the worst way’, said one woman, ‘and must have my pipe every night.’
1903 W. D. Howells Lett. Home xxxvii. 218 Old Mr. Baysley had just been at the Walhondia to say that Mr. Ardith was down with the grippe, the worst way, and that he was out of his head.
1915 G. Morris Seven Darlings xxix. 273 ‘I've always wanted a brother in the worst way’, said Arthur.
1990 Edgebrook (Chicago) Times Rev. 5 Dec. a35/3 He's a real great competitor, who wants to win in the worst way.
2015 San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News (Nexis) 3 Sept. We needed a win the worst way, if you know what I mean.
P5. the worst of both worlds: see world n. Phrases 29b. in worst part: see part n.1 Phrases 1e.

Compounds

C1. Parasynthetic, as worst-humoured, worst-intentioned, worst-natured, worst-surfaced, worst-willed adjs.
ΚΠ
c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 105 Warst willid traytoris [L. malignissimi proditores].
1577 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. Ephesians vii. f. 45v Euen the wickeddest and woorst natured of vs all, shall of force haue some remorse or hartbyting.
1656 J. Harrington Common-wealth of Oceana 103 When I consider that our Country-men are none of the worst natur'd.
a1680 Earl of Rochester Allusion to Horace in Poems (1984) 60 The best good Man with the worst natur'd Muse.
1774 in O. Goldsmith Retaliation (ed. 4, 2nd issue) Postscr. 22 Thou best humour'd man with the worst humour'd muse!
1837 G. D'Aguilar Let. 12 Jan. in R. R. Madden Lit. Life & Corr. Countess of Blessington (1855) III. 312 It is as crude and unfashioned as the worst-natured critic could desire.
1896 S. R. Crockett Grey Man xxxiv. 231 The greediest and worst-intentioned rascals in the world.
1906 Westm. Gaz. 3 Mar. 3/1 From Blois to Chartres was the worst-surfaced road we came across.
1960 Jrnl. Hellenic Stud. 80 215/2 A properly conducted inquiry into one of the worst-mannered brawls which has ever disfigured the history of Classical scholarship.
2007 University Wire (Nexis) 13 July The worst-haired Mississippi politician since Benjamin Humphreys.
C2.
worst-case adj. that assumes or constitutes the worst of a number of possibilities; frequently in worst-case scenario.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > [adjective] > worse or worst (of state of affairs) > of a number of possible
worst-case1957
1957 L. M. Swartz et al. PWR Loss-of-Coolant Accident-Core Meltdown Calculations vi. 9 Since the events following a large rupture in the reactor core are more difficult to control, this condition is assumed for the ‘worst case’ studies.
1964 R. F. Ficchi Electr. Interference ii. 18 It is first assumed, using a worst-case analysis technique, that the mean beam of the receiver and transmitter antenna are in direct line of sight.
1979 R. Littell Debriefing v. 88 Worst-case contingency planning is still the basis of scenario construction.
1980 Times 18 Jan. 14/1 Analysts believe that the Kremlin drew up a ‘worst-case’ scenario which took into account both an embargo on American grain and a threat to the Moscow Olympics.
2016 Mail on Sunday (Nexis) 11 Sept. The worst-case scenario was that we weren't going to get off that plane alive.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

worstv.

Brit. /wəːst/, U.S. /wərst/
Forms: 1600s– worst; English regional (south-western) 1800s wussty, 1800s–1900s wust, 1900s worsty.
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: worst adj.
Etymology: < worst adj. Compare earlier worse v., waur v., and better v.1, and later best v.1
1.
a. transitive. To make worse, impair, damage, inflict loss upon: = worse v. 2, worsen v. 1. rare after 18th cent.
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
1602 J. Harington Let. 27 Dec. (1930) 97 Her betterring the state of my father's fortune (which I have alas so much worsted).
1648 Earl of Westmorland Otia Sacra (1879) 22 God makes all things for good; 'tis Man Sowers and worsts Creation.
1682 W. Penn in T. Clarkson Mem. Private & Public Life W. Penn (1849) xviii. 115 Thy father's public spirit had worsted his estate.
1728 W. Smith Ann. Univ.-Coll. (new ed.) 88 By which the College may be said to be wosted [sic] above 3l. 10s. per Annum.
1736 J. Tull Suppl. Ess. Horse-hoing Husbandry 208 A Pear grafted upon a Quince may be mended but if grafted upon a White-thorn will be worsted.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. v. 26 To better the Condition of the Tenants at the same time, at least, not to worst them.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VII. xxiii. 98 Suppose you kill one another, will the matter be better'd or worsted by that?
1783 P. Pott Chirurg. Wks. (new ed.) II. 69 He may be much worsted by the experiment.
1827 A. N. Royall Tennessean xxi. 229 I asked my uncle if ‘he thought he could stand the cold to-morrow?’ ‘I don't know—can't be worsted, Jinkins ha' got me a stove to put my feet upon.’
1875 Proc. 23rd Meeting Amer. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. ii. 117 When they [sc. flies] crawled away, they seemed badly crippled and worsted by their Circean bath.
1957 Florida Hist. Q. 35 269 A few women asked them could our condition be worsted by a change.
b. intransitive. To grow worse, deteriorate. rare.
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
1781 P. Beckford Thoughts on Hunting xxii. 288 We perceived our scent worsted, and were going to stop the hounds.
a1817 J. Austen Persuasion (1818) III. i. 10 Anne haggard, Mary coarse, every face in the neighbourhood worsting . View more context for this quotation
1867 Once a Week 5 Jan. 16/1 He hated people that were always worsting in their affairs, and this was what the Coggans were always doing.
1982 J. I. Ackroyd tr. K. Takamura in A. R. Davies & A. D. Stefanowska Austrina 355 Notre Dame in rain. Ah, the storm's worsting again.
2. Cf. best v.1
a. transitive. To get the better of (an adversary) in a fight or battle; to defeat, overcome.
ΘΠ
society > armed hostility > victory > make victorious [verb (transitive)] > conquer or overcome
overcomeeOE
shendc893
awinc1000
overwinOE
overheaveOE
to lay downa1225
mate?c1225
discomfitc1230
win1297
dauntc1300
cumber1303
scomfit1303
fenkc1320
to bear downc1330
confoundc1330
confusec1330
to do, put arrear1330
oversetc1330
vanquishc1330
conquerc1374
overthrowc1375
oppressc1380
outfighta1382
to put downa1382
discomfortc1384
threshc1384
vencuea1400
depressc1400
venque?1402
ding?a1425
cumrayc1425
to put to (also at, unto) the (also one's) worsec1425
to bring or put to (or unto) utterance1430
distrussc1430
supprisec1440
ascomfita1450
to do stress?c1450
victorya1470
to make (win) a conquest1477
convanquish1483
conquest1485
defeat1485
oversailc1485
conques1488
discomfish1488
fulyie1488
distress1489
overpress1489
cravent1490
utter?1533
to give (a person) the overthrow1536
debel1542
convince1548
foil1548
out-war1548
profligate1548
proflige?c1550
expugnate1568
expugn1570
victor1576
dismay1596
damnify1598
triumph1605
convict1607
overman1609
thrash1609
beat1611
debellate1611
import1624
to cut to (or in) pieces1632
maitrise1636
worst1636
forcea1641
outfight1650
outgeneral1767
to cut up1803
smash1813
slosh1890
ream1918
hammer1948
1636 R. Basset tr. G. A. de Paoli Lives Rom. Emperors 20 After many battailes Otho being worsted [It. rimanendo perdente]..slew himselfe.
1657 Earl of Monmouth tr. P. Paruta Politick Disc. 187 He got a notable Victory, worsting a great many of the Enemy with a much lesser number.
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. ii. 139 The Bear was in a greater fright, Beat down and worsted by the Knight.
1703 Earl of Orrery As you find It ii. ii. 27 There's no more believing him than the Paris-Gazette, when it relates a Battle where the French were worsted.
1772 J. Priestley Inst. Relig. (1782) II. 194 The Syrians having been worsted in the hilly country.
1849 G. Grote Hist. Greece VI. ii. liv. 605 A battle ensued, in which that prince was completely worsted.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xxix. 391 He turned on them and worsted them badly before making his escape.
1886 F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads II. iv. 441/2 The page worsts his accuser in a duel.
1902 J. F. Rusling European Days & Ways 299 Blücher now took pleasure in getting even with Napoleon for worsting him at Ligny.
1980 K. Crossley-Holland Norse Myths (1982) Introd. p. xxxvii Initially worsted, the gods invariably come off better in the end.
2015 Spectator (Nexis) 5 Dec. An over-confident Japanese army was worsted by the Russians in Manchuria.
b. transitive. To defeat in argument, to outdo or prove better than (a person). Also: to overcome or foil (an undertaking). Frequently in passive.
ΘΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > outdoing or surpassing > outdo or surpass [verb (transitive)]
overstyeOE
overshinec1175
overgoc1225
passc1225
surmountc1369
forpassc1374
overmatcha1375
overpassa1382
to pass overa1393
overcomec1400
outpass?a1425
exceedc1425
precedec1425
superexcelc1429
transcendc1430
precel?a1439
outcut1447
overgrowc1475
to come over ——a1479
excel1493
overleapa1500
vanquish1533
outweigh1534
prevent1540
better1548
preferc1550
outgo1553
surpassa1555
exsuperate1559
cote1566
overtop1567
outrun1575
outstrip1579
outsail1580
overruna1586
pre-excel1587
outbid1589
outbrave1589
out-cote1589
top1590
outmatch1593
outvie1594
superate1595
surbravec1600
oversile1608
over-height1611
overstride1614
outdoa1616
outlustrea1616
outpeera1616
outstrikea1616
outrival1622
antecede1624
out-top1624
antecell1625
out-pitch1627
over-merit1629
outblazea1634
surmatch1636
overdoa1640
overact1643
outact1644
worst1646
overspana1657
outsoar1674
outdazzle1691
to cut down1713
ding1724
to cut out1738
cap1821
by-pass1848
overtower1850
pretergress1851
outray1876
outreach1879
cut1884
outperform1937
outrate1955
one-up1963
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or defeat
shendc893
overwinOE
overheaveOE
mate?c1225
to say checkmatea1346
vanquishc1366
stightlea1375
outrayc1390
to put undera1393
forbeat1393
to shave (a person's) beardc1412
to put to (also at, unto) the (also one's) worsec1425
adawc1440
supprisec1440
to knock downc1450
to put to the worsta1475
waurc1475
convanquish1483
to put out1485
trima1529
convince1548
foil1548
whip1571
evict1596
superate1598
reduce1605
convict1607
defail1608
cast1610
banga1616
evince1620
worst1646
conquer1655
cuffa1657
trounce1657
to ride down1670
outdo1677
routa1704
lurcha1716
fling1790
bowl1793
lick1800
beat1801
mill1810
to row (someone) up Salt River1828
defeat1830
sack1830
skunk1832
whop1836
pip1838
throw1850
to clean out1858
take1864
wallop1865
to sock it to1877
whack1877
to clean up1888
to beat out1893
to see off1919
to lower the boom on1920
tonk1926
clobber1944
ace1950
to run into the ground1955
1646 R. Waring Publike Conf. Six Presbyterian Ministers 13 The six Presbyterian Divines have beene much worsted by the Independent Commanders, in a late publike Disputation, who asserted, That they had no Commission from God to be Ministers.
1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομία 150 How are al Lyricks out-gon by Davids Harp and how do Salomons Proverbs (for contracted sense) worst Seneca?
1664 S. Butler Hudibras: Second Pt. ii. ii. 104 Remember how in Arms and Politicks, We still have worsted all your holy Tricks.
1694 J. Kettlewell Compan. for Persecuted 69 Who art ofttimes pleased to permit a righteous Cause to be worsted.
1720 Life J. Owen in J. Owen Seventeen Serm. p. xxvi The Author of Fiat Lux finding himself worsted by Argument.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1781 II. 396 Johnson could not brook appearing to be worsted in argument.
1802 R. L. Edgeworth & M. Edgeworth Ess. Irish Bulls xi. 153 I could not bear to go away worsted, and borne down as it were by the english faction.
1868 H. H. Milman Ann. St. Paul's Cathedral iii. 70 He appealed to Rome, but was worsted in his appeal.
1886 J. Ruskin Præterita II. viii. 273 [I was] in the habit of feeling worsted in everything I tried of original work.
1911 J. H. Rose Pitt & Great War x. 234 In this secret chaffering Pitt and Grenville were worsted.
1955 E. Bowen World of Love v. 83 But if she chose to make history out of her vicissitudes, that was really from vauntingness—nothing beat her; she had a way of worsting one.
1985 B. Unsworth Stone Virgin 176 You can't bear to be worsted in argument, can you?
2012 Australian (Nexis) 5 June 14 Because she cannot bear to be bested—or worsted—by Abbott she too often uses her bully pulpit to sneer, or ridicule or belittle.

Derivatives

ˈworsting n.
ΘΠ
the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > defeat or overthrow > [noun]
fallOE
confusionc1290
discomfiturea1400
castc1400
overthrowc1440
confoundinga1450
jeofail1546
prostitution1567
lurch1584
worsting1607
unhorsing1608
supplantation1617
defeat1676
overset1789
punishment1811
overthrowal1862
beating1883
unhorsement1884
whoop-ass1974
1607 R. Parker Scholasticall Disc. against Antichrist i. i. 18 Neither the triumph of the Papist, nor the worsting of the Protestant..can cause it to vanish away from thence.
1750 F. Bellers Delineation Universal Law ii. iv. 22 As all Things necessary for Life are capable of being wasted or worsted..; if the Consequence of such wasting or worsting..did not, by the Laws of Property, light on the Persons who were the respective Causes of them, the whole Burden of human Life would fall on the few Frugal and Industrious.
1842 J. H. Newman Church of Fathers (ed. 2) 60 We might have conquered by a worsting which was honourable and dignified.
1883 R. Broughton Belinda I. i. ix. 159 The dispute ends in the worsting of the person to whom alone it is of any consequence to succeed.
2001 Victorian Stud. 43 632 His worsting by Lord Palmerston and eclipse by William Ewart Gladstone in the leadership of Liberalism.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

worstadv.

Brit. /wəːst/, U.S. /wərst/
Forms:

α. early Old English wierst, Old English–early Middle English wyrrest, Old English wyrst, Old English wirst (rare), late Old English wyrest, Middle English wrst, Middle English–1500s wurst, Middle English–1600s worste, Middle English– worst, 1500s vorst (Scottish), 1500s wurste, 1500s–1600s woorst.

β. late Old English wærst, early Middle English werrst ( Ormulum), Middle English werist (northern), Middle English werste, Middle English–1500s werst, Middle English (1700s English regional (northern)) warst; Scottish pre-1700 verst, pre-1700 wersid, pre-1700 werst, pre-1700 1700s– warst, 1800s waurst.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.
Etymology: Cognate with Middle Dutch wirst (early modern Dutch (regional: West Flemish) wersste , werschte , weste ), Middle Low German werst , Old High German wirsist (Middle High German wirst , German (now regional) wirst , wirsest , wurst ), Old Icelandic verst , Old Swedish (Swedish) värst , Danish værst < a suffixed form (superlative: see -est suffix) of the same Germanic base as worse adv. Compare worst adj.On the use as a suppletive superlative form, see discussion at worse adj. and worse adv. On the β. forms, see discussion at worst adj.
1.
a. Most badly or wickedly; most reprehensibly or foolishly in regard to conduct.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > [adverb] > more or most
worseeOE
worsteOE
waurc1175
worser1573
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xxxii. 209 We magon..ða gedyrstigan gelæran ðætte, ðonne hie wenen ðæt hie hæbben betst gedon, ðæt we him ðonne secgen ðæt hie hæbben wierst gedon.
OE Prayers (Arundel 155) xlv, in Anglia (1963) 81 115 Quamvis propter fragilitatem meam pessime peccarem : ðeah ic for tyddernesse minre wyrrest syngude.
c1400 Omnis Plantacio (Egerton) l. 1231 in Wks. Lollard Preacher (2001) 52 Þe peple is worst gouerned vndir þese bastard prestis and her manglid lawe.
?c1450 (?a1400) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 370 As þe peple of israel wern werst gouernyd undir her prestis.
a1591 H. Smith Serm. (1593) 882 So when they did worst, then they seeme to doe it in best maner, for they will not sinne without counsaile.
1663 J. Birkenhead Assembly-man 10 The greatest strife in their whole Conventicle, is who shall do worst; for they all intend to make the Church but a Sepulchre.
1669 Children's Petition 63 One of the vilest Boys.., he that hath behaved himself worst of any that day in the School.
1713 B. Jenks Poor Man's Ready Compan. iv. 154 To have..done Worst against him, who has the Best used me.
1857 J. S. Hart Female Prose Writers Amer. (ed. 3) 310 The children would be most likely to do as children always will—behave worst when they are put upon their best behaviour.
1883 J. Sime Hist. All-Israel xi. 363 The men who acted worst and hung back longest stood highest in the king's regard.
1937 M. Sturt & E. C. Oakden Matter & Method in Educ. (ed. 3) ii. 276 I will read out the list of those who have behaved worst this term.
2006 R. Vinen Unfree French i. 24 The Germans behaved worst when they first arrived.
b. Most harshly, unkindly, or unfavourably; in the hardest way.
ΚΠ
a1300 (?c1175) Poema Morale (McClean) l. 203 in Anglia (1907) 30 233 Þe þat deþ his wille best, wrst he haueþ mede.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 21450 Þe werst [Gött. werist] þat euer i can or mai.
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 3801 Wikkid tung..th[e] covyne Of euery lover can devyne Worste and addith more somdell.
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. lxxxiii. f. lxxxxv/1 They of Bretayne fell fyrste and were worste reputed.
1679 tr. Coll. Acts, Memorials, & Lett. Nimeguen 148 His Highness the Duke of Lorrain, who has been used worst of all.
1787 R. Burns Poems (new ed.) 309 But a Miller us'd him worst of all, For he crush'd him between two stones.
1812 P. B. Shelley Let. 17 Aug. in Lett. (1964) I. cci. 323 She who is most loved will be treated worst by a misjudging world.
1841 G. Rawston Your Life vi. 347 In all times the working clergy have been treated the worst, and fared the hardest.
1998 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 19 Nov. 23/1 Poles, Russians, and Ukrainians were treated worst. They were Untermenschen.
2008 Independent 4 June 19/5 Countries worst affected by the disease have been reluctant to buy the new artemesinin-based drugs.
c. Most imperfectly, carelessly, incorrectly, unskilfully, poorly, etc.; to the lowest standard.
ΚΠ
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 2360 (MED) Thus he, which love hadde in desdeign, Worste of all othre was besein.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vii. 55 The thrid part of hyr mantil..vas verst grathit.
1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) xvi. 46 Thay cary victuallis to þe toun That werst dois dyne.
1575 G. Gascoigne Glasse of Gouernem. i. i. sig. Aii I am not the worst furnished of a seruaunt with this good fellow.
1629 N. Carpenter Achitophel (1640) ii. 66 Oftentimes he that can best act, can worst pen his own part.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. iv. 142 The Turkes Sabboth is worst kept of all.
1709 J. Swift Project Advancem. Relig. 30 As for the Inns of Court,..they must needs be the worst instituted Seminaries in any Christian Country.
1812 Edinb. Rev. Nov. 315 The pamphlet..has the further merit of being, without any exception, the worst written, and the worst reasoned, that has ever fallen into our hands.
1888 G. Saintsbury in Encycl. Brit. XXIV. 293/1 In this great mass [of correspondence] Voltaire's personality is of course best shown, and perhaps his literary qualities not worst.
1969 D. Wright Deafness (1990) iv. 39 However it was in subjects like Latin, French, and mathematics, where oral guidance and explanation is a great help, that I did worst; I failed to pick up anything worth a rap.
1993 New Scientist 25 Sept. 7/2 Kung pao chicken (stir-fried chicken and peanuts) scored worst with more fat than three McDonald's quarter pounders.
2014 I. H. Settles & N. T. Buchanan in V. Benet-Martínes & Y. Hong Oxf. Handbk. Multicultural Identity viii. 170/2 Those who had their woman identity made salient performed worst.
2.
†a. With verbs of liking, loving, tolerating, allowing, pleasing, etc.: least well, least. Formerly also occasionally with adjectives indicating liking, toleration, etc. Obsolete. may (also can) worst away with: can least tolerate. Cf. away adv. 12a.
ΚΠ
OE Blickling Homilies 195 Oft hit gesæleþ þæt his æhta weorþaþ on þæs onwealde þe he ær on his life wyrrest uþe.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. vi. xix. 320 He rewardiþ ham worst þat serueþ him lengest, most trewliche, and best.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 4386 I salle þe make wiþ myne housbande þe werst loued [Vesp. luue] of alle þis lande.
1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. hv/1 Galafre whyche that was moost wroth & werst contente.
a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) ii. f. 64 Cæsar and Cicero, whose puritie was neuer foiled, no not by the sentence of those, that loued them worst.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 150 Swyne of all other beastes, can worst away with hunger.
1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles xvii. 21 Of all the faults beneath the heauens, the Gods doe like this worst . View more context for this quotation
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII v. iii. 112 I cry your Honour mercie; you may worst Of all this Table say so. View more context for this quotation
1634 J. Levett Ordering of Bees 8 Bees of all other creatures can worst away with any great noyse.
1757 P. Bacon Oculist ii. 49 What, if he calls himself a merchant!—a merchant is a tradesman—I like him worst of all!
a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 280 But, Sir, this pleas'd them warst ava.
1831 W. Scott Castle Dangerous xviii, in Tales of my Landlord 4th Ser. 598 Who loved him worst shall weep for his wreck.
1897 Dundee Courier & Argus 14 July 5/7 The thing he liked worst about the affair was the fact that the Surveyor tried to shift the blame.
b. As an intensifier, with verbs of hurting, harming, disturbing, fearing, hating, etc.: most greatly, severely, or intensely; in the greatest degree.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adverb] > least
worsteOE
leasta1250
eOE Metres of Boethius (2009) xxiv. 60 Unrihtwise eorðan cyningas and þa ofermodan oðre rican ðe þis werige folc wyrst tuciað.
OE Homily (Corpus Cambr. 41) in K. G. Schaefer Five Old Eng. Homilies (Ph.D. diss., Columbia Univ.) (1972) 58 Hwæt is se þe wirst sliehð?
c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Royal) (1934) 33 Þis beoð þe wepnen þat me wurst wundeð.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 2809 Þat me greueþ werst.
1455 J. Fastolf in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 115 The grete rebuke and vilonye shuld griefe me worst of alle.
a1500 ( Pilgrimage of Soul (Egerton) (1953) iv. xxxix. f. 82v (MED) Ofte tymes suche mystier or craftes as be of lest reputacion be most necessary, & werst may be myssed.
?1518 A. Barclay tr. D. Mancinus Myrrour Good Maners sig. C.ivv A counterfayted frende with paynted speche ornate By false fayned fauour disceyueth worst of all.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) iv. ii. 160 When thou did'st hate him worst . View more context for this quotation
1632 F. Quarles Divine Fancies i. xciii. 46 Of all men, Vs'rers are not least accurst; They robb the Spittle; pinch th' Afflicted worst.
1786 R. Burns Twa Dogs xxx, in Poems 20 But Gentlemen, an' Ladies warst, Wi' ev'n down want o' wark are curst.
a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 26 And when my hope was at the top, I still was worst mis-taken, O.
1898 W. T. Stead Gladstone in Contemp. Caricature v. 61 It was the very men who had done most to drive him to intervene, who ‘savaged’ him worst.
1938 Life 6 June 22/1 Businessmen perked up when Congress passed the 1938 Tax Bill toning down the two taxes—on undistributed profits and capital gains—which they hate worst.
1943 B. Smith Tree grows in Brooklyn xliv. 342 The thing she dreaded worst about working in New York was the crowded El trains.
1992 N.Y. Mag. 3 Feb. 24/1 The Mob has been hurt worst by the RICO..statute.
2001 Daily Tel. 1 Nov. 13/3 Butterflies that can survive only in specialised habitats..suffered worst.
c. With need, want, etc.: to the greatest extent; most.
ΚΠ
1835 M. R. Mitford Belford Regis II. 131 Doubtless there'll be some to spare,—and if there is not, he wants it worst.
1866 Birmingham Daily Post 17 July 7/1 How is it that when the water is wanted worst there is none to be had?
1893 42nd Ann. Rep. Indiana State Board Agric. 1892–3 365 The farmer who never attends these meetings is the one who worst needs the advice and counsel that is given here.
1907 Nashville Amer. 18 Feb. 4/5 The remote parts, the ones needing it worst, would get nothing.
1962 E. O'Brien Lonely Girl xix. 240 That was the time I missed him worst.
2003 R. Grant Incompetence (2004) vi. 45 What I needed worst of all was a change of luck.
3. Most unfortunately, unluckily, or unhappily; with least success.
ΚΠ
OE Wulfstan Homily: To Mæssepreostum (Tiber. A.iii) in A. S. Napier Wulfstan (1883) 276 Wa þam, þe godcunde heorde underfehþ and naþær gehealdan ne can ne hine sylfne ne þa heorde..; and wyrst þam, þe can and nele.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. l. 420 Whan that he worst ferde.
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 3988 (MED) Of alle þat yn þys worlde are, Enuyus man werst shal fare; Gladnes here haue þey none, But whan here neghburs haue mysgone.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 7236 (MED) So dud dalida þen—worþe hir worst of alle wymmen!
1570 A. Golding tr. D. Chytræus Postil 158 But in this lyfe the good fare woorst.
1603 G. Estey Certaine Godly & Learned Expos. ii. f. 124v Salomon and loseph did not fare worst.
1793 Ann. Agric. 20 265 As to hay they held it bad to give it; several cases being known in which foddered sheep fared the worst.
1877 Garden 13 Oct. 359/2 The Vine which does worst with us here is growing in the driest corner of an inside border.
1908 P. H. Frye Literary Rev. & Crit. 111 It is Mr. Hardy's women who fare the worst. To them his cosmic irony is most relentless.
1999 EuroBusiness Sept. 177/3 Stocks in the high tech sector fared the worst in the sell-off, sending the tech-weighted Nasdaq down almost 3%.
2000 R. Stark & R. Finke Acts of Faith ix. 250 New religions did best where the old churches did worst.

Compounds

C1. Combining with participles with the sense ‘in the worst way or manner’ to form adjectives, as worst-affected, worst-bred, worst-damaged, worst-deserving, worst-formed, worst-going, worst-governed, worst-looking, worst-managed, worst-manned, worst-paid, worst-used adjs.
ΚΠ
1652 J. Goodwin et al. Έιρηνομαχια 7 The vilest and worst-deserving men.
1701 N. Rowe Ambitious Step-mother ii. i What Titles had they had,..if Nature had not Strove hard to thrust the worst-deserving first?
1721 N. Amhurst Terræ-filius xxxii. 170 His majesty's worst-affected subjects.
1751 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 11 Feb. (1932) (modernized text) IV. 1680 The worst-bred man in Europe, if a lady let fall her fan, would certainly take it up and give it to her.
a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. ii. 356 In the worst formed bodies..there lies an immortal spirit.
1778 T. Pasley Jrnl. 20 Aug. in Private Sea Jrnls. (1931) 38 This morning..found about 10 of the worst-going Vessels of the Convoy near us.
1816 A. Lewis Rhoda II. i. i. 27 The worst-dressed girls of my acquaintance.
1831 W. Scott Count Robert xii, in Tales of my Landlord 4th Ser. II. 308 Waiting for the slowest and worst manned vessels.
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 15 The hardest worked, the worst paid, and, too often, the worst used, class of the community.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House ix. 82 I thought him the worst-looking dog I had ever beheld.
1857 J. W. Carlyle Lett. II. 318 The worst-used woman I ever knew.
1871 J. S. Le Fanu Checkmate I. 276 I believe that we are the worst-governed and the worst-managed people on earth.
1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 55 The worst-damaged plate was taken out, re-rolled, and replaced.
1951 K. Amis Lett. (2000) 268 She is the worst-equipped person to be a parent I've ever met.
1976 ‘Z. Stone’ Modigliani Scandal i. ii. 20 It was the art world's worst-kept secret that dealers sometimes bought their own pictures in order to stimulate demand for a young artist.
1989 B. Head Tales Tenderness & Power (1990) 23 He attracted her eye for a number of reasons. He was the worst-dressed man in the crowd.
2009 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 9 Apr. 62/1 No poet of our time has been more influential, and yet with this poet a counter-anthology of worst-loved poems could be printed.
C2.
worst-hit adj. most severely affected.
ΚΠ
1893 R. H. Sherard Emile Zola v. 60 One of the worst-hit artists spoke of provoking his critic.
1903 U.S. Investor 25 July 1333/3 The worst ht shares. The worst hit industrials have naturally been the non-dividend-paying common stocks.
2008 Daily Tel. 14 Jan. (Business section) 2/7 Last year's unprecedented floods.., with Gloucestershire, Humberside, Worcester and Yorkshire being among the worst-hit areas.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.n.eOEv.1602adv.eOE
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