▪ I. worsen, v.
(ˈwɜːs(ə)n)
[f. worse a. + -en5 1. Cf. lessen v.
The word is common in dialect (see Eng. Dial. Dict.) and was reintroduced to literature c 1800–1830 (by writers like Southey and De Quincey) as a racy vernacular substitute for deteriorate and the like.]
1. trans. To make worse; to impair, vitiate, cause to deteriorate.
| a 1225 [see worse v. 2]. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 112 Tymes byn changet, men byn worsont. 1533 tr. Erasm. Com. Crede 171 b, Such persons which by crafte done appayre and worsen the commune coyne. 1641 Milton Reform. i. Wks. 1851 III. 10 It is still Episcopacie that..worsens and sluggs the most learned, and seeming religious of our Ministers. 1644 Digby Nat. Soul x. §11. 432 A..state, where she can neyther be bettered, or worsened. c 1647 Feltham Resolves ii. xiii. (1661) 205 Life in it self is a Blessing: And it is not worsened by being long. 1670 Brooks Wks. (1867) VI. 239 The righteous are signally sanctified by fiery dispensations, but the wicked are signally worsened by the same dispensations. |
| 1806 W. Taylor in Ann. Rev. IV. 251 If effeminacy could become the attribute of a whole nation, it would be proper to institute societies for worsening the condition of the poor. 1807 Southey Espriella's Lett. (1808) II. 357 Methodism..has worsened whatever it has altered. 1816 ― Ess. (1832) I. 172 The manufacturer worsened his wares, the landholder increased his rents. 1832 ― Penins. War III. 703 Men whose nature, originally bad, had been worsened by their way of life. 1835 Carlyle in Froude Life in London (1884) I. i. 19 To ask able editors to employ you will not improve but worsen matters. 1853 De Quincey Autobiogr. Sk. ii. Wks. 1862 XIV. 93 Their case was certainly not worsened by being booked for places in the grave. 1870 Morris Earthly Par. iv. 40 There sat a woman all alone Whom some ten years would make a crone, Yet would they little worsen her. 1906 Spectator 30 June 1043/2 Irrelevance and confusion are worsened, not bettered, when advanced under the cloak of a distinguished reputation. |
b. spec. To inflict loss upon (a person, locality) in respect of real property (see
worsement).
| 1894 Times 4 Apr. 6/2 Every man who was worsened having to be compensated before he was turned out. 1894 Daily News 21 June 2/3 The construction of these thoroughfares had worsened Wardour-street and other streets through diversion of the traffic. |
c. To represent (a thing) as worse than it is; to depreciate.
| 1885 J. Ingelow Perdita 66, I have worsened life, I have wronged the world. 1885 Gladstone in Times 28 Apr. 7/4 The policy which is necessary in the existing circumstances, which I shall say nothing to exaggerate or worsen. |
d. refl. To make oneself worse or (
dial.) worse off.
| 1828 Carr Craven Gloss. s.v., I will not worsen mysell. 1860 Pusey Min. Proph. 167 Moab and Ammon chose them gods like themselves, and worsened themselves by copying these idols of their sinful nature. 1864 Kingsley Water of Life (1879) iv. 51 They feel that they have weakened and worsened themselves thereby. 1866 Geo. Eliot F. Holt v, That's how the working men are left to foolish devices, and keep worsening themselves. |
2. intr. To become worse, deteriorate.
| 1795 Wordsw. in Mem. (1851) I. 86, I am still much engaged with my sick friend; and sorry am I to add that he worsens daily. 1823 De Quincey The Dice Wks. 1862 X. 325 Next day Schroll was in a violent fever... On hearing this report, Schroll rapidly worsened. 1829 Southey Sir T. More (1831) II. 183 It is the nature of man to worsen if he be left to himself. 1839 Carlyle Chartism ii. (1858) 9 If life last longer..the general condition of the poor must be bettering instead of worsening. 1861 A. Beresford-Hope Engl. Cathedral v. 184 However the world may mend or worsen. 1880 R. Broughton 2nd Thoughts II. iii. vi. 226 The weather has again changed and worsened. 1882 Morris Hopes & Fears for Art iv. 119 Whether the times better or worsen. |
Hence
ˈworsened ppl. a.;
ˈworsening vbl. n. and ppl. a.| (a) 1830 Southey Let. to Allan Cunningham 4 Mar. in Life (1850) VI. 89 The portrait..is a worsened copy of ‘Fitzbust the Evangelical’. 1875 A. J. Ellis tr. Helmholtz' Sensat. Tone 783 Skhismic Intonation exaggerates the errors of the Thirds in Bosanquet's, of which it is simply a worsened form. 1888 Jewish Chron. 17 Feb. 11/2 Even this worsened condition is disputed by some eminent authorities. |
| (b) 1831 Southey Lett. (1856) IV. 250 To the serious injury of his health, and even to the worsening of his temper. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. ii. v. i, Such..desperate hope that worsening of the bad might the sooner end it and bring back the good. 1876 Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. xix, The ten or twelve years since the parting had been time enough for much worsening. 1887 Athenæum 29 Jan. 153/3 The steady worsening of social conditions. |
| (c) 1858 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. ix. x. (1873) III. 173 Does not reach Potsdam till the 14th September, and then in a weak, worsening, and altogether dangerous condition. 1891 G. A. Smith in Robert W. Barbour (1893) 425 A very large number of worsening or desperate cases [of drunkenness]. |
▪ II. ˈworsen dial. or illiterate alteration of
worse a.
and adv. (? arising from the
colloq. worse'n = worse than).
| 1634 Heywood & Brome Lancash. Witches v. i. L 1, It stinket..worsen than ony brimstone. 1854 Dickens Hard T. i. xi, From bad to worse, from worse to worsen. 1854 A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss. s.v., It's worsen than it was. |