outworn, out-worn, ppl. a.
(aʊtˈwɔːn, attrib. ˈaʊtwɔːn)
[out- 11, from wear out.]
1. Worn out, as clothes; wasted, consumed, or obliterated by wear or by the action of time; hence fig. of beliefs, customs, institutions, etc., that have ceased to be useful; obsolete, out of date.
| 1565 Jewel Def. Apol. (1611) 362 To seek to procure vs enuie only with stale and outworne Lies. 1624 Sanderson Serm. I. 226 In old marbles and coins and out-worn inscriptions. 1806 Wordsw. Sonn., ‘The world is too much’ 10 I'd rather be A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn. 1822 Shelley Hellas 1063 The earth doth like a snake renew Her winter weeds outworn. 1897 Creighton Hist. Papacy VI. vi. i. 15 The out-worn ideals of feudalism. |
2. Of living beings, their faculties, etc.: Exhausted as to physical vigour or vitality; spent.
| 1597 Howson Serm. 24 Dec. 31 A spent and outworne life. 1671 Milton Samson 580 Better at home lie bed-rid,..Inglorious, unemployed, with age outworn. 1817 Byron Lament Tasso viii, The Powers of Evil can..prevail Against the outworn creature they assail. 1884 J. Parker Apost. Life III. 273 We pray for the..sated and outworn man. |