▪ I. worst, a. and n.
(wɜːst)
Forms: α. 1 wyrresta, wyrsta, wirresta, wierresta, (wyrest); 1 Northumb. wurresta, 2–6 wurst, 3–4 wrst; 3–6 worste, 3– worst, 6 woorst, 9 vulgar wust. β. 1 werresta, 1–2 wersta, 2–6 werst(e, 3 wer(r)est, 4 Sc. verste, 4, 6 Sc. verst; 4–6, 8–9 north. warst, 5–6 warste.
[OE. wyrresta, wyrsta, wierresta, werresta, wersta = OFris. wersta, OS. wirsista, OHG. wirsisto, -esto (MHG. wirseste, wirste, würste), ON. and Icel. verstr (Norw. verst, Sw. värst, Da. værst):—OTeut. *wersistaz, f. wers-: see worse a. and -est.
The β-forms, which were local in OE., were reinforced in Anglian ME. by Scandinavian; cf. worse a.]
A. adj. Used as the superlative of the adjs. bad, evil, or ill.
1. a. Most bad or evil, in regard to moral character or behaviour; most vicious, wicked, cruel, etc.
| c 888 ælfred Boeth. xxxix. §11 He ne sceal lufian to unᵹemetlice ðas woruldᵹesælða, forðæm hie oft cumað to þæm wyrrestum monnum. c 897 ― Gregory's Past. C. xxi. 153 Ᵹeseoh ða scande & ða wierrestan ðing ðe ðas menn her doð. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xii. 45 And swa byð þysse wyrrestan cneorysse. c 1200 Vices & Virtues 77 Gif ðu luuest ðo ilche ðe ðe luuiȝeð: ne don swa ðe werste menn of ðe woreld? c 1205 Lay. 29545 Þer he funde þa wurste men Þa on londe wuneden. a 1225 Ancr. R. 82 Idel speche is vuel; ful speche is wurse; attri speche is þe wurste. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 8616 Þe worste men of þe lond, & mest cruel al so, He wolde make is conseilers. a 1300 K. Horn 648 Fikenhild, Þat was þe wurste moder child. a 1310 in Wright Lyric P. 99 When y my self have thourh-soht, y knowe me for the wrst of alle. 1340 Hampole Pr. C. 4456 Gog and Magog..Þe werst folk þat in þe world duels. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 2098 Þer wonez a wyȝe in þat waste, þe worst vpon erþe. c 1386 Chaucer Shipman's T. 161 Myn housbonde is to me the worste man That euere was. ― Merch. Prol. 6, I have a wyf, the worste that may be. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 145 Pride, Which is the werste vice of alle. c 1440 Alphabet of Tales 57 He..went vnto a grete company of thevis; & he, þat was gude emang his brethir, was þer þe warste of all. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 523/1 Werst, or most badde, pessimus. a 1500 Mankind 297 in Macro Pl. 12 He ys worst of þem all. 1552 Huloet, Warste of all, nequissimus, pessimus. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. i. iv. 13 His worst fault is that he is giuen to prayer. 1607 ― Timon iv. ii. 39 Strange vnvsuall blood, When mans worst sinne is, He do's too much Good. 1709 Pope Ess. Crit. 579 The worst avarice is that of sense. 1737 ― Hor. Epist. ii. i. 37 Chaucer's worst ribaldry is learn'd by rote. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. 299 It will be impossible to keep the new tribunals clear of the worst spirit of faction. 1829 Lytton Devereux i. iii. 11 The worst passions are softened by triumph. 1918 Cornhill Mag. June 562 Able editors, who most often quoted what was worst and most Prussian in Carlyle. |
b. Qualifying an agent-noun or the like.
| c 1000 ælfric Hom. I. 66 Þu ne cuðest ðone soðan freond; and for ði þu beurne on ðone wyrstan feond. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 140 Homely enemyes ben þe worste. 1382 ― Ephes. vi. 16 The firy dartis of the worste enmye [tela nequissimi ignea]. 1435 Misyn Fire of Love 62 Þe fowlest worme, þe warst synner, þe lawest of men. 1675 Dryden Aurengz. i. (1676) 13 And yet believe your self, your own worst Foe. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop lvi, My worst enemies..never accused me of being meek. 1854 J. S. Mill Lett. (1910) II. App. A. 371 His worst flatterer is himself. 1862 H. Kingsley Ravenshoe xx, Lord Welter's worst enemies could not accuse him of driving slow. 1872 Morley Voltaire (1886) 12 The man of the world, that worst enemy of the world. |
2. a. Most grievous, painful, unlucky, uncomfortable, unpleasant, unfavourable, etc.
| c 825 Vesp. Psalter xxxiii. 22 Mors peccatorum pessima, deað synfulra se wyrresta. c 888 ælfred Boeth. xxxviii. §2 Ðæt is þæt sweotoloste tacen þæs mæstan yfeles on þisse weorulde, & þæs wyrrestan edleanes æfter þisse worulde. 971 Blickl. Hom. 245 Ic wæs ᵹetoᵹen to þæm wyrstan tintreᵹum. a 1122 O.E. Chron. an 1086 (Laud MS.) Swylc coðe com on mannum, þæt full neah æfre þe oðer man wearð on þam wyrrestan yfele, þet is on ðam drife. a 1200 Moral Ode 217 (Lamb. MS.) Þe þe deþ is wille mest, he haueð wurst mede. a 1300 Cursor M. 14555 Of all him fell þe werst lot. 1382 Wyclif Rev. xvi. 2 A wounde feers and worst [1388 werst, Vulg. vulnus saevum et pessimum]. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 349 False Egiste..Was demed to diverse peine, The worste that men cowthe ordeigne. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 145 Then come þay all wroþe and beten þys man on þe worst maner þat þay cowþe. c 1470 Henry Wallace ix. 174, I traist to God our werst dayis ar gane. 1484 Caxton Fables of Auian xxvii. (1889) 248 Of two euyls men ought euer to eschewe and flee the worst of bothe. 1552 Huloet, Worste tyme for a publycque weale, alienissimum rei publice tempus. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iv. 176 b, If he bee angry, and fierce, and round, he is worst of all. 1596 Edw. III, ii. i. 449 Poyson shewes worst in a golden cup. 1604 Shakes. Oth. iii. iii. 132 Giue thy worst of thoughts The worst of words. 1639 S. Du Verger tr. Camus' Admir. Events 123 He repaires to his owne house, meager, pale, and in the worst case that can be imagined. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 462 But pain is perfet miserie, the worst Of evils. 1697 Dryden æneis ix. 392 That hope alone will fortifie my Breast Against the worst of Fortunes and of Fears. 1719 De Foe Crusoe ii. (Globe) 498 We thought they ought to be every one of them put to the worst of Deaths. 1765 Gray Shakespeare 8 What awaits me now is worst of all. 1803 Med. Jrnl. IX. 527 The worst cases were discharged cured..in about an average period of twelve days. 1805 Ibid. XIV. 227 Bleeding had been attended with the worst consequences. 1809 Ibid. XXI. 410 The two worst wounds in the loins were foul and deep. 1866 Carlyle Remin. (1881) II. 240 It was by her address and invention that I got my sooterkin of a ‘study’ improved out of some of its worst blotches. 1881 W. Collins Black Robe I. 272 ‘How does Stella bear it?’ ‘In the worst possible way..In silence.’ |
b. Hardest, most difficult to deal with. Const. to and inf.
| c 1400 King Solomon's Bk. Wisdom 100 Þre þinges on erþe beþ þat men mowen nouȝth yknowe... þe werst is þe fierþe. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 35 Moost perylous kynde of lepry & worst to be cured. 1639 J. Clarke Parœm. 87 The best things are worst to come by. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xiv. 98 Our worst piece of work was now before us. |
c. U.S. colloq. phr. the worst kind; also used adverbially = most severely, most thoroughly. Also, the worst way.
| 1839 Marryat Diary Amer. Ser. i. II. 227 He loves Sal, the worst kind. 1859 Bartlett Dict. Amer. (ed. 2) 517 Worst kind. Used in such phrases as, ‘I gave him the worst kind of a licking.’ Also adverbially; as ‘I licked him the worst kind,’ i.e. in the worst manner possible, most severely. 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. 1914 G. Atherton Perch of Devil i. 55, I need new duds the worst way. |
d. worst-case adj. phr.: that is or pertains to the worst of a number of possibilities.
| 1964 R. F. Ficchi Electrical 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. 1985 Harper's Mag. Jan. 68/2 Pickens could spin off a royalty trust, perhaps sell the downstream operations... Such a move had been possible all along, but it was obviously the worse-case method of going about the task. |
3. a. Most wanting in the good qualities required or expected; least good, valuable, desirable, or successful; most inferior; meanest or poorest in quality; least considerable or important.
| c 1325 Sir Orfeo (Sisam) 367 Þe werst piler on to biholde Was al of burnist gold. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1570 The werst walle for to wale..Was faurty cubettes by coursse. c 1420 Sir Amadas (Weber) 345 The warst hors is worthe ten pownde Of hom all that here gon. 1470–85 Malory Arthur x. xvi. 439 The werst of them wille not be lyghtly matched of no knyghtes that I knowe lyuynge. 1493 Bury Wills (Camden) 82, iii syluer sponys of the werste sorte. 1540 Test. Ebor. VI. 113 To John Colson my worst chamlet dublet. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 38 marg., The more hast y⊇ wurst speede. 1562 Winȝet Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 114 The best geris tane away and sauld, and the werst reseruit. 1573–80 Tusser Husb. (1878) 49 Graie wheat is the grosest, yet good for the clay, though woorst for the market, as fermer may say. 1644 Milton Areop. (Arb.) 33 Naturall endowments haply not the worst for two and fifty degrees of northern latitude. 1654 Gayton Pleas. Notes iv. 226 He was secure, being on the worst side of fifty. 1696 Prideaux Lett. (Camden) 182 For then y⊇ University would have the disposall of their liveings, w{supc}{suph} now they give to y⊇ worst men they can find. 1732 Pope Ep. Bathurst 299 In the worst inn's worst room. 1740 E. Montagu Corr. (1906) I. 42 Living in a cottage on love is certainly the worst diet and the worst habitation one can find out. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones viii. vii, To charge the same for the very worst provisions, as if they were the best. 1786 Burns Auld Farmer's Salut. Mare xv, They drew me thretteen pund an' twa, The very warst. ― ‘My Father was a Farmer’ ii, My talents they were not the worst. 1825 Lytton Falkland 10 He was one of that class..who, with the best intentions, have made the worst citizens. 1836 Southey Lett. (1856) IV. 436 Burnaby Green was the worst of translators. 1839 Lane Arab. Nts. I. 127 One of the worst dogs is then slipped at the herd. 1855 Poultry Chron. III. 466 It was the worst [show] I ever saw, cattle included. |
† b. Phr. at (the) worst hand: (a) in a position of defeat; (b) most dearly or unprofitably; (c) on the lowest estimate. Obs.
| c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xiv. 352 He saw well that his folke was at the worste hande, soo made he to sowne the retrete. a 1604 Hanmer Chron. Irel. (1809) 380 They were driven at the worst hand to sell unto the mercilesse Merchants, their Cowes, Hackneyes [etc.]. 1621 Bp. R. Montagu Diatribæ 421 More ignorant barbarisme here, than in Paulus, who at worst hand hath related it in good and true Latine. |
† c. in worst part: in the most unfavourable aspect or construction. Obs.
| a 1530 J. Heywood Play of Love 1508 A louer best loued hath paynes in lyke wyse As here hath apered by sondry weys Which sheweth his case in wurst part to aryse. c 1611 Chapman Iliad xxiv. 124 Myself take that wrong he hath done To Hector in worst part of all. |
† d. to have the worst end (of the staff, etc.): cf. worse a. 3 c. Obs.
| 1564 T. Dorman Proof Cert. Articles Relig. 92 Yow maie haue cause to thincke, that yow holde by the worst ende of the staffe. 1597 Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 1204 Persave then, ȝe haif then The warst end of the trie. |
4. predicatively. Most unfortunate or badly off.
| 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iii. i. 126 Or to be worse then worst Of those, that lawlesse and incertaine thought Imagine howling. 1605 ― Lear iv. i. 2 To be worst, The lowest, and most deiected thing of Fortune. |
5. Comb., as worst-humoured, worst-intentioned, worst-natured, worst-surfaced, worst-willed adjs.
| c 1400 Apol. Loll. 105 Warst willid traytoris [malignissimi proditores]. 1656 Harrington Oceana (1658) 103 When I consider that our Country-men are none of the worst natur'd. 1678 Otway Friendship in F. iii. i. 25 Every body knows I am the worst natur'd fellow breathing. a 1680 Earl of Rochester Allus. Horace 60 The best good Man with the worst natur'd Muse. 1774 Goldsmith's Retal. Postscript, Thou best humour'd man with the worst humour'd Muse. 1896 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. |
B. n. (absol. uses of the adj.; usu. with the.)
1. the worst: a. one who is, or those who are, most objectionable or least estimable in moral character, behaviour, accomplishments, etc.
| 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. i. ii. 68 And let worse follow worse, till the worst of all follow him laughing to his graue. 1633 G. Herbert Temple, Church-porch st. 72 Judge not the preacher... The worst speak something good. 1757 W. Wilkie Epigoniad ix. 270 Favor, your sex and innocence will plead, Ev'n with the worst. 1827 Pollok Course T. i. 435 Lovely to the worst she [Virtue] seems. 1880 Tennyson First Quarrel xiii, An' she wasn't one o' the worst. 1898 Kipling Day's Work (1923) 363 Mr. Pepper himself, beyond question a man of the worst. |
† b. spec. The Devil. Cf. worse n. 1 b. Obs.
| 1388 Wyclif Ephes. vi. 16 The firy dartis of the worste [1382 the worste enmye]. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1961 Thou sot with vnsell, seruand of o þe werst! |
2. a. What is most objectionable or deplorable in regard to morals, taste, etc.
| 1390 Gower Conf. I. 174 How so his mouth be comely, His word sit evermore awry And seith the worste that he may. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 4656 He þat wayues ay þe werst & wirkis þe bettir. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) i. xvii. 14 He is euermore redy to do and say the werst. c 1480 Henryson Trial of Fox 10 Of euill cummis war, of war cummis werst of all. c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. cl. 8 In the very refuse of thy deeds, There is such strength and warrantise of skill, That in my minde thy worst all best exceeds. 1600 E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 65 For that we easily encline to the woorst. 1855 Lynch Letters to the Scattered vii. 95 Unchecked sin tending to the perfect worst in wretchedness because to the perfect worst in character. |
b. With of: What is most reprehensible or faulty in a person's character.
| 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. i. vi, Do you know the worst of your father? 1871 Geo. Eliot Middlem. xxxviii. II. 284 He's Whiggish himself..; that's the worst I know of him. 1897 Watts-Dunton Aylwin viii. ii, ‘We's all so modest in Primrose Court, that's the wust on us,’ replied the woman. |
3. a. What is most grievous, unlucky, painful, hard to bear; a state of things that is most undesirable or most to be dreaded.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 304 Beth nought agast..For hardely þe werste of þis is do. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 25 Bot yet the werste of everydel Is last. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 532 All scho dredis hire dede & doute for þe werst. c 1440 York Myst. xxxv. 212 Þe werste is paste. c 1470 Henry Wallace xi. 1222 Off Wallace end my selff wald leiff, for dredis To say the werst. 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 166 Prouyde for the woorst, the best wyll saue it selfe. 1577 Grange Golden Aphrod. I iv, N.O. (fearyng the worste). 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. i. ii. 96 And the worst fall that euer fell. 1605 ― Lear iv. i. 8 The Wretch that thou hast blowne vnto the worst, Owes nothing to thy blasts. 1605 B. Jonson Volpone v. xii, Take good heart, the worst is past, sir. You are dis-possest. 1631 Gouge God's Arrows v. §15. 428 Wisdome teacheth men to forecast the worst, that they may be provided against the worst. c 1660 J. Gwynne Milit. Mem. (1822) 84 We were prepar'd, as knowing the worst, to receave our doome bravely. 1665 in Verney Mem. (1907) II. 251, I beleeve she conceales the worst from you. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 269 Her Husband..Who guards her, or with her the worst endures. 1674 ― Samson 1570 Then take the worst in brief, Samson is dead. a 1796 Burns ‘In vain would Prudence’ 4 Above that world on wings of love I rise, I know its worst—and can that worst despise. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxv, Tell me the worst at once. 1796 F. Burney Camilla IV. 220 The best thing we can do, is to get off as fast as we can, for fear of the worst. 1853 Dickens Bleak Ho. xxxvi, I knew the worst now, and was composed to it. 1859 W. Collins Q. of Hearts ii, To face the worst that might happen. a 1873 Lytton Pausanias ii. i, I am prepared for the worst, even recall. 1893 J. Ashby-Sterry Naughty Girl vii. 68 She turned pale..and fancied the very worst. |
b. A course of action ill-advised in the highest degree.
| 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 767 Wherefore me thinketh it were not the worst to send to the Quene some honourable and trustie personage. 1591 Savile Tacitus 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. |
c. The worst part, degree, or phase of.
| 1615 Sandys Trav. 138 Hauing with two daies rest refreshed them, now to begin the worst of their journey. 1889 ‘J. S. Winter’ Mrs. Bob xxii. (1891) 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. |
d. the worst is: the most painful or unfortunate thing or circumstance is (that{ddd}). Also the worst of (something), the worst of it, is, etc.
| 1581 G. Pettie Guazzo's Civ. Conv. i. (1586) A 6 b, The woorst is, they thinke that impossible to be done in our Tongue. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. xv. 50 The worst of all was that more then 13000 persons remayned dead. 1682 Bunyan Holy War (1905) 379 Now the worst on't was, a Chirurgeon was scarce in Mansoul. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 184 ¶5 The worst of it is, that the drowsy Part of our Species is chiefly made up of very honest Gentlemen. 1762 Sterne Tr. Shandy vi. xviii, And 'twill be lucky, if that's the worst on't. 1809 Malkin Gil Blas i. ii. (Rtldg.) 6 But paying through the nose was not the worst of it. 1835 Dickens Sk. Boz, Parish ii, 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 Rock Ch. of our Fathers i. v. (1903) I. 293 But this is not the worst of having a church too near the houses of a small town. 1853 Mrs. Gaskell Cranford xiv, Here I broke down utterly... The worst was, all the ladies cried in concert. 1873 Mrs. 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. |
e. Phr. to come, † fall to the worst; † to go all of the worst.
| 1390 Gower Conf. II. 237 Ful many a worthi kniht It hadde assaied,..And evere it fell hem to the worste. Ibid. 380 Falle it to beste or to the werste. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 212 b, And therefore the matter gooeth not all of the wurst, when the lighter maladie..expelleth and drieueth out the greater. 1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting 253 Things never come to the worst but they mend. |
f. if the worst come(s) to the worst: if things fall out as badly as possible or conceivable.
| 1597 E. S. Discov. Knts. Poste C 3 b, If the worst come to the worst, it is but the hiering of a hackney to ryde to London. 1622 Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzman d'Alf. i. 28 Had the worst come to the worst, yet could we not haue wanted meate and drinke. 1667 Dryden & Dk. Newcastle Sir M. Mar-all ii. (1668) 14 Why, if the worst come to the worst, he leaves you an honest woman. 1700 T. Brown Amusem. Ser. & Com. 108 Let the Worst come to'th Worst. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 201 If the worse came to the worst, I could but die. 1821 Galt Ann. Parish xiii. (1895) 93 Which would have been a witness for the elders, had the worst come to the worst. 1904 S. Weyman Abb. Vlaye iii, If the worst comes to the worst, I can aid him. |
† g. pl. worsts = the things that are worst (in phr. worst of worsts). poet. Obs.
| 1609 B. Jonson Epicoene v. iv, This is worst of all worst worsts! that hell could haue deuis'd. 1624 Quarles Job Militant xv. 37 But what is worst of worsts, (Lord) often I Haue cry'd to Thee, a stranger to my cry. |
4. What is least good in quality or least valuable; the most inferior kind or lowest quality (of an article).
| ? a 1400 Stanzaic Life of Christ 2344 But Caynes cornes God forsok, that of the worst made his offryng. 1509 Will in Archæol. LXVI. 314 Item ij grayles oon of the best another of the worst. 1573–80 Tusser Husb. (1878) 125 Paie Gods part furst, and not of the wurst. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. ¶ iiij, The very woorst of all being of great vertue and value. 1587 Harrison England ii. vi. (1877) 149 Being sure that they [the clergy] would neither drinke nor be serued of the worst. 1615 Sandys Trav. 136 The merchants brought with them many Negroes; not the worst of their merchandizes. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1671) 215 The worst of Christ, even his chaff, is better than the world's corn. |
5. at (the) 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. Similarly at one's worst.
| 1532 More Confut. Tyndale Wks. 1557 fol. 611/2 That they shalbe no woorse, parde, not when they be at y⊇ very worst, then faithful harlottes. a 1586 Sidney Astr. & Stella xcv. 2 Yet sighes, deare sighes, indeede true friends you are, That do not leaue your best friend at the wurst. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, v. ii. 250 Thou hast me, if thou hast me, at the worst. 1605 ― Macb. iv. ii. 24 Things at the worst will cease, or else climbe vpward, To what they were before. 1605 ― Lear iv. i. 27 Who is't can say I am at the worst? 1671 Milton P.R. iii. 209, I would be at the worst; worst is my Port. 1771 T. Hull Sir W. Harrington (1797) III. 122 Mrs. Stanhope was at the worst. |
| 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. xxiii. §6 A man leaveth things at worst, and depriveth himself of means to make them better. 1639 J. Clarke Parœm. 122 When the world is at worst it will mend. |
| 1845 H. Martineau Autobiog. (1877) II. 362 Your people (never beginning to do their best till they are at their worst). 1846 Landor Imag. Conv., Southey & Landor Wks. 1853 II. 168/1 Unhappily Italian poetry in the age of Milton was almost at its worst. 1872 Morley Voltaire (1886) 12 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 Saintsbury Hist. Eliz. Lit. 284 Heywood, even at his worst, is a writer whom it is impossible not to like. |
b. Even on the most unfavourable view or estimate or surmise.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus v. 96 Somwhat shal I seye; For at the worste it may yit shorte our weye. 1729 P. Walkden Diary (1866) 73 At the worst, I would subscribe to take half a quarter. 1771 Junius Lett. liv. 288 At the worst, what do they amount to. 1824 Southey Let. to May 29 Aug., He had seasons of good-nature, and at the worst was rather to be dreaded than disliked. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop ix, 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 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. |
| 1598 Florio, Alpeggio andare, at woorst, if the woorst fall out. 1634 Milton Comus 484 Or els som neighbour Woodman, or at worst, Som roaving Robber calling to his fellows. 1667 ― P.L. ii. 100 If our substance..cannot cease to be, we are at worst On this side nothing. 1670 Dryden 1st Pt. Conq. Granada v. ii, But 'tis, at worst, but so consumed by fire, As cities are, that by their falls rise higher. 1758 J. Blake Plan Mar. Syst. 36 He is at worst sure of wholesome bread. 1778 Sir J. Reynolds 7 Disc. 215 So that not much harm will be done at worst. 1837 Landor Pentam. i. Wks. 1853 II. 308/1 Brutus and Cassius, at worst, but slew an atheist. 1881 M. E. Braddon Asph. I. vii. 209 This kind of thing went on for another week of weather which at worst was showery. |
6. (to do) the worst or one's worst: the utmost evil or harm possible. Hence occas. one's worst, without do.
| c 1489 Caxton Blanchardyn 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]. c 1489 ― Sonnes of Aymon iii. 78 It is the man among all oure enmyes, that worste dooth to vs. 1528 Star Chamber Cases (Selden) 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. 1553 R. Ascham Germany Wks. (1904) 133 Let his enemies do to him the worst they could. 1567 Horestes 385 (Brandl) Drawe thy sword, vylyne, yf thou be a man, And then do the worst, that euer thou can. 1568 North Gueuara's Diall Pr. iv. xiv. 150 b, The woorst they can doo, they can but murmur. 1608 Shakes. Per. iii. i. 40, I do not feare the flaw, It hath done to me the worst. 1869 Morris Earthly Par. iii. Lov. Gudrun (end), I did the worst to him I loved the most. |
| (b) 1390 Gower Conf. III. 311 Ha, thou fortune, I thee deffie, Nou hast thou do to me thi werste. 1470–85 Malory Arthur x. lvii. 511 Wete ye wel that I am sire Tristram de lyones, and now doo your werste. 1605 Shakes. Macb. iii. ii. 24 Treason ha's done his worst. 1616 T. Draxe Bibl. Scholast. 30 A fig for him. Let him doe his worst. 1639 J. Taylor (Water P.) Pt. Summers Travels 43 And there⁓fore now you with all double diligence, doe endevour to doe your best to doe your worst. 1650 T. Vaughan Anthroposophia 27 When Death hath done her worst. 1653 Walton Angler iv. 115 Let the winde sit in what corner it will, and do its worst. 1713 Addison Guard. No. 102 ¶8 To defie the Cold and Rain, and let the Weather do its worst. 1781 Cowper Table Talk 729 Satire has long since done his best; and curst And loathsome ribaldry has done his worst. 1842 Browning Pied Piper xi, You threaten us, fellow? Do your worst, Blow your pipe there till you burst! 1882 Besant All Sorts xxxii. (1898) 226 Now you may go away and do your worst. |
| (c) 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iii. iii. 5 Therefore to our best mercy giue your selues, Or like to men prowd of destruction, Defie vs to our worst. 1611 ― Wint. T. iii. ii. 180 What old or newer Torture Must I receiue? whose euery word deserues To taste of thy most worst. |
7. a. The harshest view or judgement; as to speak or think the worst (of a person or thing).
| c 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. cxix. C. iv, Let princes talk, And talk their worst of me. 1611 Shakes. Cymb. ii. iii. 159 She's my good Lady, and will concieue, I hope, But the worst of me. 1632 Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 63, I hold my selfe greatly injured of such as judge of me rather the worst than the best. 1871 Ruskin Fors Clav. ix. 2 The worst he can venture to say is, that it is ridiculous. |
† b. to take or wrest to the worst, to take at worst: to put the most unfavourable construction upon. Obs. Cf. worse n. 3 d.
| 1535 Coverdale Prov. x. 32 The lippes of the rightuous are occupied in acceptable thinges, but the mouth of the vngodly taketh them to the worst. 1593 G. Harvey Pierce's Superer. Wks. (Grosart) II. 52 Let me not bee mistaken by sinister construction, that wreasteth and wrigleth euery sillable to the worst. 1607 Shakes. Timon v. i. 181, I cannot choose but tell him that I care not, And let him tak't at worst. |
c. to make the worst of: to regard or represent in the most unfavourable light.
| 1796 F. Burney Camilla II. 162 But it's over, you know; so what signifies making the worst of it? 1853 Dickens Bleak Ho. xxxvi, Now I was hot, and had made the worst of it, instead of the best. 1877 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. |
8. Defeat in a contest. (Cf. worse n. 4.) † a. to put to the worst: to defeat, overcome. Also to put at, drive to the worst; to give (one) the worst on't. Obs.
| c 1460 Three 15th C. Chron. (Camden) 59 She..put him dyverse tymes at the worste. 1574 Hellowes Guevara's Ep. (1584) 328 They liued by robbing and pilling one from another, euermore driuing the weakest to the worst. 1591 Percivall Sp. Dict., Destro{cced}o, putting to the woorst, putting to flight. 1598 R. Bernard Terence, Andria i. iii. (1607) 20 Me & illum herus pessundedit. My master hath put him and me to the worst. 1644 Vicars Jehovah-Jireh 194 Our left wing being thus put to the worst. 1684 Bunyan Pilgr. ii. (1900) 229 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. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 10 Mar. 1687 The party were exceedingly put to the worst by the preaching and writing of the Protestants. 1726 De Foe Hist. Devil i. v. (1840) 69 Putting Michael and all the faithful army to the worst. |
b. to have the worst: to be defeated. † Similarly to go or come to, come or go by, come off by, go away with, come off with the worst.
| 1529 Morte Darthur i. ix. (W. de W.) Fyghte not with the swerde..til that ye see ye go to y⊇ worste [Caxton vnto the wers]. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. i. ii. 14, I should knocke you first, And then I know after who comes by the worst. 1597 Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 90 His owne side came to the worst, doing more scath to themselues than to their enemies. 1605 London Prodigal i. i. 51 He is a mighty brawler, and comes commonly by the worst. 1613 E. Hoby Counter-snarle 24 Hee which bringeth a great Armie into the field, without victuall or munition, is like to goe by the worste. 1639 [see go v. 57 c]. c 1645 Howell Lett. (1650) I. ii. 29 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. 1710 E. Ward Brit. Hud. 26 Those who laugh'd aloud at first, At last may chance to come by th' worst. Ibid. 116 Those who by reviling first Begot the Fray, came off by th' worst. 1834 Godwin Lives Necrom. 184 In these wars, the Peris generally came off with the worst. |
| 1598 R. Bernard Terence, Andria ii. v. (1607) 43 Nostræ parti timeo. I feare our side will haue the worst. 1670 G. H. Hist. Cardinals iii. iii. 300 There happen'd a fray betwixt the Souldiers..and the Halberdiers.., the last of which had the worst of it. 1709 Mrs. Manley Secret Mem. (1720) III. 166 The King of the Bulgari made a troublesome, uncertain War upon the Empire, which sometimes had the better, oftentimes the worst. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xlvi, George..bragged..about his valour in the fight,..in which he decidedly had the worst. |
▪ II. worst, v.
(wɜːst)
[f. worst a.]
† 1. trans. To make worse, impair, damage, inflict loss upon: = worse v. 2, worsen v. 1. Obs.
| 1602 Harington in Nugæ Ant. (1804) I. 321 Her betterring the state of my father's fortune (which I have, alass! so much worsted). 1648 Earl Westmoreland Otia Sacra (1879) 22 God makes all things for good; 'tis Man Sowers and worsts Creation. 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. Pref. ¶16 If I be intemperate I grow sick and worsted in some faculty. 1682 Penn in Clarkson Mem. (1849) xviii. 115 Thy father's public spirit had worsted his estate. 1728 W. Smith Ann. Univ. Coll. 88 By which the College may be said to be wosted [sic] above 3l. 10s. per Annum. a 1741 Tull Horse-hoeing Husb. ii. (1822) 26 A pear grafted upon a quince may be mended but if grafted upon a white thorn will be worsted. Ibid. xix. 274 note, But suppose I had worsted my substance, are there not many who..have lessened their estates, though they have never practised agriculture? 1742 Richardson Pamela III. 26 To better the Condition of the Tenants at the same time, at least not to worst them. 1748 ― Clarissa (1811) VII. 341 Suppose you kill one another, will the matter be bettered or worsted by that? 1745 tr. Columella's Husb. ii. xiv, Nor is there any doubt but the land is annoyed and worsted [infestetur]..by these seeds. 1783 Pott Chirurg. Wks. II. 69 He may be much worsted by the experiment. |
† b. intr. To grow worse, deteriorate. Obs. rare.
| 1781 P. Beckford Th. Hunting (1802) 314 We perceived that our scent worsted, and were going to stop the hounds. c 1815 Jane Austen Persuasion (1818) I. i. 10 Anne haggard, Mary coarse, every face in the neighbourhood worsting. |
2. trans. To defeat, overcome, get the better of (an adversary) in a fight or battle.
| 1636 R. Brathwait Rom. Emp. 20 After many battailes Otho being worsted..slew himselfe. 1657 Earl of Monmouth tr. Paruta's Pol. Disc. 187 He got a notable Victory, worsting a great many of the Enemy with a much lesser number. 1663 Butler Hud. i. ii. 878 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 Priestley Inst. Relig. (1782) II. 194 The Syrians having been worsted in the hilly country. 1849 Grote Greece ii. liv. (1862) IV. 527 A battle ensued, in which that prince was completely worsted. 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. I. xxix. 391 He turned on them and worsted them badly before making his escape. 1886 Child Eng. & Sc. Ballads II. 441/2 The page worsts his accuser in a duel. 1889 Morris Ho. Wolfings 18 In forty fights hast thou foughten, and been worsted but in four. 1902 J. F. Rusling European Days & Ways 299 Blücher now took pleasure in getting even with Napoleon for worsting him at Ligny. |
b. To defeat in argument, in a suit, attempt, etc.; to outdo, prove better than; to quell (an attack). Freq. in pass.
| 1651 Baxter Inf. Bapt. 209 Lest if you were silent the people should think you were worsted. 1654 Whitlock Zootomia 150 How are al Lyricks out-gon by Davids Harp and how do Salomons Proverbs (for contracted sense) worst Seneca? 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. v. 229 And where His Highnesse was worsted or wearied, Arch⁓bishop Cranmer supplied His place. 1664 Butler Hud. ii. ii. 520 Remember how in Arms and Politicks We still have worsted all your holy Tricks. 1693 Humours Town 20 If I must be worsted, it shall be in good Christian English. 1694 Kettlewell Comp. for Persecuted 69 Who art ofttimes pleased to permit a righteous Cause to be worsted. 1791 Boswell Johnson an. 1781 (Oxf. ed.) II. 414 Johnson could not brook appearing to be worsted in argument. 1802 M. Edgeworth Irish Bulls ix, I could not bear to go away worsted, and borne down as it were by the English faction. 1868 Milman St. Paul's iii. 70, He appealed to Rome, but was worsted in his appeal. 1881 M. E. Braddon Asph. I. v. 136 In any skirmish with this young lady he was likely to be worsted. 1887 Ruskin Præterita II. 273 [I was] in the habit of feeling worsted in everything I tried of original work. 1911 Rose Pitt & Gt. War x. 234 In this secret chaffering Pitt and Grenville were worsted. |
Hence ˈworsting vbl. n.
| 1842 J. H. Newman Ch. Fathers 60 We might have conquered by a worsting which was honourable and dignified. 1883 R. Broughton Belinda i. ix, The dispute ends in the worsting of the person to whom alone it is of any consequence to succeed. |
▪ III. worst, adv.
(wɜːst)
Forms: α. 1 wyrst, wyrrest, wierst, 2–3 wurst, 4–5 worste, 6 woorst, 4– worst. β. 1–2 wærst, 3–6 werst (3, 6 Sc. verst, Orm. werrst, 4 werist), 4–5 werste, 6– Sc. warst.
[OE. wyrrest, wyrst, wierst = ON. (Icel., Norw.) verst (Sw. värst, Da. værst). Cf. worst a.]
a. In a manner, or to a degree, that is most (or extremely) bad or evil.
| c 897 ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xxxii. 209 Ðonne hie wenen ðæt hie hæbben betst ᵹedon, ðæt we him ðonne secgen ðæt hie hæbben wierst [Cott. wyrst] ᵹedon. a 1000 Boeth. Metr. xxxiv. 60 Þa ofermodan oðre rican ðe þis weriᵹe folc wyrst tuciað. a 1122 O.E. Chron. an. 1087 (Laud MS.) [He] dyde ᵹit eallra wærst ofer eall þæt land. a 1200 St. Marher. 14 Þis beoð þe wepnen þet me wurst wundeð. c 1200 Ormin 4250 Uss birrþ clippenn all aweȝȝ Þe flæshess fule wille, Þatt allre werrst & allre mast Werdeþþ þe wrecche sawle. a 1300 K. Horn 68 Of alle wymmanne Wurst was godhild þanne. a 1300 Cursor M. 21450 [I shall treat him] Þe werst [Gött. werist] þat euer i can or mai. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2809 Þat me greueþ werst. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 370 As þe peple of israel wern werst gouernyd undir her prestis. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 121 Thus he, which love hadde in desdeign, Worste of all othre was besein. Ibid. II. 15 Whan that he worst ferde. 1549 Compl. Scotl. vii. 69 The thrid part of hyr mantil..vas verst grathit. c 1560 A. Scott Poems xvi. 46 Thay cary victuallis to þe toun That werst dois dyne. 1575 Gascoigne Glasse Govt. Wks. 1910 II. 11, I am not the worst furnished of a servaunt with this good fellow. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. iv. iii. 106 When thou did'st hate him worst. 1629 N. Carpenter Architophel ii. (1640) 66 Oftentimes he that can best act, can worst pen his own part. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iv. 142 The Turkes Sabboth is worst kept of all. 1786 Burns Twa Dogs 205 But Gentlemen, an' Ladies warst, Wi' ev'n down want o' wark are curst. 1787 ― John Barleycorn xi, But a miller us'd him worst of all, For he crush'd him between two stones. ― ‘My Father was a Farmer’ iii, And when my hope was at the top, I still was worst mistaken. 1888 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. |
b. With a vb. of liking, loving, allowing, pleasing, etc.: Least well, least.
| 971 Blickl. Hom. 195 Oft hit ᵹesæleþ þæt his æhta weorþaþ on þæs onwealde þe he ær on his life wyrrest uþe. c 1375 Cursor M. 4386 (Fairf.), I salle þe make wiþ myne housbande þe werst loued [Cott. luue] of alle þis lande. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) iv. xxxvii. 84 Oftyme suche maystres as ben of lest reputacion ben mooste necessary, and worst mowe ben myssed. a 1568 R. Ascham Scholem. ii. (Arb.) 153 Cæsar and Cicero, whose puritie was neuer foiled, no not by the sentence of those, that loued them worst. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iii. (1586) 150 Swine of al other beastes can woorst away with hunger. 1608 Shakes. Per. iv. iii. 21 Of all the faults beneath the heauens, the Gods doe like this worst. 1613 ― Hen. VIII, v, iii. 78, I cry your Honour mercie; you may worst Of all this Table say so. 1634 J. Levett Ordering Bees 8 Bees of all other creatures can worst away with any great noyse. 1786 Burns ‘What ails ye now’ xii, But, Sir, this pleas'd them warst ava. |
c. Comb., as worst-affected, worst-bred, worst-damaged, worst-deserving, worst-favoured (Sc. worst-faurd), worst-formed, worst-governed, worst-looking, worst-managed, worst-manned, worst-paid, worst-used adjs. worst-seller, a book distinguished commercially by its low sales (opp. best seller s.v. best adv. 3 b); the writer of such a book; also worst-selling a.
| 1556 Aurelio & Isab. (1608) F 5 The pehenne (the whiche of price unto him without comparison is the worste faverdeste). 1701 Rowe Amb. Step-Mother ii. i, What Titles had they had,..if Nature had not Strove hard to thrust the worst-deserving first? 1721 Amherst Terræ Fil. xxxii. 170 His majesty's worst-affected subjects. 1751 Chesterfield Lett. (1774) II. 103 The worst-bred man in Europe, if a lady let fall her fan, would certainly take it up and give it her. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II, 283 In the worst-formed bodies..there lies an immortal spirit. 1813 Hogg Queen's Wake 74 The warst-faurd wyfe on the shoris of Fyfe Is cumlye comparet wi' thee. 1831 Scott Ct. Rob. xxiii, Waiting for the slowest and worst manned vessels. 1835 Dickens Sk. Boz, Streets—Morning, The hardest worked, the worst paid, and too often, the worst used class of the community. 1853 ― Bleak Ho. ix, I thought him the worst-looking dog I had ever beheld. 1857 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. II. 318 The worst-used woman I ever knew. 1871 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. 1924 O. Sitwell Triple Fugue 73 Could a written testimonial be obtained from the shades of..Dryden,..Gray, Keats..and from their heirs, the worst-sellers of to-day, it is probable that the purport..would be found..to be remarkably alike in every case. 1925 V. Woolf Common Reader 262 There is..the best-seller public and the worst-seller public. 1933 T. E. Lawrence Let. 17 Dec. (1938) 783, I confess to a lively apprehension of that potential worst-seller of yours. 1956 A. Huxley Adonis & Alphabet 120 If there were no ‘angels’, there would be no worst-selling literature to leaven the enormous lump of intellectual and artistic conformity. 1980 ‘J. Gash’ Spend Game vi. 65 A tatty copy of the world's worst-seller like Dr Chase's book. |