- Worse
- Worse Worse, a., compar. of {Bad}. [OE. werse, worse, wurse,
AS. wiersa, wyrsa, a comparative with no corresponding
positive; akin to OS. wirsa, OFries. wirra, OHG. wirsiro,
Icel. verri, Sw. v["a]rre, Dan. v["a]rre, Goth. wa['i]rsiza,
and probably to OHG. werran to bring into confusion, E. war,
and L. verrere to sweep, sweep along. As bad has no
comparative and superlative, worse and worst are used in lieu
of them, although etymologically they have no relation to
bad.]
Bad, ill, evil, or corrupt, in a greater degree; more bad or
evil; less good; specifically, in poorer health; more sick;
-- used both in a physical and moral sense.
[1913 Webster]
Or worse, if men worse can devise. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
[She] was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. --Mark v. 26. [1913 Webster]
Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse. --2 Tim. iii. 13. [1913 Webster]
There are men who seem to believe they are not bad while another can be found worse. --Rambler. [1913 Webster]
``But I love him.'' ``Love him? Worse and worse.'' --Gay. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.