Worse \Worse\, n.
1. Loss; disadvantage; defeat. ``Judah was put to the worse
before Israel.'' --Kings xiv. 12.
2. That which is worse; something less good; as, think not
the worse of him for his enterprise.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |
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.
Or worse, if men worse can devise. --Chaucer.
[She] was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse.
--Mark v. 26.
Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse. --2
Tim. iii. 13.
There are men who seem to believe they are not bad
while another can be found worse. --Rambler.
``But I love him.'' ``Love him? Worse and worse.''
--Gay.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |
Worse \Worse\, adv. [AS. wiers, wyrs; akin to OS. & OHG. wirs,
Icel. verr, Goth, wa['i]rs; a comparative adverb with no
corresponding positive. See Worse, a.]
In a worse degree; in a manner more evil or bad.
Now will we deal worse with thee than with them. --Gen.
xix. 9.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |
Worse \Worse\, v. t. [OE. wursien, AS. wyrsian to become worse.]
To make worse; to put disadvantage; to discomfit; to worst.
See Worst, v.
Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to
better us and worse our foes. --Milton.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |
Bad \Bad\ (b[a^]d), a. [Compar. Worse; superl. Worst. ]
[Probably fr. AS. b[ae]ddel hermaphrodite; cf. b[ae]dling
effeminate fellow.]
Wanting good qualities, whether physical or moral; injurious,
hurtful, inconvenient, offensive, painful, unfavorable, or
defective, either physically or morally; evil; vicious;
wicked; -- the opposite of good; as, a bad man; bad
conduct; bad habits; bad soil; bad health; bad crop; bad
news.
Note: Sometimes used substantively.
The strong antipathy of good to bad. --Pope.
Syn: Pernicious; deleterious; noxious; baneful; injurious;
hurtful; evil; vile; wretched; corrupt; wicked; vicious;
imperfect.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |