Etymology : Middle English
Pronunciation : bad
Function : adjective
Date : 14th century
1. something that is more unfavorable; more unfavorable situation. admore awfully; more gravely; to a greater extent. worse\worse\, n.
2. loss; disadvantage; defeat. "judah was put to the worse before israel.".
3. 2. that which is worse; something less good; as, think not the worse of him for his enterprise.worse \worse\, adv. [as. wiers, wyrs; akin to os. & ohg. wirs, icel. verr, goth, wa?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. xix. 9.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?rre, dan. v?rre, goth. wa?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. [she] was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. --mark v.
4. evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse. iii.
5. 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."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.worse adj.
6. (comparative of `bad') inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability; "this road is worse than the first one we took"; "the road is in worse shape than it was"; "she was accused of worse things than cheating and lying" [ant: better].
7. changed for the worse in health or fitness; "i feel worse today"; "her cold is worse" [syn: worsened] [ant: better] something inferior in quality or condition or effect: "for better or for worse"; "accused of cheating and lying and worse" (comparative of `ill') in a less effective or successful or desirable manner; "he did worse on the second exam".
8. 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.
9. Loss; disadvantage; defeat.
10. That which is worse; something less good; as, think not the worse of him for his enterprise.
11. In a worse degree; in a manner more evil or bad.
12. To make worse; to put disadvantage; to discomfit; to worst.
13. See Worst, v. something inferior in quality or condition or effect; "for better or for worse"; "accused of cheating and lying and worse" inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability; "this road is worse than the first one we took"; "the road is in worse shape than it was"; "she was accused of worse things than cheating and lying" changed for the worse in health or fitness; "I feel worse today"; "her cold is worse" in a less effective or successful or desirable manner; "he did worse on the second exam".
14. 1. Worse is the comparative of bad.
15. Worse is the comparative of badly.
16. Worse is used to form the comparative of compound adjectives beginning with `bad' and `badly.' For example, the comparative of `badly off' is `worse off'.
17. If a situation goes from bad to worse, it becomes even more unpleasant or unsatisfactory. For the past couple of years my life has gone from bad to worse.
18. If a situation changes for the worse, it becomes more unpleasant or more difficult. The grandparents sigh and say how things have changed for the worse.
19. If a person or thing is the worse for something, they have been harmed or badly affected by it. If they are none the worse for it, they have not been harmed or badly affected by it. Father came home from the pub very much the worse for drink They are all apparently fit and well and none the worse for the fifteen hour journey.
20. for better or worse: see:
better.