I. ˈwərst, ˈwə̄st, ˈwəist adjective, superlative of bad , or of ill
Etymology: Middle English worste, werste, from Old English wyrresta, wyrsta, wierresta, wersta; akin to Old High German wirsisto worst, Old Norse versta; superlative (with the suffix represented by Old English -st, -est ) of the root found in Old English wiersa worse — more at worse , -est
1. : most bad, evil, ill, or corrupt : most reprehensible
his worst fault
man's worst sin
the worst villain
cottages of the worst landlords had at least fresher air than the overcrowded slums — G.B.Shaw
2.
a. : most unfavorable, unpleasant, or unlucky : most painful or grievous : least agreeable or desirable
the worst fate that can befall any nation — Kemp Malone
the periodic famines … lost their worst terrors — G.M.Trevelyan
this is their worst problem — Darcy Ribeiro
his worst enemies … admitted that he had thrown out the grafters — R.E.Merriam
the worst part of the arctic winter — Brigitte Gerland
the worst kind of indigestion — C.S.Forester
b. : most unsuitable, faulty, unattractive, or ill-conceived
has the worst manners she ever saw
usually chooses the worst time to visit
their latest decision is probably the worst step they can take
c. : least skillful or efficient : doing work most poorly
the worst plumber you can hire
the worst sort of equipment for the job at hand
3. : most wanting in quality, value, or material condition
unaccountably choosing the worst land of the tract
his house is not the worst for being built of secondhand lumber
poor planning and equipment may well bring about the worst results
•
- the worst way
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English worste, werste, from worste, werste, adjective
1. : something that is worst: as
a. : something that is most reprehensible or morally objectionable
can usually be expected to do and say the worst
so pure of heart that his worst is another man's good
b. : something that is most unfavorable, unpleasant, or unlucky : a state most painful or grievous or least desirable or agreeable
may as well learn the worst
prepare for the worst
the great storm doing its worst
in his sulk he can be seen at his worst
the worst is yet to come
c. : something that is most wanting in quality, value, or material condition
can be counted on to choose the worst
examples of the worst and the best of the period's architecture — American Guide Series: Minnesota
of all the faulty pieces of work he selected only a few of the worst
d. : the greatest degree of ill or badness
if worse comes to worst
2. : one who is most reprehensible or deficient in moral character or being
the worst of a vicious lot
of all the dishonest politicians, he is the worst
III. adverb, superlative of bad , or of ill
Etymology: Middle English worst, werst, from Old English wyrst, wyrrest, wierst, superlative of wyrs, wiers worse
: to the most extreme degree of badness or inferiority : in a manner most bad, unpleasant, unfortunate, harmful
the mining centers suffered worst — George Farwell
groups who need the subsidies worst lose out — T.W.Arnold
the worst dressed person present
IV. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: worst (I)
1. chiefly archaic : worsen
2.
a. : to get the better of in a fight, conflict, or contest : defeat , overthrow
one who had been personally worsted in combat — A.C.Whitehead
had been worsted in his first encounter with partisan government — Tremaine McDowell
the champion worsts all his opponents
b. : to defeat in a debate, argument, or suit : outdo , best
could so easily worst … his mother in the medium of words — E.K.Brown
seeking to worst his detractor in a court of law