worse English · revision 2709

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725, Beowulf|origins=gem-pro *wersizô}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /wɜːs/, US /wɝːs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|werse]], wurse, worse,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|wiersa|t=more evil, culpable, unpleasant]], wyrsa,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*wersizô|alt=*wers-izon-]],^(Etymonline) the comparative of [[ine-pro|*wers-|t=to confuse, mix up]], according to Watkins,^(Etymonline) the source also of Old High German werran “to confuse” and of [[war]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) It is cognate with Old Frisian werra, Old Saxon wirsa, Old High German wirsiro, Old Norse verri and Gothic wairsiza.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) The adverb is Old English wyrs.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English, about 725 in ''Beowulf'',^(Barnhart 1988) with the meanings “more wicked”, “more harmful or unpleasant” and “of lower quality”, all first quoted in the OED from about 888.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It serves as the comparative of [[bad]], [[evil]] and [[ill]], and as the opposite of [[better]].^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Of things, “in less good condition, less valuable”, it is by about 1200.^(Etymonline) The Middle English form werse was altered to worse by 1340, in the ''Ayenbite of Inwyt''.^(Barnhart 1988) The noun, “that which is more evil”, is from Old English, and “that which is more unpleasant or inferior” by the early 14th century.^(Etymonline) ''For better or for worse'' is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and ''change for the worse'' from about 1400.^(Etymonline) ''Worse and worse'' is from 1154.^(OED 1989) Old English had a verb wyrsian, “to become worse”, which survived in non-standard use;^(SOED 2002) it has been replaced by ''worsen''.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English wiersa.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1154 – ''worse and worse''.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1200 – of things, in poorer condition.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1340 – the spelling ''worse''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – ''for better or for worse''.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – ''for the worse''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of poorer quality, condition or effect; more [[inferior]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # More [[severe]] or unfavorable; less desirable.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # In poorer health; more ill.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In a worse way; to a worse degree.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something worse: ''a change for the worse''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[worst]]

+ * [[worsen]]

+ * [[war]]

+ * [[bad]]

+ * [[better]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}