worst English · revision 3039

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 899, Alfred|origins=gem-pro *wirsistaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|werste]], worste,^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) [[inh|ang|wyrresta]], wierresta,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*wirsistaz]],^(Etymonline) a superlative formed with the suffix of [[-est]] on the root of [[worse]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) Its cognates include Old Frisian wersta, Old Saxon wirsista, Old High German wirsisto and Old Norse verstr.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Etymonline takes the root to [[ine-pro|*wers-|t=to confuse, mix up]], the source of [[war]].^(Etymonline) The adverb is Old English wyrst, the superlative of wyrs “worse”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and the noun and the verb are from the adjective.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English wyrresta is found before 899, in the writings of Alfred;^(Barnhart 1988) the OED's first example, “most grievous, most unfavourable”, is from about 825.^(OED 1989) In oldest use it meant “most evil, wicked or sinful”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By the late 12th century it also meant “most inferior in quality or value”.^(Etymonline) The noun, “that which is worst”, is from about 1200,^(Etymonline) about 1385 in Chaucer's ''Troilus and Criseyde''.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Worst enemy'' is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) ''to do one's worst'' from the late 15th century,^(Etymonline) and ''if worst comes to worst'' by the 1590s.^(Etymonline) The verb first meant “to make worse, damage”, from 1602,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and “to defeat, get the better of” from the 1630s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''In the worst way'', “very much”, is American, from 1839,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and ''worst-case'' is from 1964.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 825 – most grievous.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 899 – Old English wyrresta.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – noun, that which is worst.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – ''worst enemy''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – ''if worst comes to worst''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1602 – verb, to damage.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1636 – verb, to defeat.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1839 – ''in the worst way''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1964 – ''worst-case''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Most [[bad]]: of the lowest quality, or the most unpleasant, severe or harmful, as the superlative of ''bad'' and ''ill''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Least suitable or desirable.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In the worst way; most badly.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To the greatest degree: ''the worst affected''.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The worst person, thing or state: ''the worst is over''.^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(dated)'' To get the better of; to [[defeat]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[worst-case]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[worse]]

+ * [[bad]]

+ * [[ill]]

+ * [[war]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}