Forms: α. 1 wyrresta, wyrsta, wirresta, wierresta, (wyrest); 1 Northumb. wurresta, 2–6 wurst, 3–4 wrst; 3–6 worste, 3– worst, 6 woorst, 9 vulgar wust. β. 1 werresta, 1–2 wersta, 2–6 werst(e, 3 wer(r)est, 4 Sc. verste, 4, 6 Sc. verst; 4–6, 8–9 north. warst, 5–6 warste. [OE. wyrresta, wyrsta, wierresta, werresta, wersta = OFris. wersta, OS. wirsista, OHG. wirsisto, -esto (MHG. wirseste, wirste, würste), ON. and Icel. verstr (Norw. verst, Sw. värst, Da. værst):—OTeut. *wersistaz, f. wers-: see WORSE a. and -EST.
The β-forms, which were local in OE., were reinforced in Anglian ME. by Scandinavian; cf. WORSE a.]
A. adj. Used as the superlative of the adjs. bad, evil or ill.
1. Most bad or evil, in regard to moral character or behavior; most vicious, wicked, cruel, etc.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxix. § 11. He ne sceal lufian to unʓemetlice ðas woruldʓesælða, forðæm hie oft cumað to þæm wyrrestum monnum. Ibid. (c. 897), Gregory’s Past. C., xxi. 153. Ʒeseoh ða scande & ða wierrestan ðing ðe ðas menn her doð.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xii. 45. And swa byð þysse wyrrestan cneorysse.
c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 77. Gif ðu luuest ðo ilche ðe ðe luuiȝeð: ne don swa ðe werste menn of ðe woreld?
c. 1205. Lay., 29545. Þer he funde þa wurste men Þa on londe wuneden.
c. 1225. Ancr. R., 82. Idel speche is vuel; ful speche is wurse; attri speche is þe wurste.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8616. Þe worste men of þe lond, & mest cruel al so, He wolde make is conseilers.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 648. Fikenhild, þat was þe wurste moder child.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., 99. When y my self have thourh-soht, y knowe me for the wrst of alle.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 4456. Gog and Magog … Þe werst folk þat in þe world duels.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2098. Þer wonez a wyȝe in þat waste, þe worst vpon erþe.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Shipman’s T., 161. Myn housbonde is to me the worste man That euere was. Ibid., Merch. Prol., 6. I have a wyf, the worste that may be.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 145. Pride, Which is the werste vice of alle.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 57. He … went vnto a grete company of thevis; & he, þat was gude emang his brethir, was þer þe warste of all.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 523/1. Werst, or most badde, pessimus.
a. 1500. Mankind, 297, in Macro Pl., 12. He ys worst of þem all.
1552. Huloet, Warste of all, nequissimus, pessimus.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., I. iv. 13. His worst fault is that he is giuen to prayer. Ibid. (1607), Timon, IV. ii. 39. Strange vnvsuall blood, When mans worst sinne is, He do’s too much Good.
1709. Pope, Ess. Crit., 579. The worst avarice is that of sense. Ibid. (1737), Hor. Epist., II. i. 37. Chaucer’s worst ribaldry is learn’d by rote.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 299. It will be impossible to keep the new tribunals clear of the worst spirit of faction.
1829. Lytton, Devereux, I. iii. 11. The worst passions are softened by triumph.
1918. G. M. Trevelyan, in Cornhill Mag., June, 562. Able editors, who most often quoted with approval what was worst and most Prussian in Carlyle, are now the hottest against him.
b. Qualifying an agent-noun or the like.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 66. Þu ne cuðest ðone soðan freond; and for ði þu beurne on ðone wyrstan feond.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., I. 149. Homely enemyes ben þe worste. Ibid. (1382), Ephes. vi. 16. The firy dartis of the worste enmye [tela nequissimi ignea].
1435. Misyn, Fire of Love, 62. Þe fowlest worme, þe warst synner, þe lawest of men.
1675. Dryden, Aurengz., I. (1676), 13. And yet believe your self, your own worst Foe.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, lvi. My worst enemies … never accused me of being meek.
1854. J. S. Mill, Lett. (1910), II. App. A. 371. His worst flatterer is himself.
1862. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, xx. Lord Welter’s worst enemies could not accuse him of driving slow.
1872. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 12. The man of the world, that worst enemy of the world.
2. Most grievous, painful, unlucky, uncomfortable, unpleasant, unfavorable, etc.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter, xxxiii. 22. Mors peccatorum pessima, deað synfulra se wyrresta.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxviii. § 2. Ðæt is þæt sweotoloste tacen þæs mæstan yfeles on þisse weorulde, & þæs wyrrestan edleanes æfter þisse worulde.
971. Blickl. Hom., 245. Ic wæs ʓetoʓen to þæm wyrstan tintreʓum.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron., an 1086 (Laud MS.). Swylc coðe com on mannum, þæt full neah æfre þe oðer man wearð on þam wyrrestan yfele, þet is on ðam drife.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 217 (Lamb. MS.). Þe þe deþ is wille mest, he haueð wurst mede.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 14555. Of all him fell þe werst lot.
1382. Wyclif, Rev. xvi. 2. A wounde feers and worst [1388 werst, Vulg. vulnus saevum et pessimum].
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 349. False Egiste … Was demed to diverse peine, The worste that men cowthe ordeigne.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 145. Then come þay all wroþe and beten þys man on þe worst maner þat þay cowþe.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IX. 174. I traist to God our werst dayis ar gane.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Auian, xxvii. (1889), 248. Of two euyls men ought euer to eschewe and flee the worst of bothe.
1552. Huloet, Worste tyme for a publycque weale, alienissimum rei publice tempus.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., IV. 176 b. If he bee angry, and fierce, and round, he is worst of all.
1596. Edw. III., II. i. 449. Poyson shewes worst in a golden cup.
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. iii. 132. Giue thy worst of thoughts The worst of words.
1639. S. Du Verger, trans. Camus’ Admir. Events, 123. He repaires to his owne house, meager, pale, and in the worst case that can be imagined.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 462. But pain is perfet miserie, the worst Of evils.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, IX. 392. That hope alone will fortifie my Breast Against the worst of Fortunes and of Fears.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 498. We thought they ought to be every one of them put to the worst of Deaths.
1765. Gray, Shakespeare, 8. What awaits me now is worst of all.
1803. Med. Jrnl., IX. 527. The worst cases were discharged cured … in about an average period of twelve days. Ibid. (1805), XIV. 227. Bleeding had been attended with the worst consequences. Ibid. (1809), XXI. 410. The two worst wounds in the loins were foul and deep.
1866. Carlyle, Remin. (1881), II. 240. It was by her address and invention that I got my sooterkin of a ‘study’ improved out of some of its worst blotches.
1881. W. Collins, Black Robe, I. 272. ‘How does Stella bear it?’ ‘In the worst possible way … In silence.’
b. Hardest, most difficult to deal with. Const. to and inf.
c. 1400. King Solomon’s Bk. Wisdom, 100. Þre þinges on erþe beþ þat men mowen nouȝth yknowe … þe werst is þe fierþe.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 35. Moost perylous kynde of lepry & worst to be cured.
1639. J. Clarke, Parœm., 87. The best things are worst to come by.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xiv. 98. Our worst piece of work was now before us.
c. U. S. colloq. phr. the worst kind; also used adverbially = most severely, most thoroughly.
1839. Marryat, Diary Amer., Ser. I. II. 227. He loves Sal, the worst kind.
1859. Bartlett, Dict. Amer. (ed. 2), 517. Worst kind. Used in such phrases as, ‘I gave him the worst kind of a licking,’ Also adverbially; as ‘I licked him the worst kind,’ i. e. in the worst manner possible, most severely.
3. Most wanting in the good qualities required or expected; least good, valuable, desirable or successful; most inferior; meanest or poorest in quality; least considerable or important.
c. 1325. Sir Orfeo (Sisam), 367. Þe werst piler on to biholde Was al of burnist gold.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1570. The werst walle for to wale … Was faurty cubettes by coursse.
c. 1420. Sir Amadas (Weber), 345. The warst hors is worthe ten pownde Of hom all that here gon.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. xvi. 439. The werst of them wille not be lyghtly matched of no knyghtes that I knowe lyuynge.
1493. Bury Wills (Camden), 82. iii syluer sponys of the werste sorte.
1540. Test. Ebor., VI. 113. To John Colson my worst chamlet dublet.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 38, marg. The more hast ye wurst speede.
1562. Winȝet, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 114. The best geris tane away and sauld, and the werst reseruit.
1573–80. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 49. Graie wheat is the grosest, yet good for the clay, though woorst for the market, as fermer may say.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 33. Naturall endowments haply not the worst for two and fifty degrees of northern latitude.
1654. Gayton, Pleas. Notes, IV. 226. He was secure, being on the worst side of fifty.
1696. Prideaux, Lett. (Camden), 182. For then ye University would have the disposall of their liveings, wch now they give to ye worst men they can find.
1732. Pope, Ep. Bathurst, 299. In the worst inn’s worst room.
1740. Mrs. E. Montagu, Corr. (1906), I. 42. Living in a cottage on love is certainly the worst diet and the worst habitation one can find out.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VIII. vii. To charge the same for the very worst provisions, as if they were the best.
1786. Burns, Auld Farmer’s Salut. Mare, xv. They drew me thretteen pund an’ twa, The very warst. Ibid., ‘My Father was a Farmer,’ ii. My talents they were not the worst.
1825. Lytton, Falkland, 10. He was one of that class … who, with the best intentions, have made the worst citizens.
1836. Southey, Lett. (1856), IV. 436. Burnaby Green was the worst of translators.
1839. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 127. One of the worst dogs is then slipped at the herd.
1855. Poultry Chron., III. 406. It was the worst [show] I ever saw, cattle included.
† b. Phr. At (the) worst hand: (a) in a position of defeat; (b) most dearly or unprofitably; (c) on the lowest estimate. Obs.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xiv. 352. He saw well that his folke was at the worste hande, soo made he to sowne the retrete.
a. 1604. Hanmer, Chron. Irel. (1809), 380. They were driven at the worst hand to sell unto the mercilesse Merchants, their Cowes, Hackneyes [etc.].
1621. Bp. Mountagu, Diatribæ, 421. More ignorant barbarisme here, than in Paulus, who at worst hand hath related it in good and true Latine.
† c. In worst part: in the most unfavorable aspect or construction. Obs.
a. 1530. J. Heywood, Play of Love, 1508. A louer best loued hath paynes in lyke wyse As here hath apered by sondry weys Which sheweth his case in wurst part to aryse.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XXIV. 124. Myself take that wrong he hath done To Hector in worst part of all.
† d. To have the worst end (of the staff, etc.): cf. WORSE a. 3 c. Obs.
1564. T. Dorman, Proof Cert. Articles Relig., 92. Yow maie haue cause to thincke, that yow holde by the worst ende of the staffe.
1597. Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae, 1204. Persave then, ȝe haif then The warst end of the trie.
4. predicatively. Most unfortunate or badly off.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., III. i. 126. Or to be worse then worst Of those, that lawlesse and incertaine thought Imagine howling. Ibid. (1605), Lear, IV. i. 2. To be worst, The lowest, and most deiected thing of Fortune.
5. Comb., as worst-humo(u)red, -intentioned, -natured, -surfaced, -willed adjs.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 105. Warst willid traytoris [malignissimi proditores].
1656. Harrington, Oceana (1658), 103. When I consider that our Country-men are none of the worst natur’d.
1678. Otway, Friendship in F., III. i. 25. Every body knows I am the worst natur’d fellow breathing.
a. 1680. Earl Rochester, Allus. Horace, 60. The best good Man with the worst natur’d Muse.
1774. Goldsmith’s Retal., Postscript. Thou best humour’d man with the worst humour’d Muse.
1896. Crockett, Grey Man, xxxiv. 231. The greediest and worst-intentioned rascals in the world.
1906. Westm. Gaz., 3 March, 3/1. From Blois to Chartres was the worst-surfaced road we came across.
B. sb. (absol. uses of the adj.; usu. with the.)
1. The worst: one who is, or those who are, most objectionable or least estimable in moral character, behavior, accomplishments, etc.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., I. ii. 68. And let worse follow worse, till the worst of all follow him laughing to his graue.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Church-porch, st. 72. Judge not the preacher…. The worst speak something good.
1757. W. Wilkie, Epigoniad, IX. 270. Favor, your sex and innocence will plead, Ev’n with the worst.
1827. Pollok, Course T., I. 435. Lovely to the worst she [Virtue] seems.
1880. Tennyson, First Quarrel, xiii. An’ she wasn’t one o’ the worst.
1898. Kipling, Day’s Work, 341. Mr. Pepper himself, beyond question a man of the worst.
† b. spec. The Devil. Cf. WORSE sb. 1 b. Obs.
1388. Wyclif, Ephes. vi. 16. The firy dartis of the worste [1382 the worste enmye].
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1961. Thou sot with vnsell, seruand of o þe werst!
2. What is most objectionable or deplorable in regard to morals, taste, etc.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 174. How so his mouth be comely, His word sit evermore awry And seith the worste that he may.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 4656. He þat wayues ay þe werst & wirkis þe bettir.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), I. xvii. 14. He is euermore redy to do and say the werst.
c. 1480. Henryson, Trial of Fox, 10. Of euill cummis war, of war cummis werst of all.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., cl. 8. In the very refuse of thy deeds, There is such strength and warrantise of skill, That in my minde thy worst all best exceeds.
1600. E. Blount, trans. Conestaggio, 65. For that we easily encline to the woorst.
1855. Lynch, Letters to the Scattered, vii. 95. Unchecked sin tending to the perfect worst in wretchedness because to the perfect worst in character.
b. With of: What is most reprehensible or faulty in a person’s character.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. vi. Do you know the worst of your father?
1871. Geo. Eliot, Middlemarch, xxxviii. II. 284. He’s Whiggish himself…; that’s the worst I know of him.
1897. Watts-Dunton, Aylwin, VIII. ii. ‘We’s all so modest in Primrose Court, that’s the wust on us,’ replied the woman.
3. What is most grievous, unlucky, painful, hard to bear; a state of things that is most undesirable or most to be dreaded.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 304. Beth nought agast … For hardely þe werste of þis is do.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 25. Bot yet the werste of everydel Is last.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 532. All scho dredis hire dede & doute for þe werst.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxxv. 212. Þe werste is paste.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, XI. 1222. Off Wallace end my selff wald leiff, for dredis To say the werst.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 166. Prouyde for the woorst, the best wyll saue it selfe.
1577. Grange, Golden Aphrod., I iv. N. O. (fearyng the worste).
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., I. ii. 96. And the worst fall that euer fell. Ibid. (1605), Lear, IV. i. 8. The Wretch that thou hast blowne vnto the worst, Owes nothing to thy blasts.
1605. B. Jonson, Volpone, V. xii. Take good heart, the worst is past, sir. You are dis-possest.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, V. § 15. 428. Wisdome teacheth men to forecast the worst, that they may be provided against the worst.
c. 1660. J. Gwynne, Milit. Mem. (1822), 84. We were prepar’d, as knowing the worst, to receave our doome bravely.
1665. in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 251. I beleeve she conceales the worst from you.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 269. Her Husband … Who guards her, or with her the worst endures. Ibid. (1674), Samson, 1570. Then take the worst in brief, Samson is dead.
a. 1796. Burns, ‘In vain would Prudence,’ 4. Above that world on wings of love I rise, I know its worst—and can that worst despise.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxv. Tell me the worst at once.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, IV. 220. The best thing we can do, is to get off as fast as we can, for fear of the worst.
1853. Dickens, Bleak Ho., xxxvi. I knew the worst now, and was composed to it.
1859. W. Collins, Q. of Hearts, ii. To face the worst that might happen.
a. 1873. Lytton, Pausanias, II. i. I am prepared for the worst, even recall.
1893. J. Ashby-Sterry, Naughty Girl, vii. 68. She turned pale when she saw Halibourne and Caversham jump out without Flo, and fancied the very worst.
b. A course of action ill-advised in the highest degree.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 767. Wherefore me thinketh it were not the worst to send to the Quene some honourable and trustie personage.
1591. Savile, Tacitus Hist., II. § 39. Neither can it so easily be discerned what had beene best to haue done, as that it was the worst which they did.
c. The worst part, degree, or phase of.
1615. Sandys, Trav., 138. Hauing with two daies rest refreshed them, now to begin the worst of their journey.
1889. ‘J. S. Winter,’ Mrs. Bob, xxii. (1891), 252. Miss Theodosia had already got the worst of her grief over.
1919. Glasgow Herald, 8 Sept., 7. The confectioners … have got over the worst of their sugar troubles.
d. The worst is: the most painful or unfortunate thing or circumstance is (that …). Also the worst of (something), the worst of it, is, etc.
1581. Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), A 6 b. The woorst is, they thinke that impossible to be done in our Tongue.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. xv. 50. The worst of all was that more then 13000 persons remayned dead.
1682. Bunyan, Holy War (1905), 379. Now the worst on’t was, a Chirurgeon was scarce in Mansoul.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 184, ¶ 5. The worst of it is, that the drowsy Part of our Species is chiefly made up of very honest Gentlemen.
1762. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, VI. xviii. And ’twill be lucky, if that’s the worst on’t.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, I. ii. (Rtldg.), 6. But paying through the nose was not the worst of it.
1835. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Parish, ii. The worst of it is, that having a high regard for the old lady, he wants to make her a convert to his views.
1849. Rock, Ch. of our Fathers, I. v. (1903), I. 293. But this is not the worst of having a church too near the houses of a small town.
1853. Mrs. Gaskell, Cranford, xiv. Here I broke down utterly…. The worst was, all the ladies cried in concert.
1873. Mrs. Whitney, Other Girls, vi. 68. And she couldn’t help it, poor lady, either; that is the worst of it; one gets so as not to be able to help things.
e. Phr. To come, † fall to the worst; † to go all of the worst.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 237. Ful many a worthi kniht It hadde assaied,… And evere it fell hem to the worste. Ibid., 380. Falle it to beste or to the werste.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 212 b. And therefore the matter gooeth not all of the wurst, when the lighter maladie … expelleth and drieueth out the greater.
1863. W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, 253. Things never come to the worst but they mend.
f. If the worst come(s) to the worst: if things fall out as badly as possible or conceivable.
1597. E. S., Discov. Knts. Poste, C 3 b. If the worst come to the worst, it is but the hiering of a hackney to ryde to London.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., I. 28. Had the worst come to the worst, yet could we not haue wanted meate and drinke.
1667. Dryden & Dk. Newcastle, Sir M. Mar-all, II. (1668), 14. Why, if the worst come to the worst, he leaves you an honest woman.
1700. T. Brown, Amusem. Ser. & Com., 108. Let the Worst come to’th Worst.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 201. If the worse came to the worst, I could but die.
1821. Galt, Ann. Parish, xiii. (1895), 93. Which would have been a witness for the elders, had the worst come to the worst.
1904. Weyman, Abb. Vlaye, iii. If the worst comes to the worst, I can aid him.
† g. pl. Worsts = the things that are worst (in phr. worst of worsts). poet. Obs.
1609. Jonson, Epicoene, V. iv. This is worst of all worst worsts! that hell could haue deuis’d.
1624. Quarles, Job Militant, xv. 37. But what is worst of worsts, (Lord) often I Haue cry’d to Thee, a stranger to my cry.
4. What is least good in quality or least valuable; the most inferior kind or lowest quality (of an article).
a. 1400[?]. Stanzaic Life of Christ, 2344. But Caynes cornes God forsok, that of the worst made his offryng.
1509. Will, in Archæol., LXVI. 314. Item ij grayles oon of the best another of the worst.
1573–80. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 125. Paie Gods part furst, and not of the wurst.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., ¶ iiij. The very woorst of all being of great vertue and value.
1587. Harrison, England, II. vi. (1877), 149. Being sure that they [the clergy] would neither drinke nor be serued of the worst.
1615. Sandys, Trav., 136. The merchants brought with them many Negroes; not the worst of their merchandizes.
1637. Rutherford, Lett. (1671), 215. The worst of Christ, even his chaff, is better than the world’s corn.
5. At (the) worst. a. In the most evil or undesirable state that can be; at the greatest disadvantage; fallen to the lowest degree of badness, illness or misfortune. Similarly at one’s worst.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 1557, fol. 611/2. That they shalbe no woorse, parde, not when they be at ye very worst, then faithful harlottes.
a. 1586. Sidney, Astr. & Stella, xcv. 2. Yet sighes, deare sighes, indeede true friends you are, That do not leaue your best friend at the wurst.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., V. ii. 250. Thou hast me, if thou hast me, at the worst. Ibid. (1605), Macb., IV. ii. 24. Things at the worst will cease, or else climbe vpward, To what they were before. Ibid. (1605), Lear, IV. i. 27. Who is’t can say I am at the worst?
1671. Milton, P. R., III. 209. I would be at the worst; worst is my Port.
1771. T. Hull, Sir W. Harrington (1797), III. 122. Mrs. Stanhope was at the worst.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. xxiii. 96. A man leaveth things at worst, and depriveth himself of means to make them better.
1639. J. Clarke, Parœm., 122. When the world is at worst it will mend.
1845. Ht. Martineau, Autobiog. (1877), II. 362. Your people (never beginning to do their best till they are at their worst).
1846. Landor, Imag. Conv., Southey & Landor, Wks. 1853, II. 168/1. Unhappily Italian poetry in the age of Milton was almost at its worst.
1872. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 12. A dark and tyrannical superstition at its worst.
1885. Spectator, 30 May, 716/1. No Dickens himself at his very worst has such tiresome repetition.
1887. Saintsbury, Hist. Eliz. Lit., 284. Heywood, even at his worst, is a writer whom it is impossible not to like.
b. Even on the most unfavorable view or estimate or surmise.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 96. Somwhat shal I seye; For at the worste it may yit shorte our weye.
1729. P. Walkden, Diary (1866), 73. At the worst, I would subscribe to take half a quarter.
1771. Junius Lett., liv. 288. At the worst, what do they amount to.
1824. Southey, Lett. to May, 29 Aug. He had seasons of good-nature, and at the worst was rather to be dreaded than disliked.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, ix. I thought … that if a man played long enough he was sure to win at last, or, at the worst, not to come off a loser.
1871. Thirlwall, Lett. (1881), II. 267. It was ex-cathedra that Urban II. pronounced that the killing of an excommunicated person was not a murder, but at the worst an offence to be expiated by a penance.
1598. Florio, Alpeggio andare, at woorst, if the woorst fall out.
1634. Milton, Comus, 484. Or els som neighbour Woodman, or at worst, Som roaving Robber calling to his fellows. Ibid. (1667), P. L., II. 100. If our substance … cannot cease to be, we are at worst On this side nothing.
1670. Dryden, 1st Pt. Conq. Granada, V. ii. But ’tis, at worst, but so consumed by fire, As cities are, that by their falls rise higher.
1758. J. Blake, Plan Mar. Syst., 36. He is at worst sure of wholesome bread.
1778. Sir J. Reynolds, 7 Disc., 215. So that not much harm will be done at worst.
1837. Landor, Pentam., i. Wks. 1853, II. 308/1. Brutus and Cassius, at worst, but slew an atheist.
1881. Miss Braddon, Asphodel, I. vii. 209. This kind of thing went on for another week of weather which at worst was showery.
6. (To do) the worst or one’s worst: the utmost evil or harm possible. Hence occas. one’s worst, without do.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, xiv. 48. Blanchardyn herkned the prouost, to whom boldly he answered that he shold doo the best and the worst that he coude [in the joust]. Ibid. (c. 1489), Sonnes of Aymon, iii. 78. It is the man among all oure enmyes, that worste dooth to vs.
1528. Star Chamber Cases (Selden), II. 177. [He] beds them to do to hym the best and the worst that they can For he setts not a Strawe by them all.
1553. Ascham, Germany, Wks. (1904), 133. Let his enemies do to him the worst they could.
1567. Horestes, 385 (Brandl). Drawe thy sword, vylyne, yf thou be a man, And then do the worst, that euer thou can.
1568. North, Gueuara’s Diall Pr., IV. xiv. 150 b. The woorst they can doo, they can but murmur.
1608. Shaks., Per., III. i. 40. I do not feare the flaw, It hath done to me the worst.
1869. Morris, Earthly Par., III. Lov. Gudrun (end). I did the worst to him I loved the most.
(b) 1390. Gower, Conf., III. 311. Ha, thou fortune, I thee deffie, Nou hast thou do to me thi werste.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. lvii. 511. Wete ye wel that I am sire Tristram de lyones, and now doo your werste.
1605. Shaks., Macb., III. ii. 24. Treason ha’s done his worst.
1616. T. Draxe, Bibl. Scholast., 30. A fig for him. Let him doe his worst.
1639. J. Taylor (Water P.), Pt. Summers Travels, 43. And therefore now you with all double diligence, doe endevour to doe your best to doe your worst.
1650. T. Vaughan, Anthroposophia, 27. When Death hath done her worst.
1653. Walton, Angler, iv. 115. Let the winde sit in what corner it will, and do its worst.
1713. Addison, Guardian, No. 102, ¶ 8. To defie the Cold and Rain, and let the Weather do its worst.
1781. Cowper, Table Talk, 729. Satire has long since done his best; and curst And loathsome ribaldry has done his worst.
1842. Browning, Pied Piper, xi. You threaten us, fellow? Do your worst, Blow your pipe there till you burst!
1882. Besant, All Sorts, xxxii. (1898), 226. Now you may go away and do your worst.
(c) 1599. Shaks., Hen. V., III. iii. 5. Therefore to our best mercy giue your selues, Or like to men prowd of destruction, Defie vs to our worst. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., III. ii. 180. What old or newer Torture Must I receiue? whose euery word deserues To taste of thy most worst.
7. The harshest view or judgment; as to speak or think the worst (of a person or thing).
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. CXIX. C. iv. Let princes talk, And talk their worst of me.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., II. iii. 159. She’s my good Lady, and will concieue, I hope, But the worst of me.
1632. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 63. I hold my selfe greatly injured of such as judge of me rather the worst than the best.
1871. Ruskin, Fors Clav., ix. 2. The worst he can venture to say is, that it is ridiculous.
† b. To take or wrest to the worst, to take at worst: to put the most unfavorable construction upon. Obs. Cf. WORSE sb. 3 d.
1535. Coverdale, Prov. x. 32. The lippes of the rightuous are occupied in acceptable thinges, but the mouth of the vngodly taketh them to the worst.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Superer., Wks. (Grosart), II. 52. Let me not bee mistaken by sinister construction, that wreasteth and wrigleth euery sillable to the worst.
1607. Shaks., Timon, V. i. 181. I cannot choose but tell him that I care not, And let him tak ’t at worst.
c. To make the worst of: to regard or represent in the most unfavorable light.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, II. 162. But it’s over, you know; so what signifies making the worst of it?
1853. Dickens, Bleak Ho., xxxvi. Now I was hot, and had made the worst of it, instead of the best.
1877. Trench, Lect. Med. Ch. Hist., 115. Roman Catholic writers make no attempt to conceal the depth of desecration and dishonour which the Papacy then passed through; nay, they seem rather to take a pleasure in making the worst of this.
8. Defeat in a contest. (Cf. WORSE sb. 4.) † a. To put to the worst: to defeat, overcome. Also to put at, drive to the worst; to give (one) the worst on’t. Obs.
c. 1460. Three 15th C. Chron. (Camden), 59. She … put him dyverse tymes at the worste.
1574. Hellowes, Gueuara’s Ep. (1584), 328. They liued by robbing and pilling one from another, euermore driuing the weakest to the worst.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Destroço, putting to the woorst, putting to flight.
1598. R. Bernard, Terence, Andria, I. iii. (1607), 20. Me & illum herus pessundedit. My master hath put him and me to the worst.
1644. Vicars, Jehovah-Jireh, 194. Our left wing being thus put to the worst.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. (1900), 229. Why, I would a fought as long as Breath had been in me; and had I so done, I am sure you could never have given me the worst on’t.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 10 March 1687. The party were exceedingly put to the worst by the preaching and writing of the Protestants.
1726. De Foe, Hist. Devil, I. v. (1840), 69. Putting Michael and all the faithful army to the worst.
b. To have the worst: to be defeated. † Similarly to go or come to, come or go by, come off by, go away with, come off with the worst.
1529. Morte Darthur, I. ix. (W. de W.). Fyghte not with the swerde … til that ye see ye go to ye worste [Caxton vnto the wers].
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., I. ii. 14. I should knocke you first, And then I know after who comes by the worst.
1597. Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 90. His owne side came to the worst, doing more scath to themselues than to their enemies.
1605. London Prodigal, I. i. 51. He is a mighty brawler, and comes commmonly by the worst.
1613. Sir E. Hoby, Counter-snarle, 24. Hee which bringeth a great Armie into the field, without victuall or munition, is like to goe by the worste.
1639. [see GO v. 57 c].
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. II. 29. There was a shrewd brush lately twixt the young King and his Mother, who … met him in open field…; but she went away with the worst.
1710. E. Ward, Brit. Hud., 26. Those who laugh’d aloud at first, At last may chance to come by th’ worst. Ibid., 116. Those who by reviling first Begot the Fray, came off by th’ worst.
1834. Godwin, Lives Necrom., 184. In these wars, the Peris generally came off with the worst.
1598. R. Bernard, Terence, Andria, II. v. (1607), 43. Nostræ parti timeo. I feare our side will haue the worst.
1670. G. H., Hist. Cardinals, III. III. 300. There happen’d a fray betwixt the Souldiers … and the Halberdiers…, the last of which had the worst of it.
1709. Mrs. Manley, Secret Mem. (1720), III. 166. The King of the Bulgari made a troublesome, uncertain War upon the Empire, which sometimes had the better, oftentimes the worst.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xlvi. George … bragged … about his valour in the fight,… in which he decidedly had the worst.
