[f. WORST a.]
† 1. trans. To make worse, impair, damage, inflict loss upon: = WORSE v. 2, WORSEN v. 1. Obs.
1602. Harington, in Nugæ Ant. (1804), I. 321. Her betterring the state of my father’s fortune (which I have, alass! so much worsted).
1648. Earl Westmoreland, Otia Sacra (1879), 22. God makes all things for good; ’tis Man Sowers and worsts Creation.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., Pref. ¶ 16. If I be intemperate I grow sick and worsted in some faculty.
1682. Penn, in Clarkson, Mem. (1849), xviii. 115. Thy father’s public spirit had worsted his estate.
1728. W. Smith, Ann. Univ. Coll., 88. By which the College may be said to be wosted [sic] above 3l. 0s. per Annum.
a. 1741. Tull, Horse-Hoeing Husb., ii. (1822), 26. A pear grafted upon a quince may be mended but if grafted upon a white thorn will be worsted. Ibid., xix. 274, note. But suppose I had worsted my substance, are there not many who … have lessened their estates, though they have never practised agriculture?
1742. Richardson, Pamela, III. 26. To better the Condition of the Tenants at the same time, at least not to worst them. Ibid. (1748), Clarissa (1811), VII. 341. Suppose you kill one another, will the matter be bettered or worsted by that?
1745. trans. Columella’s Husb., II. xiv. Nor is there any doubt but the land is annoyed and worsted [infestetur] … by these seeds.
1783. Pott, Chirurg. Wks., II. 69. He may be much worsted by the experiment.
† b. intr. To grow worse, deteriorate. Obs. rare.
1781. P. Beckford, Th. Hunting (1802), 314. We perceived that our scent worsted, and were going to stop the hounds.
c. 1815. Jane Austen, Persuasion (1818), I. i. 20. Anne haggard, Mary coarse, every face in the neighbourhood worsting.
2. trans. To defeat, overcome, get the better of (an adversary) in a fight or battle.
1636. Brathwait, Rom. Emp., 20. After many battailes Otho being worsted … slew himselfe.
1657. Earl Monm., trans. Paruta’s Pol. Disc., 187. He got a notable Victory, worsting a great many of the Enemy with a much lesser number.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. ii. 878. The Bear was in a greater fright, Beat down and worsted by the Knight.
1703. Earl Orrery, As you find it, II. ii. 27. There’s no more believing him than the Paris-Gazette, when it relates a Battle where the French were worsted.
1772. Priestley, Inst. Relig. (1782), II. 194. The Syrians having been worsted in the hilly country.
1849. Grote, Greece, II. liv. (1862), IV. 527. A battle ensued, in which that prince was completely worsted.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xxix. 391. He turned on them and worsted them badly before making his escape.
1886. Child, Eng. & Sc. Ballads, II. 441/2. The page worsts his accuser in a duel.
1889. Morris, Ho. Wolfings, 18. In forty fights hast thou foughten, and been worsted but in four.
1902. J. F. Rusling, European Days & Ways, 299. Blücher now took pleasure in getting even with Napoleon for worsting him at Ligny.
b. To defeat in argument, in a suit, attempt, etc.; to outdo, prove better than; to quell (an attack).
1651. Baxter, Inf. Bapt., 209. Lest if you were silent the people should think you were worsted.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 150. How are al Lyricks out-gon by Davids Harp and how do Salomons Proverbs (for contracted sense) worst Seneca?
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., V. 229. And where His Highnesse was worsted or wearied, Arch-bishop Cranmer supplied His place.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. ii. 520. Remember how in Arms and Politicks We still have worsted all your holy Tricks.
1693. Humours Town, 20. If I must be worsted, it shall be in good Christian English.
1694. Kettlewell, Comp. for Persecuted, 69. Who art ofttimes pleased to permit a righteous Cause to be worsted.
1791. Boswell, Johnson, an. 1781 (Oxf. ed.), II. 414. Johnson could not brook appearing to be worsted in argument.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Irish Bulls, ix. I could not bear to go away worsted, and borne down as it were by the English faction.
1868. Milman, St. Paul’s, iii. 70. He appealed to Rome, but was worsted in his appeal.
1881. Miss Braddon, Asphodel, I. v. 136. In any skirmish with this young lady he was likely to be worsted.
1887. Ruskin, Præterita, II. 273. [I was] in the habit of feeling worsted in everything I tried of original work.
1911. Rose, Pitt & Gt. War, x. 234. In this secret chaffering Pitt and Grenville were worsted.
Hence Worsting vbl. sb.
1842. J. H. Newman, Ch. Fathers, 60. We might have conquered by a worsting which was honourable and dignified.
1883. Miss Broughton, Belinda, I. ix. The dispute ends in the worsting of the person to whom alone it is of any consequence to succeed.
