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\Worse\, a., compar. of {Bad}. [OE. werse, worse, wurse,
AS. wiersa, wyrsa, a comparative with no corresponding
positive; akin to OS. wirsa, OFries. wirra, OHG. wirsiro,
Icel. verri, Sw. v["a]rre, Dan. v["a]rre, Goth. wa['i]rsiza,
and probably to OHG. werran to bring into confusion, E. war,
and L. verrere to sweep, sweep along. As bad has no
comparative and superlative, worse and worst are used in lieu
of them, although etymologically they have no relation to
bad.]
Bad, ill, evil, or corrupt, in a greater degree; more bad or
evil; less good; specifically, in poorer health; more sick;
-- used both in a physical and moral sense.
Or worse, if men worse can devise. --Chaucer.
[She] was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse.
--Mark v. 26.
Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse. --2
Tim. iii. 13.
There are men who seem to believe they are not bad
while another can be found worse. --Rambler.
``But I love him.'' ``Love him? Worse and worse.''
--Gay.
\Worse\, n.
1. Loss; disadvantage; defeat. ``Judah was put to the worse
before Israel.'' --Kings xiv. 12.
2. That which is worse; something less good; as, think not
the worse of him for his enterprise.
\Worse\, adv. [AS. wiers, wyrs; akin to OS. & OHG. wirs,
Icel. verr, Goth, wa['i]rs; a comparative adverb with no
corresponding positive. See {Worse}, a.]
In a worse degree; in a manner more evil or bad.
Now will we deal worse with thee than with them. --Gen.
xix. 9.
\Worse\, v. t. [OE. wursien, AS. wyrsian to become worse.]
To make worse; to put disadvantage; to discomfit; to worst.
See {Worst}, v.
Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to
better us and worse our foes. --Milton.
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