Worst

//wɜːst// adj, adv, name, noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    superlative form of bad: most bad; Most inferior; doing the least good.

    "I think putting oil on a burn is the worst thing you can do."

  2. 2
    superlative form of bad: most bad; Most unfavorable.

    "That's the worst news I've had all day."

  3. 3
    superlative form of bad: most bad; Most harmful or severe.

    "The worst storm we had last winter knocked down our power lines."

  4. 4
    superlative form of bad: most bad; Used with the definite article and an implied noun: something that is worst.

    "None of these photographs of me are good, but this one is definitely the worst."

Adjective
  1. 1
    (superlative of ‘bad’) most wanting in quality or value or condition wordnet
Adverb
  1. 1
    superlative form of badly: most badly; least well. form-of, superlative

    "My sore leg hurts worst when it's cold and rainy."

Adverb
  1. 1
    to the highest degree of inferiority or badness wordnet
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname from German.
Noun
  1. 1
    Something or someone that is the worst.

    "The humorist helps people to explore and confront their worsts"

  2. 2
    the weakest effort or poorest achievement one is capable of wordnet
  3. 3
    the greatest damage or wickedness of which one is capable wordnet
  4. 4
    the least favorable outcome wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To make worse. archaic, transitive
  2. 2
    defeat thoroughly wordnet
  3. 3
    To grow worse; to deteriorate. dated, intransitive

    "Anne haggard, Mary coarse, every face in the neighbourhood worsting."

  4. 4
    To outdo or defeat, especially in battle. rare

    "The […] Philistines were worsted by the captivated ark."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English worste, wurste, warste, werste, wirste, from Old English wierrest, from Proto-Germanic *wirsistaz, superlative form of *ubilaz (“bad, evil”); compare worse. Cognate with Old Saxon wirsista, wirrista (“worst”), Old High German wirst, wirsesto, wirsisto (“worst”), Danish værst (“worst”), Swedish värst (“worst”), Icelandic verstur (“worst”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English worste, wurste, warste, werste, wirste, from Old English wierrest, from Proto-Germanic *wirsistaz, superlative form of *ubilaz (“bad, evil”); compare worse. Cognate with Old Saxon wirsista, wirrista (“worst”), Old High German wirst, wirsesto, wirsisto (“worst”), Danish værst (“worst”), Swedish värst (“worst”), Icelandic verstur (“worst”).

Etymology 3

From Middle English worste, wurste, warste, werste, wirste, from Old English wierrest, from Proto-Germanic *wirsistaz, superlative form of *ubilaz (“bad, evil”); compare worse. Cognate with Old Saxon wirsista, wirrista (“worst”), Old High German wirst, wirsesto, wirsisto (“worst”), Danish værst (“worst”), Swedish värst (“worst”), Icelandic verstur (“worst”).

Etymology 4

From Middle English worste, wurste, warste, werste, wirste, from Old English wierrest, from Proto-Germanic *wirsistaz, superlative form of *ubilaz (“bad, evil”); compare worse. Cognate with Old Saxon wirsista, wirrista (“worst”), Old High German wirst, wirsesto, wirsisto (“worst”), Danish værst (“worst”), Swedish värst (“worst”), Icelandic verstur (“worst”).

Etymology 5

Borrowed from German Worst, a variant of Wurst (“sausage”).

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