worser
English edit
Etymology edit
Adjective edit
worser
- (archaic or nonstandard) worse.
- c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
- That were my ſtate farre worſer then it is,
I would not wed her for a mine of Gold
- 1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], Act II:
- Spencer ere it flow thrice at London bridge, / London I feare will heare of worſer newes.
- 1674, Divers Rural and Oeconomical Inquiries, recommended to Observation and Tryal, in Philosophical Transactions, vol. 9
- Whether Flower, kneaded and baked as ſoon as it comes from the Mill, whilſt ’tis yet warm, yields blacker and worſer Bread?
- 1911, Joseph Edward Harry, The Antigone of Sophocles (Cincinnati: The Robert Clarke Company), page 65
- Creon. What worser ill is now to follow this?
- 2002, Ron Lovell, Murder at Yaquina Head
- Momma says that’s an even worser word to say.
- 2022 October 14, Marina Hyde, “So farewell, Kwasi. Your career died so Liz Truss’s might live for at least 15 more minutes”, in The Guardian[1]:
- Things went from worse to worser after Truss’s Wednesday night appearance before the 1922, which you might know is that weirdo committee where they bang the desks and honk in-group gibberish like it’s Hogwarts for grownups and their house has just won a flying pensions-crashing match.
Adverb edit
worser
- (archaic or nonstandard) worse.
- c. 1606–1607, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene v]:
- Is he married?
I cannot hate thee worſer than I do,
If thou againe ſay yes
Usage notes edit
Common in the 16th and 17th centuries, but now found only in some regional dialects, and considered nonstandard.
References edit
- The Oxford English Dictionary, second edition.