worse

worse
[[t]wɜ͟ː(r)s[/t]]
1) Worse is the comparative of bad.
2) Worse is the comparative of badly.
3) Worse is used to form the comparative of compound adjectives beginning with `bad' and `badly.' For example, the comparative of `badly off' is `worse off'.
4) PHRASE: V inflects If a situation goes from bad to worse, it becomes even more unpleasant or unsatisfactory.

For the past couple of years my life has gone from bad to worse.

5) PHRASE: oft PHR than inf/n If you tell someone that they could do worse than do a particular thing, you are advising them that it would be quite a good thing to do.

Scientists in search of a challenging career could do worse than consider forensic science.

6) PHRASE: PHR after v If a situation changes for the worse, it becomes more unpleasant or more difficult.

The grandparents sigh and say how things have changed for the worse.

7) PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR n If a person or thing is the worse for something, they have been harmed or badly affected by it. If they are none the worse for it, they have not been harmed or badly affected by it.

Father came home from the pub very much the worse for drink...

They are all apparently fit and well and none the worse for the fifteen hour journey.

8) for better or worse → see better

English dictionary. 2008.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Worse — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • worse — ► ADJECTIVE 1) less good, satisfactory, or pleasing. 2) more serious or severe. 3) more ill or unhappy. ► ADVERB 1) less well. 2) more seriously or severely. ► NOUN ▪ …   English terms dictionary

  • worse — [wʉrs] adj. [ME < OE wiersa (used as compar. of yfel, bad, EVIL), akin to OHG wirsiro, prob. < base of OHG & OS werran, to confuse] 1. compar. of BAD1 & ILL1 2. a) bad, evil, harmful, unpleasant, etc. in a greater degree; …   English World dictionary

  • Worse — Worse, n. 1. Loss; disadvantage; defeat. Judah was put to the worse before Israel. Kings xiv. 12. [1913 Webster] 2. That which is worse; something less good; as, think not the worse of him for his enterprise. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Worse — 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. [1913 Webster] Now will we deal worse with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Worse — Worse, v. t. [OE. wursien, AS. wyrsian to become worse.] To make worse; to put disadvantage; to discomfit; to worst. See {Worst}, v. [1913 Webster] Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us and worse our foes. Milton. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • worse — O.E. wiersa, wyrsa, from P.Gmc. *wers izon (Cf. O.S. wirs, O.N. verri, Swed. värre, O.Fris. wirra, O.H.G. wirsiro, Goth. wairsiza worse ), comparative of PIE *wers to confuse, mix up (Cf. O.H.G. werra strife, O.S …   Etymology dictionary

  • worse — worse·ment; worse·ness; worse; …   English syllables

  • worse — comparative of ILL …   Medical dictionary

  • worse — 1 adjective 1 (the comparative of bad) not as good as someone or something else, or more unpleasant or of a lower standard: The meal couldn t have been much worse. | worse than: The weather was worse than last year. | there s nothing worse than… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • worse — worse1 [wə:s US wə:rs] adj [: Old English; Origin: wiersa, wyrsa] 1.) [the comparative of bad] more unpleasant, bad, or severe →↑better worse than ▪ The violence was worse than we expected. ▪ The traffic is much worse after five o clock. ▪ The… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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