worser
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Adjective[edit]
worser
- (archaic or nonstandard) worse.
- c. 1590–1592, William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act I, scene ii]:
- That were my ſtate farre worſer then it is,
I would not wed her for a mine of Gold
- 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?
- 2002, Ron Lovell, Murder at Yaquina Head
- Momma says that’s an even worser word to say.
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: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [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.