Worst
(Worst), n. That which is most bad or evil; the most severe, pernicious, calamitous, or wicked
state or degree.
The worst is not
So long as we can say, This is the worst.
Shak.
He is always sure of finding diversion when the worst comes to the worst.
Addison. Worst
(Worst), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Worsted; p. pr. & vb. n. Worsting.] [See Worse, v. t. & a.] To
gain advantage over, in contest or competition; to get the better of; to defeat; to overthrow; to discomfit.
The . . . Philistines were worsted by the captivated ark.
South. Worst
(Worst), v. i. To grow worse; to deteriorate. [R.] "Every face . . . worsting." Jane Austen.
Worsted
(Worst"ed) n. [From Worsted, now spelled Worstead, a town in Norfolk, England; for Worthstead.
See Worth, n., and Stead.]
1. Well-twisted yarn spun of long-staple wool which has been combed to lay the fibers parallel, used for
carpets, cloth, hosiery, gloves, and the like.
2. Fine and soft woolen yarn, untwisted or lightly twisted, used in knitting and embroidery.
Wort
(Wort) n. [OE. wort, wurt, AS. wyrt herb, root; akin to OS. wurt, G. wurz, Icel. jurt, urt, Dan.
urt, Sw. ört, Goth. waúrts a root, L. radix, Gr. a root, a branch, young shoot, a branch, and E. root, n.
Cf. Licorice, Orchard, Radish, Root, n., Whortleberry, Wort an infusion of malt.]
1. (Bot.) A plant of any kind.
This word is now chiefly used in combination, as in colewort, figwort, St. John's-wort, woundwort, etc.
2. pl. Cabbages.
Wort
(Wort) n. [OE. worte, wurte, AS. wyrte; akin to OD. wort, G. würze, bierwürze, Icel. virtr, Sw.
vört. See Wort an herb.] An infusion of malt which is unfermented, or is in the act of fermentation; the
sweet infusion of malt, which ferments and forms beer; hence, any similar liquid in a state of incipient
fermentation.
Wort consists essentially of a dilute solution of sugar, which by fermentation produces alcohol and carbon
dioxide.
Worth
(Worth) v. i. [OE. worthen, wurþen, to become, AS. weorðan; akin to OS. werðan, D. worden,
G. werden, OHG. werdan, Icel. verða, Sw. varda, Goth. waírpan, L. vertere to turn, Skr. vr.t, v.
i., to turn, to roll, to become. &radic143. Cf. ward, Weird.] To be; to become; to betide; — now used
only in the phrases, woe worth the day, woe worth the man, etc., in which the verb is in the imperative,
and the nouns day, man, etc., are in the dative. Woe be to the day, woe be to the man, etc., are
equivalent phrases.
I counsel . . . to let the cat worthe.
Piers Plowman.
He worth upon [got upon] his steed gray.
Chaucer. Worth
(Worth), a. [OE. worth, wurþ, AS. weorð, wurE; akin to OFries. werth, OS. werð, D. waard,
OHG. werd, G. wert, werth, Icel. verðr, Sw. värd, Dan. værd, Goth. waírps, and perhaps to E. wary.
Cf. Stalwart, Ware an article of merchandise, Worship.]
