worry 
And, like a fool, did eat the cow. 
And worried on the tail. 
Marquit of Huntley's Retreat (Child's Ballads, VII. 270). 
Ye have fasted lang and worried on a midge. 
Ramsay's Scotch Proverbs, p. 82. (Jamieson.) 
2. To fight, as dogs, by seizing and biting at 
each other; be engaged in biting, shaking, or 
mangling with the teeth. — 3. To be unduly 
anxious and careful; give way to anxiety; be 
over-solicitous or disquieted about things ; bor- 
row trouble ; fret. 
Sensitive people, those who are easily wounded and dis- 
couraged, are most apt to worry when atfairs go wrong, and 
yet they are just those whom worry will harm the most 
and who will lose the most in life by indulging in it. 
Alien, and Neurol., VIII. 141. 
To worry along, to get along by constant effort ; keep 
on in spite of petty difficulties and anxieties. [Colloq.] 
By and by, if I can worry along into tolerable strength, 
... I am going oiT — say in mid-winter — to the south of 
England. S. Bowles, in Merriam, II. 431. 
worry (wur'i), «. ; pi. worries (-iz). [< worry, 
f.] 1. The act of worrying or biting and man- 
gling with the teeth ; the act of killing by biting 
and shaking. 
They will open on the scent . . . and join in the worry 
as savagely as the youngest hound. 
Lawrence, Sword and Gown, iii. 
2. Harassing anxiety, solicitude, or turmoil; 
perplexity arising from over-anxiety or petty 
annoyances and cares ; trouble : as, it is not 
work but worry that kills; the worries of house- 
keeping. 
Among over-burdened people extra trouble and worry 
imply, here and there, break-downs in healtli, with their 
entailed direct and indirect sufferings. 
H. Spencer, Man vs. State, p. 51. 
worrying (wur'i-ing), p. a. Teasing; trou- 
bling; harassing; fatiguing: as, a worryiny day. 
Grave is the Master's look ; his forehead wears 
Thick rows of wrinkles, prints of worrying cares. 
0. W. Holmes, The Scliool lioy. 
WOnyingly (wur'i-ing-li), «rfc. [< worryiny 
+ -/y2.] In a worrying manner; teasingly; 
harassingly. 
worschipent, v. A Middle English form of 
worship. 
worse (wers), a. compar. [I. compar. worse; 
early mod. E. also war,se, wars; < ME. wors, 
wurse, wirse, werse, loors, wers, < AS. wirsa, wyrsa 
= OS. wirsa = OPries. wirra, werra = MHG. 
wirser = Icel. verri = Sw. varre = Dan. veer re = 
Goth, wairsiza, worse ; with compar. suffix (lost 
or assimilated in the later forms, but appearing 
in the Goth, wairsiza), prob. from a Teut. root 
appearing in OHG. werran (G. wirren), twist, 
entangle, confuse (> OHG. werra, confusion, 
broil, war), perhaps allied to L. rerrere (pret. 
verri, pp. cersMs), whirl, toss about, drive, sweep 
along. Cf. jcarl, and see war'^ (Sc. waur, etc.), 
ult. a doublet of worse. Cf. worser. II. superl. 
wor.it, < ME. worste, werste, wurst, < AS. wyrgta, 
wyrsesta, also by assimilation wyrrcsta, = OS. 
wirsista = OHG. wirsisto, wirsesto, eontr. wirst 
= Icel. verstr = Sw. 'Viirst = Dan. rserst, worst, 
superl. of the preceding. The *■ belongs to the 
root.] 1. The comparative of bad, evil, ill; 
more bad, evil, ill, unfortunate, or undesirable ; 
less valuable or perfect ; more unfavorable or 
unsuccessful; less well in health, or less well 
off in worldly circumstances. See bad, eril, 
and (7/. 
Me think the wers part is mine ; 
to take the flesshe if I assay, 
then the blode wil ryn a-way ; 
for-done ge haue me with gour dome. 
Holy Rood (E. E. T. S.), p. 111. 
Men . . . (who] unneth can speake one hole sentence 
in true latine, but, that wars is. hath all lernynge in deri- 
sion. Sir T. h'lyot, Tlie Governour, i. 13. 
She . . . was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. 
Mark v. 20. 
What were thy lips the worse for one poor kiss? 
Shak., Venus and Adonis, 1. 207. 
Sir Oliver S. You have had no opportunity of showing 
your talents. 
Moses. None at all ; I hadn't the pleasure of knowing 
his distresses till he was some thousands worse than no- 
thing. Slieridan, School for Scandal, iii. 1. 
But what gave rise 
To no little surprise, 
Nobody seemed one penny the wmse ! 
Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, I. 212. 
Sometimes used substantively in the sense of something 
less good, desirable, fortunate, favorable, etc. 
Thus bad begins and worse remains behind. 
Shak., Hamlet, iii. 4. 179. 
Ah, farewell. 
Lest of mine eyes thou shouldst have w(rrse to tell 
Than now thou hast. 
William Morris, Earthly Paradise, II. 307. 
6982 
2. In logic, having, as a proposition, a charac- 
ter which, If belonging to one of two or more 
premises, must also belong to the conclusion. 
Thus, a negative is held to be worse than an afllnnative 
proposition, and a particular worse than a universal. On 
the same principle, a spurious proposition is taken as in a 
second degree of particularity.— The worse, the less de- 
sirable part or share ; disadvantage ; defeat ; loss : hence, 
to put to the worse, to defeat or discomfit ; to have the worse, 
to fare badly ; come out of any contest or businesa worse 
than before. 
The folk of Troie hemselven so misleden 
That with the wors at nyghthomward they fledden. 
Cliaucer, 'I'roilus, iv. 49. 
Longe it endured that oon cowde not sey whiche party 
had the werse. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), iii. 459. 
His enerayes preuailed and put his hoste to the worse, 
he being sore wounded. 
Sir T. Elyot, The Governour, i. 17. 
And Judah was put to the worse before Israel ; and they 
fled every man to their tents. 2 Ki. xiv. 12. 
I cannot tell who had the worse. 
Playe of Robyn Uode (Child's Ballads, V. 420). 
worse (wers), adv. compar. [I. compar. ivorse, 
< ME. wors, wurs, wers, etc., < AS. wyrs = OS. 
wirs = MLG. loers = MHG. wirs = Icel. verr = 
Goth, wairs, worse; with compar. suffix, lost 
in the adv. (as with bet^): see worse, a. II. 
superl. jcors?, < ME. worst, werst, < AS. wyrst = 
Icel. verst = Sw. varst = Dan. vierst, worst, 
superl. of worse: see above.] 1. In a more evil, 
wicked, severe, or disadvantageous manner; in 
a way that is less good, desirable, or favorable. 
We will deal worse with thee than with them. 
Gen. xix. 9. 
He is deformed, crooked, old, and sere. 
Ill-faced, worse bodied, shapeless everywhere. 
Shak., C. ofE., iv. 2. 20. 
O Master Mayberry ! before your servant to dance a 
Lancashire hornpipe ! it shews worse to me than dancing 
does to a deaf man that sees not the fiddles. 
Dekker and Wehster, Northward Ho, i. 3. 
2. lu a less or lower degree ; less. 
Thou Shalt serve me : if I like thee no worse after din- 
ner, I will not part from thee. Shak., Lear, i. 4. 44. 
3. Less favorably or agreeably. 
Then this tliey take worse than his working of miracles, 
or his working upon the Sabbath, That he would say that 
God was his Father. Donyie, Sermons, xviii. 
4. With more severity, intensity, etc.; in a 
greater degree. 
That honorable grief lodged here which burns 
Worse than tears drown. Shak., W. T., ii. 1. 112. 
worset (wers), V. [< ME. werseii, wursen, worsen, 
< AS. wyrsian, become worse, < wyrsa, worse : 
see worse, a.~\ I, intrans. To become worse. 
Werihede, thet maketh thane man weri and worsi uram 
daye to daye. Ayenitite of lnwyt(E. E. T. S.), p. 38. 
II, trans. To worst; put to disadvantage; 
discomfit. 
Weapons more violent, when next we meet. 
May serve to better us, and worse our foes. 
Milton, P. L., vi. 440. 
worsen (wer'sn), V. [= Icel. versna ; < worse + 
-e/fl. Cf. worse, v,^ I. intrans. To grow worse ; 
deteriorate. [Rare.] 
All the changing volitions of daily life, bettering or 
worsening as we advance in years. 
Maudsley, Body and Will, p. 70. 
II. trans. 1. To make worse; cause to de- 
teriorate. 
It is still Episcopacie that before all our eyes worsens 
and sluggs the most learned and seeming religious of our 
Ministers. Milton, Reformation in Eng., i. 
The working-men are left to foolish devices, and keep 
worsening themselves ; the best heads among them forsake 
their born comi-ades, and go in for a house with a high 
door-step and a brass knocker. George Eliot, Felix Holt, v. 
2. To obtain advantage of. Southey. [Rare.] 
worser (wer'ser), a. and adv. [< %oorse + -er^; 
a double compar. form (like les.ser), due to the 
fact that worse (like less) is not obviously a com- 
par. form.] An old and redundant comparative 
of worse. 
I cannot hate thee worser than I do. 
Shak., A. and C, ii. 6. 90. 
Fools ! they their worser Thraldom still retain'd ! 
Cowley, Davideis, ii. 
Thou 'rt worser than a hog. J. Baillie. 
worsettt, ". and a. Aii old variant of worsted. 
worship (wer'ship), n. [< ME. worship, iror- 
shipe, worsliippe, icorshepe, worschip, wnrship, 
wurschipe, wirschip, icurthshipe, worthschipe, 
wftrthschepe, worths.'iipe, wurthschipe, wurthscipe, 
< AS. weorthscipe, wyrthsoipe, honor, < weorth, 
wnrth, worthy, honorable, 4- -scipe (> E. -ship): 
see wiirtlt^, a., and -ship.'] 1. Honor; dignity; 
distinction; worthiness; honorable character 
or condition ; good name ; credit. 
Brytiges wyues into wondur thaire worship to lose; 
And ertes ay to euyll ende & ernyst by the last. 
DcKtruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.X 1. 2942. 
worship 
That were to me grete warship, yet 1 sholde dye for my 
lorde. Merlin (E. E. T. 8.), i. 6«. 
Upon paine of my life, this young knight shall come 
unto great worship. 
Sir T. Malory, Mort d'Arthure, III. Mxii. 
Keep smooth your face, and still maintain your worship 
With Berinthia. Shirley, Maid's Revenge, ii. 3. 
2. The outward recognition of merit; rever- 
ence ; respect ; deference. 
Then Shalt thou have worship in the presence of them 
that sit at meat with thee. Luke xiv. 10. 
Knighthood is a Dignity, but Esquires and Gentlemen 
are but Names of Worship. 
Guillim, Display of Heraldry (1724), ii. 266. 
Kings are like stars : they rise and set, they have 
The worship of the world, but no repose. 
SheUey, Hellu. 
3. Specifically, the reverence and homage which 
is or ought to be paid to God or a deity ; adora- 
tion, sacrifice, praise, prayer, thanksgiving, or 
other devotional acts performed in honor of 
the Supreme Being or a god, and as part of 
religion. 
Nor are mankind simply content with this mock-worship 
of God, but also impose and father it upon him, as if he 
had chose and ordained it. 
Bacon, Physical Fables, ii., Expl. 
The allies, after conquering together, return thanks to 
God separately, each after his own form of worship. 
Macatday, Gladstone on Church and State. 
1'he happiest man is he who learns from nature the 
lesson of worship. Emerson, Nature, p. 75. 
4. Fervent esteem, admiration, or devotion; 
adoration. 
'Tis not your inky brows, your black silk hair. 
Your bugle eyeballs, nor your cheek of cream, 
That can entame my spirits to your worship. 
Shak., As you Like it, iiL 5. 48. 
Loyalty, Discipleship, all that was ever meant by Hero- 
worship, lives pereimially in the human bosom. 
Cariyle, Boswell's Johnson. 
5. Praise; glorification; celebration. 
And therfore thei don gret Worschipe thereto, and kepen 
it |an oak tree] full besyly. MandeviUe, Travels, p. 69. 
I made hire to the worshipe of my lord : . . . 
Thus semeth me that Nature wolde seye. 
Chaucer, Physician's Tale, 1. 26. 
Thai honnrd the mount of caluary, 
In wirschip of the croa namely. 
Holy Rood (E E. T. 8.), p. 90. 
6. A title of honor used in addressing certain 
magistrates and others of rank or station. Ab- 
breviated wp. 
My father desires your worship's company. 
Shai., M. W. of W., L 1. 271. 
Dap. Is this the cunning-man? 
Face. This is his worship. 
Dap. Is he a doctor? 
Face. Yes. B. Jonson, Alchemist, i. 1. 
House (or place) of worship, (at) a house or place of 
distinction. 
As sche hadde seyn hused {used] in places of worschip. 
Paslon Letters, III. 314. 
(b) A church or chapel ; a place devoted to the worship of 
God. 
It is very probable that the Church of Kirkdale was 
considered in Doomsday-Book as the place of worship be- 
longing to that manor. Arc/ueoiogia, V. 197. 
Worship of images. See image-worship. 
worship (wer'ship), v.; pret. and pp. worshiped, 
worshipped, ppr. worshiping, worshipping. [< 
ME. worshipen, worshippen, worschipen, wor- 
schnpen, worshepen, wurschepen. worssipien, wir- 
chipen, worthschipcn, wurthschipen, witrtlisupen, 
worthsipien ; < worship, h.] I. tratis. If. To 
honor; respect; regard with reverence, respect, 
or deference. 
He was a frynde to my fader, & a fyn louer, 
Worship}nt hym on allwise & his will did. 
Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.), L 5278. 
Therfore oughte Men to worshipe it and holde it more 
worthi than any of the othere. MandeviUe, Travels, p. 14. 
2. To show respect to ; treat with considera- 
tion or honor; pay one's respects to. 
I grettc the goode mon as the gode wyf me taugte, 
And afterward his wyf, I worschupet hem bottle. 
And tolde hire the tokenes that me i-taugt were. 
Piers Plowman (A), xi. 168. 
Wee suffered to see the most noble queene of the world 
for to bee shamed openly, considering that her lord and 
our lord is the man of most worship in the world, and the 
most christned ; and hee hath alway worshiped us all in 
all places. Sir T. Malory, Mort d'Arthure, III. cii. 
To love one maiden only, cleave to her. 
And worship her by years of noble deeds, 
Until they won her. Tennyson. Guinevere. 
3. Specifically, to adore; pay divine honors to ; 
show reverence to, with supreme respect and 
veneration ; perform religious service to. 
He is fader of fei that formed ow alle 
Bothe with fel and with face, and gaf ow fyue wittes, 
Forte worschupen him therwith. while ge beoth heere. 
Piers Plowman (A), i. 15. 
