Worm - Worth

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Worm (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wormed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Worming.] To work slowly, gradually, and secretly.
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When debates and fretting jealousy
Did worm and work within you more and more,
Your color faded. Herbert.
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Worm, v. t. 1. To effect, remove, drive, draw, or the like, by slow and secret means; -- often followed by out.
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They find themselves wormed out of all power. Swift.
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They . . . wormed things out of me that I had no desire to tell. Dickens.
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2. To clean by means of a worm; to draw a wad or cartridge from, as a firearm. See , n. 5 (b).
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3. To cut the worm, or lytta, from under the tongue of, as a dog, for the purpose of checking a disposition to gnaw. The operation was formerly supposed to guard against canine madness.
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The men assisted the laird in his sporting parties, wormed his dogs, and cut the ears of his terrier puppies. Sir W. Scott.
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4. (Naut.) To wind rope, yarn, or other material, spirally round, between the strands of, as a cable; to wind with spun yarn, as a small rope.
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Ropes . . . are generally wormed before they are served. Totten.
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Coloq. To worm one's self into , to enter into gradually by arts and insinuations; as, to worm one's self into favor.
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Wormal (?), n. (Zoöl.) See .
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Worm-eaten (?), a. 1. Eaten, or eaten into, by a worm or by worms; as, worm-eaten timber.
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Concave as a covered goblet, or a worm-eaten nut. Shak.
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2. Worn-out; old; worthless. [R.] Sir W. Raleigh.
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-- Worm-eatenness, n. [R.] Dr. John Smith.
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Wormed (?), a. Penetrated by worms; injured by worms; worm-eaten; as, wormed timber.
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Wormhole (?), n. A burrow made by a worm.
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Wormian (?), a. (Anat.) Discovered or described by Olanus Wormius, a Danish anatomist.
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Coloq. Wormian bones , small irregular plates of bone often interposed in the sutures between the large cranial bones.
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Wormil (?), n. [Cf. 1st .]
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1. (Zoöl.) Any botfly larva which burrows in or beneath the skin of domestic and wild animals, thus producing sores. They belong to various species of Hypoderma and allied genera. Domestic cattle are often infested by a large species. See . Called also warble, and worble. [Written also wormal, wormul, and wornil.]
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2. (Far.) See 1st , 1 (b).
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Wormling (?), n. A little worm.
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O dusty wormling! dost thou strive and stand
With heaven's high monarch? Sylvester.
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Wormseed (?), n. (Bot.) Any one of several plants, as Artemisia santonica, and Chenopodium anthelminticum, whose seeds have the property of expelling worms from the stomach and intestines.
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Coloq. Wormseed mustard , a slender, cruciferous plant (Erysinum cheiranthoides) having small lanceolate leaves.
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Worm-shaped (?), a. Shaped like a worm; �hick and almost cylindrical, but variously curved or bent; as, a worm-shaped root.
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Worm-shell (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any species of Vermetus.
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Wormul (?), n. (Zoöl.) See .
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Wormwood (?), n. [AS. werm�d, akin to OHG. wermuota, wormuota, G. wermuth, wermut; of uncertain origin.]
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1. (Bot.) A composite plant (Artemisia Absinthium), having a bitter and slightly aromatic taste, formerly used as a tonic and a vermifuge, and to protect woolen garments from moths. It gives the peculiar flavor to the cordial called absinthe. The volatile oil is a narcotic poison. The term is often extended to other species of the same genus.
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2. Anything very bitter or grievous; bitterness.
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Lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood. Deut. xxix. 18.
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Coloq. Roman wormwood (Bot.), an American weed (Ambrosia artemisiæfolia); hogweed. -- Coloq. Tree wormwood (Bot.), a species of Artemisia (probably Artemisia variabilis) with woody stems. -- Coloq. Wormwood hare (Zoöl.), a variety of the common hare (Lepus timidus); -- so named from its color.
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Wormy (?), a. [Compar. Wormier (?); superl. Wormiest.]
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1. Containing a worm; abounding with worms. “Wormy beds.” Shak.
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2. Like or pertaining to a worm; earthy; groveling.
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Worn (?), p. p. of .
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Coloq. Worn land , land that has become exhausted by tillage, or which for any reason has lost its fertility.
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Wornil (?), n. (Zoöl.) See .
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Worn-out (?), a. Consumed, or rendered useless, by wearing; as, worn-out garments.
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{ Worral (?), Worrel (?), } n. (Zoöl.) An Egyptian fork-tongued lizard, about four feet long when full grown.
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Worrier (?), n. One who worries.
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Worriment (?), n. [See .] Trouble; anxiety; worry. [Colloq. U. S.]
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Worrisome (?), a. Inclined to worry or fret; also, causing worry or annoyance.
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Worrit (?), v. t. To worry; to annoy. [Illiterate]
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Worrit, n. Worry; anxiety. [Illiterate]
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Worry (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Worried (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Worrying.] [OE. worowen, wirien, to strangle, AS. wyrgan in āwyrgan; akin to D. worgen, wurgen, to strangle, OHG. wurgen, G. würgen, Lith. verszti, and perhaps to E. wring.]
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1. To harass by pursuit and barking; to attack repeatedly; also, to tear or mangle with the teeth.
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A hellhound that doth hunt us all to death;
That dog that had his teeth before his eyes,
To worry lambs and lap their gentle blood. Shak.
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2. To harass or beset with importunity, or with care an anxiety; to vex; to annoy; to torment; to tease; to fret; to trouble; to plague. “A church worried with reformation.” South.
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Let them rail,
And worry one another at their pleasure. Rowe.
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Worry him out till he gives consent. Swift.
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3. To harass with labor; to fatigue. [Colloq.]
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Worry (?), v. i. To feel or express undue care and anxiety; to manifest disquietude or pain; to be fretful; to chafe; as, the child worries; the horse worries.
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Worry, n.; pl. Worries (�). A state of undue solicitude; a state of disturbance from care and anxiety; vexation; anxiety; fret; as, to be in a worry. “The whir and worry of spindle and of loom.” Sir T. Browne.
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Worryingly, adv. In a worrying manner.
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Worse (?), a., compar. of . [OE. werse, worse, wurse, AS. wiersa, wyrsa, a comparative with no corresponding positive; akin to OS. wirsa, OFries. wirra, OHG. wirsiro, Icel. verri, Sw. värre, Dan. värre, Goth. waírsiza, and probably to OHG. werran to bring into confusion, E. war, and L. verrere to sweep, sweep along. As bad has no comparative and superlative, worse and worst are used in lieu of them, although etymologically they have no relation to bad.] Bad, ill, evil, or corrupt, in a greater degree; more bad or evil; less good; specifically, in poorer health; more sick; -- used both in a physical and moral sense.
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Or worse, if men worse can devise. Chaucer.
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[She] was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. Mark v. 26.
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Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse. 2 Tim. iii. 13.
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There are men who seem to believe they are not bad while another can be found worse. Rambler.
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“But I love him.” “Love him? Worse and worse.” Gay.
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Worse, n. 1. Loss; disadvantage; defeat. “Judah was put to the worse before Israel.” Kings xiv. 12.
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2. That which is worse; something less good; as, think not the worse of him for his enterprise.
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Worse, adv. [AS. wiers, wyrs; akin to OS. & OHG. wirs, Icel. verr, Goth, waírs; a comparative adverb with no corresponding positive. See , a.] In a worse degree; in a manner more evil or bad.
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Now will we deal worse with thee than with them. Gen. xix. 9.
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Worse, v. t. [OE. wursien, AS. wyrsian to become worse.] To make worse; to put disadvantage; to discomfit; to worst. See , v.
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Weapons more violent, when next we meet,
May serve to better us and worse our foes. Milton.
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Worsen (?), v. t. 1. To make worse; to deteriorate; to impair.
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It is apparent that, in the particular point of which we have been conversing, their condition is greatly worsened. Southey.
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2. To get the better of; to worst. [R.]
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Worsen, v. i. To grow or become worse. De Quincey.
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Indifferent health, which seemed rather to worsen than improve. Carlyle.
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Worser (?), a. Worse. [R.]
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Thou dost deserve a worser end. Beau. & Fl.
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From worser thoughts which make me do amiss. Bunyan.
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A dreadful quiet felt, and, worser far
Than arms, a sullen interval of war. Dryden.
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☞ This old and redundant form of the comparative occurs occasionally in the best authors, although commonly accounted a vulgarism. It has, at least, the analogy of lesser to sanction its issue. See . “The experience of man's worser nature, which intercourse with ill-chosen associates, by choice or circumstance, peculiarly teaches.” Hallam.
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Worship (?), n. [OE. worshipe, wurðscipe, AS. weorðscipe; weorð worth + -scipe -ship. See , a., and .]
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1. Excellence of character; dignity; worth; worthiness. [Obs.] Shak.
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A man of worship and honour. Chaucer.
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Elfin, born of noble state,
And muckle worship in his native land. Spenser.
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2. Honor; respect; civil deference. [Obs.]
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Of which great worth and worship may be won. Spenser.
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Then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. Luke xiv. 10.
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3. Hence, a title of honor, used in addresses to certain magistrates and others of rank or station.
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My father desires your worships' company. Shak.
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4. The act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; religious reverence and homage; adoration, or acts of reverence, paid to God, or a being viewed as God. “God with idols in their worship joined.” Milton.
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The worship of God is an eminent part of religion, and prayer is a chief part of religious worship. Tillotson.
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5. Obsequious or submissive respect; extravagant admiration; adoration.
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'T is your inky brows, your black silk hair,
Your bugle eyeballs, nor your cheek of cream,
That can my spirits to your worship. Shak.
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6. An object of worship.
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In attitude and aspect formed to be
At once the artist's worship and despair. Longfellow.
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Coloq. Devil worship , Coloq. Fire worship , Coloq. Hero worship , etc. See under , , , etc.
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Worship, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Worshiped (?) Worshipped; p. pr. & vb. n. Worshiping or Worshipping.]
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1. To respect; to honor; to treat with civil reverence. [Obsoles.] Chaucer.
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Our grave . . . shall have a tongueless mouth,
Not worshiped with a waxen epitaph. Shak.
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This holy image that is man God worshipeth. Foxe.
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2. To pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration; to perform religious exercises in honor of; to adore; to venerate.
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But God is to be worshiped. Shak.
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When all our fathers worshiped stocks and stones. Milton.
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3. To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission, as a lover; to adore; to idolize.
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With bended knees I daily worship her. Carew.
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Syn. -- To adore; revere; reverence; bow to; honor.
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Worship (?), v. i. To perform acts of homage or adoration; esp., to perform religious service.
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Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. John iv. 20.
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Was it for this I have loved . . . and worshiped in silence? Longfellow.
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Worshipability (?), n. The quality of being worthy to be worshiped. [R.] Coleridge.
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Worshipable (?), a. Capable of being worshiped; worthy of worship. [R.] Carlyle.
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Worshiper (?), n. One who worships; one who pays divine honors to any being or thing; one who adores. [Written also worshipper.]
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Worshipful (?), a. Entitled to worship, reverence, or high respect; claiming respect; worthy of honor; -- often used as a term of respect, sometimes ironically. “This is worshipful society.” Shak.
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[She is] so dear and worshipful. Chaucer.
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-- Worshipfully, adv. -- Worshipfulness, n.
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Worst (?), a., superl. of . [OE. werst, worste, wurste, AS. wyrst, wierst, wierrest. See , a.] Bad, evil, or pernicious, in the highest degree, whether in a physical or moral sense. See . “Heard so oft in worst extremes.” Milton.
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I have a wife, the worst that may be. Chaucer.
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If thou hadst not been born the worst of men,
Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer. Shak.
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Worst, n. That which is most bad or evil; the most severe, pernicious, calamitous, or wicked state or degree.
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The worst is not
So long as we can say, This is the worst. Shak.
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He is always sure of finding diversion when the worst comes to the worst. Addison.
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Worst, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Worsted; p. pr. & vb. n. Worsting.] [See , v. t. & a.] To gain advantage over, in contest or competition; to get the better of; to defeat; to overthrow; to discomfit.
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The . . . Philistines were worsted by the captivated ark. South.
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Worst, v. i. To grow worse; to deteriorate. [R.] “Every face . . . worsting.” Jane Austen.
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Worsted (?; 277), n. [From Worsted, now spelled Worstead, a town in Norfolk, England; for Worthstead. See , n., and .]
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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.
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2. Fine and soft woolen yarn, untwisted or lightly twisted, used in knitting and embroidery.
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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. , , , , n., , an infusion of malt.]
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1. (Bot.) A plant of any kind.
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☞ This word is now chiefly used in combination, as in colewort, figwort, St. John's-wort, woundwort, etc.
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2. pl. Cabbages.
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Wort (?), n. [OE. worte, wurte, AS. wyrte; akin to OD. wort, G. würze, bierwürze, Icel. virtr, Sw. vört. See 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.
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☞ Wort consists essentially of a dilute solution of sugar, which by fermentation produces alcohol and carbon dioxide.
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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. vṛt, v. i., to turn, to roll, to become. √143. Cf. , - , .] 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.
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I counsel . . . to let the cat worthe. Piers Plowman.
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He worth upon [got upon] his steed gray. Chaucer.
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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. , an article of merchandise, .]
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1. Valuable; of worthy; estimable; also, worth while. [Obs.]
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It was not worth to make it wise. Chaucer.
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2. Equal in value to; furnishing an equivalent for; proper to be exchanged for.
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A ring he hath of mine worth forty ducats. Shak.
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All our doings without charity are nothing worth. Bk. of Com. Prayer.
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If your arguments produce no conviction, they are worth nothing to me. Beattie.
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3. Deserving of; -- in a good or bad sense, but chiefly in a good sense.
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To reign is worth ambition, though in hell. Milton.
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This is life indeed, life worth preserving. Addison.
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4. Having possessions equal to; having wealth or estate to the value of.
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At Geneva are merchants reckoned worth twenty hundred crowns. Addison.
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Coloq. Worth while , or Coloq. Worth the while . See under , n.
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Worth, n. [OE. worth, wurþ, AS. weorð, wurð; weorð, wurð, adj. See , a.]
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1. That quality of a thing which renders it valuable or useful; sum of valuable qualities which render anything useful and sought; value; hence, often, value as expressed in a standard, as money; equivalent in exchange; price.
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What 's worth in anything
But so much money as 't will bring? Hudibras.
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2. Value in respect of moral or personal qualities; excellence; virtue; eminence; desert; merit; usefulness; as, a man or magistrate of great worth.
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To be of worth, and worthy estimation. Shak.
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As none but she, who in that court did dwell,
Could know such worth, or worth describe so well. Waller.
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To think how modest worth neglected lies. Shenstone.
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Syn. -- Desert; merit; excellence; price; rate.
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