worsted definition | Dictionary.com

wor⋅sted

[woo

s-tid, wur-stid]

–noun

1.	firmly twisted yarn or thread spun from combed, stapled wool fibers of the same length, for weaving, knitting, etc. Compare woolen.

2.	wool cloth woven from such yarns, having a hard, smooth surface and no nap.

–adjective

3.	consisting or made of worsted.

Origin:
1250–1300; ME worsted(e), special use of Worstede Worstead (OE Wurthestede), name of parish in Norfolk, England, where the cloth was made

worst

[wurst]

–adjective, superl. of bad and ill.

1.	bad or ill in the highest, greatest, or most extreme degree: the worst person.

2.	most faulty, unsatisfactory, or objectionable: the worst paper submitted.

3.	most unfavorable or injurious.

4.	in the poorest condition: the worst house on the block.

5.	most unpleasant, unattractive, or disagreeable: the worst personality I've ever known.

6.	most lacking in skill; least skilled: the worst typist in the group.

–noun

7.	that which is worst.

–adverb

8.	in the most evil, wicked, severe, or disadvantageous manner.

9.	with the most severity, intensity, etc.; in the greatest degree.

–verb (used with object)

10.	to defeat; beat: He worsted him easily.

—Idioms

11.	at worst, if the worst happens; under the worst conditions: He will be expelled from school, at worst. Also, at the worst.

12.	get the worst of something, to be defeated by; lose: to get the worst of a fight.

13.	if worst comes to worst, if the very worst happens: If worst comes to worst, we still have some money in reserve.

14.	in the worst way, Informal. in an extreme degree; very much: She wanted a new robe for Christmas in the worst way. Also, the worst way.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME worste (adj., adv., and n.), OE wur(re)sta, wyr(re)st, wer(re)sta (adj. and adv.); c. ON verstr; see worse, -est ¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To worsted

worst (wûrst)

adj. Superlative of bad¹, ill.

Most inferior, as in quality, condition, or effect.
Most severe or unfavorable.
Being furthest from an ideal or a standard; least desirable or satisfactory.

adv.   Superlative of badly, ill.
In the worst manner or degree.
tr.v.   worst·ed, worst·ing, worsts
To gain the advantage over; defeat.
n.  Something that is worst.

[Middle English, from Old English wyrsta; see wers- in Indo-European roots.]

wor·sted (wŏŏs'tĭd, wûr'stĭd)

Firm-textured, compactly twisted woolen yarn made from long-staple fibers.
Fabric made from such yarn.

[Middle English, variant of worthstede, after Worthstede (Worstead), a village of eastern England.]
wor'sted adj.

Worsted

Worst"ed\ (?; 277), 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.

worsted

woolen fabric made from twisted yarn, 1296, from Worstead (O.E. Wurðestede), town in Norfolk where the cloth originally was made.

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