(a) Most evil, most wicked, most sinful, most morally reprehensible; very evil, very wicked, very iniquitous; alder ~, evilest of all; on the ~ sinne, one of the evilest sins, one of the worst sins; the ~ enemi, the devil; (b) with positive, as opposed to superlative, force: evil, wicked, sinful; (c) fiercest, most savage; also, most unkind, cruelest; (d) as noun: the most evil person or being, a very wicked person, the worst sinner; also, the devil [quots. a1425 & last]; also, the fiercest or most savage person [quot. c1400]; alder ~, the most wicked one of all; the ~ of the peple, the most depraved among the people, the most sinful of the people.

(a) Most unpleasant, most unfavorable, most unfortunate, most grievous; most harmful, most noxious, most dangerous; most horrible, most to be dreaded; also in proverbs; med. of a symptom, morbid condition, etc.: most serious, gravest; of a wound: very bad; ~ frend, iron. worst friend, greatest enemy; alder ~, worst of all; in the ~ yer, ?in the year of greatest hardship; (b) with positive, as opposed to superlative, force: sore, grievous; ~ yeldinge, retribution, punishment; (c) saddest, most unhappy, most miserable; (d) most regrettable, most deplorable; ~ word, very lamentable tidings; (e) in impers. constructions: ~ was hem (him), it was most distressing to them (him).

(a) Most inferior or very bad in quality; least valuable; also, least in size, smallest; of a reward: poorest; (b) lowest in social status.

With intensive force: ~ enemi, worst enemy, greatest enemy; also, as noun: the worst enemies.

In surname.