worst Look up worst at Dictionary.com
O.E. wyrresta, from P.Gmc. *wers-ista- (cf. O.S. wirsista, O.N. verstr, O.Fris. wersta, O.H.G. wirsisto), superlative of PIE *wers- "to confuse, mix up" (see worse). The verb meaning "damage, inflict loss upon" is first recorded c.1600, from the adj. Phrase in the worst way (1839) is from Amer.Eng. sense of "most severely."