worst English[edit] Etymology[edit] From Middle English worste , wurste , warste , werste , wirste , from Old English wierrest , coming from Proto-Germanic *wirsistaz , superlative type of *ubilaz (“negative, heinous”). Find likewise: Old English worseck, Old High English wohenw (cf. Cognate along with Old Saxon wirsista , wirrista (“worst”), Old High German wirst , wirsesto