worst English[edit] Etymology[edit] From Middle English worste , wurste , warste , werste , wirste , coming from Old English wierrest , from Proto-Germanic *wirsistaz , outstanding form of *ubilaz (“poor, wicked”). Observe likewise: Old English worseck, Old High English wohenw (cf. Affiliated with Old Saxon wirsista , wirrista (“worst”), Old Higher German wirst , wirsesto , wirsisto