This is page 1239 of An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary by Bosworth and Toller (1898)
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WIRSA--WÍS. 1239
behéte, L. Edg. C. 9; Th. ii. 264, 8: L. Ath. iv. proem.; Th. i. 220, 2. Hé ðý wyrs meahte þolian ða þráge, Met. 1, 76. Se arcebiscop wénde ðæt hit sum óðer mann ábiddan wolde, ðe hé his wyrs trúwude and úðe, Chr. 1043; Erl. 169, 28. Oft hit gesæ-acute;leþ dæt his æ-acute;hta weorþaþ on ðæs onwealde, ðe hé æ-acute;r on his lífe wyrrest úþe, Blickl. Homl. 195, 4. (3) marking unfavourable condition, a higher degree of what is unpleasant or improper:--Ðý læs him ðý wirs (wiers, Cott. MSS.) sié, gif hié ða trumnesse ðære Godes giefe him tó unnyte gehweorfaþ, Past. 36; Swt. 247, 7. Hí wyrs geférdan (geférdon máran hearm and yfel, v. ll.), ðonne hí æ-acute;fre wéndan, Chr. 994; Th. i. 241, col. 2. Eów wyrs gelomp, Exon. Th. 142, 1; Gú. 637. Ne wæs hyra æ-acute;nigum ðý wyrs, ne síde ðý sárra, 394, 19; Rä. 14, 5. Hé bið on ðæt wynstre weorud wyrs gesceáden ðonne hé on ða swíþran hond swícan móte he will be assigned to the host on the left hand by a sentence too stern to allow him to pass to the right hand, 449, 23; Dóm. 75. Hit ðé wyrs ne mæg hreówan ðonne hit mé déð you cannot repent it more bitterly than I do, Cd. Th. 51, 12; Gen. 825. Heora weóldan ða him wyrrest æ-acute;r on feóndscipe gestódon, Ps. Th. 105, 30. Wyrst, Met. 24, 60. [Goth. wairs: O. Sax. wirs: O. H. Ger. wirs: Icel. verr; cpve.; verst; spve.]
wirsa (wirra occurs once in the Chronicle); cpve.; wirrest, wirst; spve. adj. Worse, worst, (1) in a moral sense:--For hwam lifaþ se wyrsa leng? Salm. Kmbl. 716; Sal. 357. Ne wearð nán wærsa dæ-acute;d gedón ðonne ðeós wæs, Chr. 979; Erl. 129, 4. Gif wé ðæt ne dóþ, ðonne wyrce wé ús myccle synne; and ús is get wyrse ðæt wé úrne ceáp teóþian, gif wé willaþ syllan ðæt wyrste Gode, Blickl. Homl. 41, 7. Hí for nánum ermþum ne byóð nó ðý betran, ac ðý wyrsan, Bt. 39, 11; Fox 230, 17. Ðá gæ-acute;ð hé and him tó genymð seofun óðre gástas wyrsan (nequiores) ðonne hé . . . and wurðaþ ðæs mannes ýtemestan wyrsan (pejora) ðonne ða æ-acute;rran, Mt. Kmbl. 12, 45: Wrt. Voc. ii. 72, 59. Ðes wyrresta cyning Neron, Homl. Th. i. 384, 3. Se wyresta sceaþa (Judas), Blickl. Homl. 69, 10. Ðis is manna se wyrresta, 185, 2. Se eallra wyrresta mon, Bt. 14, 3; Fox 46, 20. Ðé þúhte ðæt eallra ðinga wyrrest, 38, 4; Fox 204, 9. Ðæs wyrrestan eorðcyninga, Cd. Th. 235, 13; Dan. 305. On werrestre dæ-acute;de in actione pessima, Confess. Peccat. Swá byð ðisse wyrrestan (wyrsesta, Lind., pessimae) cneórysse, Mt. Kmbl. 12, 45. Wirestan, Deut. 1, 35. Ða wyrstan (pessimam) ingewitnesse mé ic geseó, Bd. 5, 13; S. 632, 32. Ða wyrrestan, fá folcsceaðan, Andr. Kmbl. 3183; An. 1594. Ðám wyrrestum wítes þegnum, Exon. Th. 251, 28; Jul. 152. On werstum ðingum in rebus pessimis, Kent. Gl. 23. (1 a) of an unfitting condition of things:--And ðæt git wyrse is, ðæt wé witon manige foremæ-acute;re weras forþgewitene ðe swiþe feáwa manna á ongit, Bt. 19; Fox 70, 11: Met. 10, 57. (2) of the physical condition of persons or things:--Hé tóbrycð hys stede on ðam reáfe, and se slite byð ðe wyrsa, Mt. Kmbl. 9, 16. Sió wund bið ðæs ðe wierse, Past. 17; Swt. 123, 18. Heó wæs ðe wyrse deterius habebat, Mk. Skt. 5, 26. Seó frecednes dæghwamlíce wæs wyrse and wyrse, Bd. 4, 32; S. 611, 24. (2 a) where injury is done to a person in respect to his well-being:--Se ðe óðerne mid wó forsecgan wille, ðæt hé áðer oþþe feó oþþe freme ðá wyrse sý, L. C. S. 16; Th. i. 384, 24. Hí dydan mycelne hearm ábútan Hámtúne . . . swá ðæt seó scír and ða óðra scíra, ðæ ðæ-acute;r neáh sindon, wurdon fela wintra ðe wyrsan, Chr. 1065; Erl. 197, 11. (3) of the condition of affairs, of an (unfavourable) circumstance or event:--Mé ðæ-acute;r wyrse gelamp, ðonne ic tó hyhte ágan móste, Cd. Th. 275, 22; Sat. 175. Hit him wyrse gelomp, 272, 26; Sat. 125. Wæs æ-acute;fre heora æftra sýð wyrse ðonne se æ-acute;rra, Chr. 1001; Erl. 137, 14. Swá wearð hit fram dæge tó dæge lætre and wyrre, 1066; Erl. 202, 17. Ne wearð wyrse dæ-acute;d (more disastrous act) monnum gemearcod, Cd. Th. 37, 24; Gen. 594. Hé áwende hit him tó wyrsan þinge, 17, 13; Gen. 259. Hé tæ-acute;hte Absalone óðerne ræ-acute;d wyrsan tó his willan, Homl. Skt. i. 19, 206. Wéne ic tó ðé wyrsan þinga, gif ðú Grendles dearst bídan, Beo. Th. 1055; B. 525. (4) of that which is harmful, painful, etc.:--Hí næ-acute;fre wyrsan handplegan on Angelcynne ne gemitton they never met with harder fighting in England, Chr. 1004; Erl. 138, note 7. Ðý læs God ús sende on wyrsan tintrego, Blickl. Homl. 243, 20. Ðæra synfullena deáþ byð se wyrsta (wyrresta, Ps. Surt.: wyrst, Ps. Spl., pessima), Ps. Th. 33, 21. Wilddeóra ðæt wyrreste (grimmeste, Exon. Th. 371, 29) . . . wyrmcynna ðæt grimmeste (wyrreste, Exon. Th. 371, 32), Soul Kmbl. 164-167; Seel. 82-84. Se deófol slóh lób mid ðære wyrstan wunde (with the most grievous disorder), Homl. Th. ii. 452, 26. Mid ðý werrestan áttre with the most virulent poison, Shrn. 84, 28. On ðone wyrrestan deáð to the most cruel death, Andr. Kmbl. 172; An. 86. We[r]stum gedrecenyssum saevissimis afflictionibus, Hpt. Gl. 409, 59. Getogen tó ðæ-acute;m wyrstan tintregum, Blickl. Homl. 245, 1. Ða werrestan tintrega, 229, 25. Wyrrestan, Exon. Th. 257, 20; Jul. 250: Elen. Kmbl. 1860; El. 932. (5) marking inferiority:--Hé bið swíðe gelíc sumum ðara gumena ðe him þringaþ ymbe útan; gif hé wyrsa ne bið, ne wéne ic his ná beteran, Met. 25, 20. Æ-acute;lc man sylþ æ-acute;rest gód wín, and ðonne hig druncene beóð ðæt ðe wyrse (wyrest, Rush.: wurresta, Lind., deterius) byð, Jn. Skt. 2, 10. Hé ðæt betere geceás, and ðam wyrsan wiðsóc, Elen. Kmbl. 2078; El. 1040. On ðone wyrsan dæ-acute;l scyrede, Exon. Th. 75, 24; Cri. 1226. On ða wyrsan hand, Salm. Kmbl. 998; Sal. 500. Onwendan heora wuldor on ðæne wyrsan hád styrces, Ps. Th. 105, 17. Wyrsan wígfrecan, Beo. Th. 4985; B. 2496. Buccena flæ-acute;sc is wyrrest, Lchdm. ii. 196, 17. Gif wé willaþ syllan úre ðæt wyrste Gode, Blickl. Homl. 41, 8. [Goth. wairsiza; cpve.: O. Sax. wirsa; cpve.; wirsista; spve.: O. Frs. wirra; cpve.: O. H. Ger. wirsiro; cpve.; wirsisto; spve.: Icel. verri; cpve.; verstr; spve.] v. weorr.
wirsian; p. ode To get worse:--Hit fareþ yfele ealles tó wíde. Swá swýðe hit wyrsaþ, ðæt ðæs hádes men, ðe hwýlum wæ-acute;ron nyttoste, ða syndon nú unnyttaste, L. I. P. 14; Th. ii. 322, 18. And aa hit wyrsode mid mannan swíðor and swíðor, Chr. 1085; Erl. 219, 23. Wyrsadon deterioraverunt, Wrt. Voc. ii. 139, 37. Folclaga wyrsedan ealles tó swýðe, Wulfst. 158, 6. Hé sceolde beón áscyred fram manna neáwiste, gif his hreófla wyrsigende wæ-acute;re, Homl. Th. i. 124, 26. Þet his licome, ðe feble wes, ne sceolde noht wursien, O. E. Homl. i. 47, 26. Þe wunde þet euer wurseð, A. R. 326, 23. Þenne wursede (wersede, 2nd MS.) ich on crafte, Laym. 18931. Werihede þet makeþ þane man worsi, Ayenb. 33, 18.]
wirs-líc; adj. Mean, vile:--Ðysse worulde wela is wyrslíc and yfellíc and forwordenlíc, Wulfst. 263, 13. Ic eom wyrslícre ðonne ðes wudu fúla, oððe ðis waroð, ðe hér áworpen ligeþ on eorþan, Exon. Th. 424, 32; Rä. 41, 48.
wirþig; adj. Worthy, fitting:--Wyrþigre wrace hié forwurdon ðá, ðæt ðá heora synna sceoldon hreówsian and dæ-acute;dbóte dón, swíþor ðonne heora plegan begán, Ors. 6, 2; Swt. 256, 11. [Wurrþi to winnenn Cristess are, Orm. 2705. Wurði wurðed to ben, Gen. and Ex. 1012. Wurði to hauen same, Misc. 14, 447. O. Sax. wirðig: O. H. Ger. wirdig dignus, meritus: Icel. verðugr.]
wirþu; indecl.: wirþ, e; f. Honour, decoration, dignity:--Uyrðo infula, Wrt. Voc. ii. 111, 75. Cf. weorþ-mynd, III. [O. H. Ger. wirdí dignitas, infula.] v. or-wirþu.
wír-treów, es; n. A myrtle-tree:--Wírtreów myrtu, Wrt. Voc. ii. 55, 83. Cnuca mid rosan wóse oððe wýrtreówes, Lchdm. i. 232, 12.
wír-treówen, -tríwen; adj. Of a myrtle-tree, myrtle:--Þweah mid wearmum wýrtrýwenum (-treówenum, v. l.) wóse, Lchdm. i. 236, 1.
wís a manner. v wíse.
wís; adj. I. wise, discreet, judicious:--Wís sapiens, Wrt. Voc. i. 76, 10: fronimus, 47, 34. (1) of persons:--Ne scyle nán wís monn (vir sapiens) forhtigan, Bt. 40, 3; Fox 238, 8, 13, 15. Ne mæg weorþan wís wer æ-acute;r hé áge wintra dæ-acute;l in woruldríce, Exon. Th. 290, 12; Wand. 64. Ðú eart gleáw and scearp, wís on ðínum gewitte and on ðínum worde snottor, 463, 30; Hö. 78. Cyninges ræ-acute;swa, wís and wordgleáw, Cd. Th. 242, 12; Dan. 418. Ne hýrde ic snotorlícor guman þingian. Ðú eart wís wordcwida, Beo. Th. 3694; B. 1845. Azarias Dryhten herede, wís in weorcum, Exon. Th. 185, 7; Az. 4. Se wísa mon eall his líf læ-acute;t on gefeán, ðonne hé forsihþ ðás eorþlícan gód, Bt. 12; Fox 36, 24. Se wísa spræc sunu Healfdenes, Beo. Th. 3401; B. 1698. Ðis is wæstm wíses and goodes, ðe his sóðfæst weorc symble læ-acute;ste est fructus justo, Ps. Th. 57, 10. Gelíc ðam wísan were (viro sapienti), Mt. Kmbl. 7, 24. Se cyning him ceóse sumne wísne man and glæ-acute;wne (virum sapientem et industrium), Gen. 41, 33. Hié sæ-acute;don ðæt hié wæ-acute;ren wiése (wíse, Cott. MSS.), and ðá wurdon hié dysige, Past. 11; Swt. 71, 2: 30; Swt. 203, 10. Wín nys drenc cilda ne dysigra, ac ealdra and wísra, Coll. Monast. Th. 35, 21: Ps. Th. 106, 42. Mæg ic wísran findan, ðonne ðú eart? Gen. 41, 39: Andr. Kmbl. 947; An. 474. Swelce hí sién micle wærran and wísran, Past. 35; Swt. 245, 1. Swelc eówer swelce him selfum ðynce ðætte wísasð sié on ðæ-acute;m lotwrencum, weorðe ðæs æ-acute;resð dysig, ðæt hé mæge ðonan weorðan wís, 30; Swt. 203, 20. Mid his ealdormannum, ða ðe hé wíseste and snotereste wiste, hé gelóm&dash-uncertain;líce ðeahtade, Bd. 2, 9; S. 512, 10. (2) of animals:--Sió wilde beó ðeáh wís sié, Met. 18, 5. Wísran sapientiora (v. Prov. 30, 24), Kent. Gl. 1101. (3) of things:--Worde and gewitte, wíse þance, Cd. Th. 118, 1; Gen. 1958. Wísne wordcwide, 249, 28; Dan. 537. Ðám ðe hafaþ wísne geþóht, Exon. Th. 57, 22; Cri. 922: 150, 2; Gú. 772. Wísne geleáfan, Ps. Th. 77, 36. On wísne weg worda ðínra, 118, 32. Þurh wís gewit, Exon. Th. 73, 21; Cri. 1193. Ealle míne wegas wíse syndan on ðínre gesihðe, Ps. Th. 118, 168. Ðonne hé ðíne wísan word gehealde, 118, 9. I a. in a bad sense, cunning:--Wille gé wesan prættige? Wé nellaþ swá wesan wíse, Coll. Monast. Th. 33, 1. Hí án geþeaht ealle ymbsæ-acute;tan, and gewitnesse wið ðé wíse gesettan (adversum te testamentum disposuerunt), Ps. Th. 82, 5. II. wise, learned, skilled, expert:--Wís sophus vel sophista, Wrt. Voc. i. 47, 40. Se wísa gnarus, ii. 40, 31. Hond bið gelæ-acute;red, wís and gewealden sele ásettan, Exon. Th. 296, 4; Crä. 46. Sum bið meares gleáw, wic(g)cræfta wís, 297, 18; Crä. 70. Wordcræftes wís an able speaker, Elen. Kmbl. 1180; El. 592. Wís sáwle ræ-acute;des, Frag. Kmbl. 79; Leás. 41. Se wís oncneów (he, being a skilful man, knew) ðæt hé Marmedonia mæ-acute;gðe hæfde gesóhte, Andr. Kmbl. 1686; An. 845: Ps. Th. 106, 16. Ðú mé gewurde wís on hæ-acute;lu foetus es mihi in salutem, 117, 20, 21, 27. Ðæs wísan goldsmiðes bán Wélondes, Bt. 19; Fox 70, 1. Micel is tó hycgenne wísum wóðboran, hwæt sió wiht sié, Exon. Th. 414, 22; Rä. 32, 24. Wíse men learned men, Cd. Th. 201, 24; Exod. 577. Hé