Worsted

There are two homographs written worsted. They have different meanings and pronunciations. Don't be confused by them.

• The noun worsted (pronounced 'WOO-sted', IPA: /'wʊs tɪd/) - a similar variation from the spelling to that seen and heard in Worcester - is the name of a kind of woollen cloth. Its name is derived from that of the area where it was first made - the parish of Worstead (presently also pronounced 'WOO-sted', IPA: /'wʊs tɪd/), which was written Wur{edh}estede in Old English, later Wurthstede, Worthsted, etc.
• Worsted may also be the past tense and past participle forms of the verb 'to worst'. This word is pronounced like the superlative adjective worst IPA: /'wɜː^rst/ from which it is derived: IPA: /'wɜː^r stɪd/. This means 'defeated', either in physical combat or in debate, argument or discussion. This is nearly always in the passive: a person who has been defeated (the usual connotation is 'severely' or 'heavily' defeated) is more often said 'to have been worsted' than the victorious opponent is said 'to have worsted him'.

Similarly, one can 'be bested', also from a superlative adjective. Paradoxically, this means virtually the same. OED says that it "is nearly equivalent to the existing verb to worst, i.e. 'to make worst, put to the worst'".

See also worst.