In whatever circumstances, good or bad. The term became famous through its presence in the marriage service of the Book of Common Prayer (1549), where bride and bridegroom each must pledge to hold by the other “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health.” This expression was derived from the still older Sarum Manual (ca. 1500), which in turn may have taken it from John Gower’s Confessio Amantis (ca. 1390), “For bet, for wers, for oght, for noght.” Today it is used quite loosely, as in “For better or for worse, I’ve made a down payment on the condo.”