8  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Best  \Best\  (b[e^]st),  a.;  superl.  of  Good.  [AS.  besta,  best, 
  contr.  from  betest,  betst,  betsta  akin  to  Goth.  batists 
  OHG.  pezzisto  G.  best,  beste,  D.  best,  Icel.  beztr  Dan. 
  best,  Sw  b["a]st.  This  word  has  no  connection  in  origin  with 
  good.  See  {Better}.] 
  1.  Having  good  qualities  in  the  highest  degree;  most  good, 
  kind  desirable,  suitable,  etc.;  most  excellent;  as  the 
  best  man;  the  best  road;  the  best  cloth;  the  best 
  abilities. 
 
  When  he  is  best,  he  is  a  little  worse  than  a  man. 
  --Shak. 
 
  Heaven's  last  best  gift,  my  ever  new  delight. 
  --Milton. 
 
  2.  Most  advanced;  most  correct  or  complete;  as  the  best 
  scholar;  the  best  view  of  a  subject. 
 
  3.  Most  largest;  as  the  best  part  of  a  week. 
 
  {Best  man},  the  only  or  principal  groomsman  at  a  wedding 
  ceremony. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Best  \Best\,  n. 
  Utmost;  highest  endeavor  or  state;  most  nearly  perfect  thing 
  or  being  or  action  as  to  do  one's  best;  to  the  best  of  our 
  ability. 
 
  {At  best},  in  the  utmost  degree  or  extent  applicable  to  the 
  case;  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances;  as  life  is 
  at  best  very  short. 
 
  {For  best},  finally.  [Obs.]  ``Those  constitutions  .  .  .  are 
  now  established  for  best,  and  not  to  be  mended.'' 
  --Milton. 
 
  {To  get  the  best  of},  to  gain  an  advantage  over  whether 
  fairly  or  unfairly. 
 
  {To  make  the  best  of}. 
  a  To  improve  to  the  utmost;  to  use  or  dispose  of  to  the 
  greatest  advantage.  ``Let  there  be  freedom  to  carry  their 
  commodities  where  they  can  make  the  best  of  them.'' 
  --Bacon. 
  b  To  reduce  to  the  least  possible  inconvenience;  as  to 
  make  the  best  of  ill  fortune  or  a  bad  bargain. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Best  \Best\,  adv.;  superl.  of  {Well}. 
  1.  In  the  highest  degree;  beyond  all  others  ``Thou  serpent! 
  That  name  best  befits  thee.''  --Milton. 
 
  He  prayeth  best,  who  loveth  best  All  things  both 
  great  and  small  --Coleridge. 
 
  2.  To  the  most  advantage;  with  the  most  success,  case, 
  profit,  benefit,  or  propriety. 
 
  Had  we  best  retire?  I  see  a  storm.  --Milton. 
 
  Had  I  not  best  go  to  her?  --Thackeray. 
 
  3.  Most  intimately;  most  thoroughly  or  correctly;  as  what  is 
  expedient  is  best  known  to  himself. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Best  \Best\,  v.  t. 
  To  get  the  better  of  [Colloq.] 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Good  \Good\,  a.  [Compar.  {Better};  superl.  {Best}.  These  words 
  though  used  as  the  comparative  and  superlative  of  good,  are 
  from  a  different  root.]  [AS.  G[=o]d,  akin  to  D.  goed,  OS 
  g[=o]d,  OHG.  guot,  G.  gut,  Icel.  g[=o][eth]r,  Sw  &  Dan.  god, 
  Goth.  g[=o]ds;  prob.  orig.,  fitting,  belonging  together,  and 
  akin  to  E.  gather.  [root]29  Cf  {Gather}.] 
  1.  Possessing  desirable  qualities;  adapted  to  answer  the  end 
  designed;  promoting  success,  welfare,  or  happiness; 
  serviceable;  useful;  fit  excellent;  admirable; 
  commendable;  not  bad  corrupt,  evil,  noxious,  offensive, 
  or  troublesome,  etc 
 
  And  God  saw  everything  that  he  had  made  and  behold, 
  it  was  very  good.  --Gen.  i.  31. 
 
  Good  company,  good  wine,  good  welcome.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  Possessing  moral  excellence  or  virtue;  virtuous;  pious; 
  religious;  --  said  of  persons  or  actions. 
 
  In  all  things  showing  thyself  a  pattern  of  good 
  works  --Tit.  ii  7. 
 
  3.  Kind  benevolent;  humane;  merciful;  gracious;  polite; 
  propitious;  friendly;  well-disposed;  --  often  followed  by 
  to  or  toward,  also  formerly  by  unto. 
 
  The  men  were  very  good  unto  us  --1  Sam.  xxv. 
  15. 
 
  4.  Serviceable;  suited;  adapted;  suitable;  of  use  to  be 
  relied  upon  --  followed  especially  by  for 
 
  All  quality  that  is  good  for  anything  is  founded 
  originally  in  merit.  --Collier. 
 
  5.  Clever;  skillful;  dexterous;  ready;  handy;  --  followed 
  especially  by  at 
 
  He  .  .  .  is  a  good  workman;  a  very  good  tailor. 
  --Shak. 
 
  Those  are  generally  good  at  flattering  who  are  good 
  for  nothing  else.  --South. 
 
  6.  Adequate;  sufficient;  competent;  sound;  not  fallacious; 
  valid;  in  a  commercial  sense  to  be  depended  on  for  the 
  discharge  of  obligations  incurred;  having  pecuniary 
  ability;  of  unimpaired  credit. 
 
  My  reasons  are  both  good  and  weighty.  --Shak. 
 
  My  meaning  in  saying  he  is  a  good  man  is  .  .  .  that 
  he  is  sufficient  .  .  .  I  think  I  may  take  his  bond. 
  --Shak. 
 
  7.  Real;  actual;  serious;  as  in  the  phrases  in  good  earnest; 
  in  good  sooth. 
 
  Love  no  man  in  good  earnest.  --Shak. 
 
  8.  Not  small  insignificant,  or  of  no  account;  considerable; 
  esp.,  in  the  phrases  a  good  deal  a  good  way  a  good 
  degree,  a  good  share  or  part  etc 
 
  9.  Not  lacking  or  deficient;  full;  complete. 
 
  Good  measure,  pressed  down  and  shaken  together,  and 
  running  over  --Luke  vi  38. 
 
  10.  Not  blemished  or  impeached;  fair;  honorable;  unsullied; 
  as  in  the  phrases  a  good  name  a  good  report,  good 
  repute,  etc 
 
  A  good  name  is  better  than  precious  ointment. 
  --Eccl.  vii. 
  1. 
 
  {As  good  as}.  See  under  {As}. 
 
  {For  good},  or  {For  good  and  all},  completely  and  finally; 
  fully;  truly. 
 
  The  good  woman  never  died  after  this  till  she  came 
  to  die  for  good  and  all  --L'Estrange. 
 
  {Good  breeding},  polite  or  polished  manners,  formed  by 
  education;  a  polite  education. 
 
  Distinguished  by  good  humor  and  good  breeding. 
  --Macaulay. 
 
  {Good  cheap},  literally,  good  bargain;  reasonably  cheap. 
 
  {Good  consideration}  (Law). 
  a  A  consideration  of  blood  or  of  natural  love  and 
  affection.  --Blackstone. 
  b  A  valuable  consideration,  or  one  which  will  sustain  a 
  contract. 
 
  {Good  fellow},  a  person  of  companionable  qualities. 
  [Familiar] 
 
  {Good  folk},  {or  Good  people},  fairies;  brownies;  pixies, 
  etc  [Colloq.  Eng.  &  Scot.] 
 
  {Good  for  nothing}. 
  a  Of  no  value;  useless;  worthless. 
  b  Used  substantively,  an  idle,  worthless  person. 
 
  My  father  always  said  I  was  born  to  be  a  good 
  for  nothing.  --Ld.  Lytton. 
 
  {Good  Friday},  the  Friday  of  Holy  Week,  kept  in  some  churches 
  as  a  fast  in  memoory  of  our  Savior's  passion  or 
  suffering;  the  anniversary  of  the  crucifixion. 
 
  {Good  humor},  or  {Good-humor},  a  cheerful  or  pleasant  temper 
  or  state  of  mind. 
 
  {Good  nature},  or  {Good-nature},  habitual  kindness  or 
  mildness  of  temper  or  disposition;  amiability;  state  of 
  being  in  good  humor. 
 
  The  good  nature  and  generosity  which  belonged  to  his 
  character.  --Macaulay. 
 
  The  young  count's  good  nature  and  easy 
  persuadability  were  among  his  best  characteristics. 
  --Hawthorne. 
 
  {Good  people}.  See  {Good  folk}  (above). 
 
  {Good  speed},  good  luck;  good  success;  godspeed;  --  an  old 
  form  of  wishing  success.  See  {Speed}. 
 
  {Good  turn},  an  act  of  kidness;  a  favor. 
 
  {Good  will}. 
  a  Benevolence;  well  wishing;  kindly  feeling. 
  b  (Law)  The  custom  of  any  trade  or  business;  the 
  tendency  or  inclination  of  persons,  old  customers  and 
  others  to  resort  to  an  established  place  of 
  business;  the  advantage  accruing  from  tendency  or 
  inclination. 
 
  The  good  will  of  a  trade  is  nothing  more  than 
  the  probability  that  the  old  customers  will 
  resort  to  the  old  place  --Lord  Eldon. 
 
  {In  good  time}. 
  a  Promptly;  punctually;  opportunely;  not  too  soon  nor 
  too  late. 
  b  (Mus.)  Correctly;  in  proper  time. 
 
  {To  hold  good},  to  remain  true  or  valid;  to  be  operative;  to 
  remain  in  force  or  effect;  as  his  promise  holds  good;  the 
  condition  still  holds  good. 
 
  {To  make  good},  to  fulfill;  to  establish;  to  maintain;  to 
  supply  (a  defect  or  deficiency);  to  indemmify  to  prove  or 
  verify  (an  accusation);  to  prove  to  be  blameless;  to 
  clear;  to  vindicate. 
 
  Each  word  made  good  and  true.  --Shak. 
 
  Of  no  power  to  make  his  wishes  good.  --Shak. 
 
  I  .  .  .  would  by  combat  make  her  good.  --Shak. 
 
  Convenient  numbers  to  make  good  the  city.  --Shak. 
 
  {To  think  good},  to  approve;  to  be  pleased  or  satisfied  with 
  to  consider  expedient  or  proper. 
 
  If  ye  think  good,  give  me  my  price;  and  if  not 
  forbear.  --Zech.  xi 
  12. 
 
  Note:  Good,  in  the  sense  of  wishing  well  is  much  used  in 
  greeting  and  leave-taking;  as  good  day  good  night, 
  good  evening,  good  morning,  etc 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  best 
  adj  1:  (superlative  of  `good')  having  the  most  positive  qualities; 
  "the  best  film  of  the  year";  "the  best  solution";  "the 
  best  time  for  planting";  "wore  his  best  suit"  [ant:  {worst}] 
  2:  (comparative  and  superlative  of  `well')  wiser  or  more 
  advantageous  and  hence  advisable;  "it  would  be  better  to 
  speak  to  him";  "the  White  House  thought  it  best  not  to 
  respond"  [syn:  {better(p)},  {best(p)}] 
  n  1:  the  supreme  effort  one  can  make:  "they  did  their  best"  [ant: 
  {worst}] 
  2:  the  person  who  is  most  outstanding  or  excellent;  "he  could 
  beat  the  best  of  them" 
  adv  1:  in  a  most  excellent  way  or  manner;  "he  played  best  after  a 
  couple  of  martinis" 
  2:  it  would  be  sensible;  "you'd  best  stay  at  home" 
  3:  from  a  position  of  superiority  or  authority;  "father  knows 
  best";  "I  know  better."  [syn:  {better}] 
  v  :  get  the  better  of  [syn:  {outdo},  {outflank},  {trump},  {scoop}] 
 
  From  U.S.  Gazetteer  (1990)  [gazetteer]: 
 
  Best,  TX 
  Zip  code(s):  76932 
 
  From  V.E.R.A.  --  Virtual  Entity  of  Relevant  Acronyms  13  March  2001  [vera]: 
 
  BEST 
  Borland  Enhanced  Support  and  Training  (Borland) 
 
 

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