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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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