▪ I. best, a. and adv.
(bɛst)
Forms: 1 betost, betast, betest, betst (3 bezst, 3–4 beist, 4–5 beste, 5 beest), 2– best.
[Com. Teut.: OE. (adv.) bętst, earlier bętest, bętost = OFris., OS. (MDu., Du.) best, OHG. beȥȥist (MHG., mod.G. best), ON. bazt, bezt (Da. best, Sw. bäst), Goth. batist, OTeut. *batist, superlative belonging to the comp. *batiz, better, q.v. The adj. differed from the adv. only in its inflexions; as nom. sing. masc. str. OTeut. *batisto-z, Goth. batist-s, ON. bazt-r, OE. bętest, wk. se bętsta, þæt bętste, etc. By assimilation of t to following s, the word has been reduced to best in Eng., as in all modern Teut. langs.]
A. adj. The superlative degree of good: Most good. (Goodest, in 17th c. in Dryden, etc., was merely analogical; no such form is found in OTeut.) I. As simple adjective.
1. Of the highest excellence, excelling all others in quality. a. Said of persons, in respect of physical, mental, or esp. moral qualities; or as regards social standing, as in ‘the best people in the town.’
| 891 O.E. Chron. (Parker MS.), Se betsta lareow þe on Scottum wæs. c 893 K. ælfred Oros. v. iv. §3 Scipia, se besta and se selesta Romana witena. a 1000 Crist 1012 (Gr.) æð-elduguð betast. a 1075 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1052 Ealle þa eorlas and þa betstan menn. a 1300 Cursor M. 12619 Þe beste maistris of þat toun. 1382 Wyclif Dan. v. i, Balthasar, Kyng, made a grete fest to his best men a thousand. c 1435 Torr. Portugal 2752 Beste of bone and blood. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. i. ii. 102 Of many good, I thinke him best. 1601 Chester in Shaks. C. Praise 43 The best and chiefest of our moderne writers. 1693 W. Payne Pract. Disc. i. §2. 18 Some..failures and imperfections will stick to the best of Men. 1749 Fielding Tom. Jones ix. iv, I will fight the best man of you all for twenty pound. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 267 The best Roman Catholic families in England. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. i. 62 Henry VIII..was the best rider, the best lance, and the best archer in England. |
b. Said of things, in respect of their essential qualities. Applied to a room that is furnished especially well, often one reserved for special use. In
U.S.,
best room,
spec. a parlour.
| a 1075 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1052 Eall þæt æfre betst wæs. 1297 R. Glouc. 370 Edgar Aþelyng þat best kunde in Engelond adde to be Kyng. 1382 Wyclif Gen. xliii. 11 Take ȝe of the beste fruytis of the loond. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. ix. xxvi. (1495) 363 In the Saturdaye men weren aournyd..with theyr beest clothes. 1552 Bk. Com. Prayer, Commun. (Rubr.) The best and purest Wheat Bread that conveniently may be gotten. 1653 Walton Angler 179 The Pearch..and the Pike are..the best of fresh water fish. 1702 C. Fiennes Journeys (1947) i. ix. 56 These doores open through to the end one way the best bed chamber..the other side a visto. 1719 S. Sewall Diary 30 Oct. in Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. (1882) 5th Ser. VII. 233 Had a very good Dinner..in the best room. 1751 Jortin Serm. (1771) VII. i. 13 Acting according to their best judgement. 1800 Jane Austen Let. 8 Nov. (1952) 83 The little Table..has most conveniently taken itself off into the best bedroom. 1834 Southey Doctor cxcix. (1862) 532 Best..in the shopkeeper's vocabulary..is at the bottom of his scale of superlatives. 1839 F. A. Kemble Jrnl. Residence on Georgian Plantation Jan. 80 In all establishments..some disparity exists between the comforts of the drawing-room and best bed-rooms, and the servant's hall and attics. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 172 The best years of his life. 1872 Harper's Mag. Oct. 684/2 A parlor, or ‘best room’. 1911 Beerbohm Zuleika D. ii. 7 The sun streamed through the bay-window of a ‘best’ bedroom in the Warden's house. 1967 J. Speight Till Death us do Part i. 22 I've always wanted a best room, somewhere you could put all your decent bits of furniture. |
c. spec. denoting a certain grade of wrought iron; also
best best adj., of a higher quality than best;
best best best adj., of the highest quality.
| 1888 Lockwood's Dict. Terms Mech. Engin., Best, or B.—A brand of wrought-iron plate or bar equivalent to No. 3 quality, or that grade which is only just superior to the commonest... The ‘best’ plates of the first-class houses are, however, equal to the ‘best, best’ and ‘treble best’ of other firms. Ibid., Best, Best, or B.B...obtained by piling, reheating, and rerolling ‘best’ or No. 3 bars. Ibid., Best, Best, Best, or Treble Best, B.B.B. 1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 67/1 B. and B.B., brand-marks signifying Best and Best Best, placed on wrought-iron to indicate the maker's opinion of its quality. |
d. spec. in
best boat, a racing boat on the Thames, as distinguished from the heavier types;
esp. used
attrib. in
best-boat race,
best boat racing,
best boat regatta,
best boat rowing. Also
best-and-best boat,
punt: a boat of the lightest and narrowest construction, used for racing.
| 1890 Lock to Lock Times 23 Aug. 162/2 This year the amateur oarsmen have ungrudgingly given up their boats to the watermen, who have been rowing in the past regatta; wager, or ‘best’ boats, being in special demand by the fleet of scullers, who were attracted by the liberal programme. 1894 Daily News 5 May 6/5 The race will..be decided in best-and-best punts. 1897 Ibid. 30 Aug. 5/1 No best-boat racing will be attempted. 1927 Observer 24 July 26/2 The best-boat rowing season..is all too short. |
2. a. Of persons: Most kind or beneficent. Of persons and things: Most advantageous or suitable for the object in view; most appropriate or desirable.
| a 1000 Beowulf 6007 Nu is ofost betost, þæt we þeodcyning þær sceawian. a 1240 Ureisun 129 in Lamb. Hom. 197 Nim nu ȝeme to me so me best a beo ðe beo. 1297 R. Glouc. 504 To loki, wat were best to do. a 1300 Cursor M. 5287 He þat til his in nede es beste. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. v. 299 As best is for the soule. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cv. 126 It was thought nat beste to employ his people then. 1569 J. Rogers Gl. Godly Love 187 [He] knoweth what is beste for you. 1605 Shakes. Macb. iii. iv. 4 In best time We will require her welcome. 1716 in Lond. Gaz. No. 5445/3 To be sold to the best Purchaser. 1879 Lockyer Elem. Astron. iii. §28. 157 The best way to obtain a knowledge of the various constellations. Mod. colloq. Which of your brothers is best to you? |
b. best friend, one's favourite friend (of persons and
transf. of things); also in
colloq. phr. to be ‘best friends’ with (a person).
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 412 When he, that for my beste freend I wende. 1609 Beaumont & Fletcher Kn. Burn. Pestle 111, Luce. No my best friend. 1671 [see friend n. 5 d]. 1796 M. Edgeworth Parent's Assistant (ed. 2) I. 23 Ay, go along with its best friend, and take care it does not get into a scrape. 1885 C. M. Yonge Two Sides of Shield II. vii. 130 ‘I want to be friends with both. One can have two friends.’ ‘No! no! no! not two best friends. And you are my best friend, Nysie.’ 1905 F. H. Burnett Little Princess iii. 36 Lavinia and Jessie are ‘best friends’... I wish we could be ‘best friends’. 1967 E. McGirr Here lies my Wife v. 149 Our mothers are on best-friend terms. |
c. best girl (
girl n. 2 c), a man's favourite female companion.
orig. U.S. Also
ellipt. (
U.S. slang) for
best girl.
| 1887 Texas Siftings 7 May 11/2 You can't convince a young man whose best girl has just said ‘Yes’ that this country is going to wreck and ruin. 1904 Democrat (Celina, Ohio) in Daily Chron. 23 Feb. 5/2 Wm. Londen and best were at church Sunday evening. 1904 Indicator (Merriweather, Georgia) in Daily Chron. 21 May 4/5 Messrs. Bub Peary and Pierce Biggers called on their best girls last Sunday afternoon. 1918 Punch 16 Jan. 38/3 When he [sc. a Tommy] gave me an unprovoked smile..I hoped that perhaps I reminded him of his best girl. 1944 Sat. Rev. 8 July 16/2 To pluck a bouquet for his best girl. |
3. Largest, most;
esp. in
best part.
| 1538 Lisle Papers XI. 49 Twenty nobles, of which I think he doth owe the best part for his rent. 1647 W. Browne Polex. i. 215 The Artillery plaid, the best of an houre, on both sides. 1697 Potter Antiq. Greece ii. x. (1715) 293 Fiery foam..which cover'd the best part of its natural Azure. 1834 Beckford Italy II. 265, I..rode the best part of the way. 1877 A. B. Edwards Up Nile xii. 318 The best part of three days. |
4. In the idiomatic
I, you, etc. had best (formerly
me were best, afterwards
I were best): it would be most advantageous for me, you, etc. For the history see
better.
| c 1330 Lay le Freine 107 Yete me is best take mi chaunce. 1393 Gower Conf. II. 306 What thing him were best to do. |
| 1483 Cron. Englonde (1510) Q 6 b, He wyste not what he was beste to do. 1509 Fisher Fun. Serm. Wks. 1876 i. 292 Doubtfull in her mynde what she were best to do. 1584 Lyly Campaspe iv. i, He were best be as cunning as a bee. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. i. iii. 24 Tell me, whether were I best to send him? 1611 ― Cymb. iii. ii. 59 Madam, you're best consider. 1628 Powerf. Fav. 77 Liuia may..resolue whether she were best to marry againe. 1636 Ariana 102 Ignorant of what hee was best to doe. |
| 1559 Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 61 You had best omit the worke. c 1590 Marlowe Faust (1st. vers.) ix, Stand aside, you had best. 1639 Massinger Unnat. Combat v. ii, Thou hadst best follow her. 1710 Addison Tatler No. 221 ¶2 Whether I had best sell my Beetles in a Lump. 1777 Garrick Sheridan's Sch. Scand. Prol. 21 A certain Lord had best beware. 1608 Southey Lett. (1856) II. 52 The ‘Monthly’ must needs be sore, and had best be civil. 1877 Mallock New Rep. (1878) 145, I had best not give her any. |
5. Phrases and
locutions.
a. best work: a miner's term for the best class of ore. Also best-man.
to put one's best foot or leg foremost: to do one's best to get on.
to turn the best side outward: to make the best appearance possible.
at the best-hand: see
hand.
best end, the end of a neck of lamb, mutton, or veal consisting of the ribs;
opp. scrag-end.
| 1663 Pepys Diary 9 Nov., A conceited man, and one that would put the best side outward. 1670 Cotton Espernon ii. viii. 364 Espernon..endeavour'd nevertheless all he could to turn the best side outward. 1840 Barham Ingol. Leg., St. Odille vi, She set off and ran, Put her best leg before. 1728, 1874 Best end [see scrag n.1 2]. 1936 Mencken Amer. Lang. (ed. 4) vi. 236 What we call the rib chops are [in England] the best end of the neck or best end. 1962 House & Garden Nov. 93/1 Crown roast of lamb. Ingredients: 2 best ends of neck (there are usually 6 cutlets in each). |
b. to give (a person or thing) best: to admit the superiority of, give way to. Also
absol.| 1888 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms I. vii. 94, I could hardly stand for laughing till the calf gave him best and walked. 1895 A. B. Paterson Man from Snowy River (1906) 71 My country joker, are you going to give it best? Are you frightened of the fences? 1911 J. Masefield Everlasting Mercy 31 In all the show from birth to rest I give the poor dumb cattle best. 1927 T. E. Lawrence Let. 1 Dec. (1938) 549 Those people who have compared the versions generally give me best with the new one. 1959 Times 20 Nov. 18/5 It was now the turn of the young professionals to give best. |
II. absol. (rarely passing into
n.)
6. pl. (formerly also
sing.) The best people.
| c 1050 Ags. Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker Voc. 466 Prestantissimus, se betesta, and se fyrmesta. 1091 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.), Ðas forewarde ᵹesworan xii þa betste of þes cynges healfe. c 1205 Lay. 707 Brutus þe wes cnight mid þane beste. c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. A. 279 I-wyse quoth I my blysfol beste. 1737 Pope Hor. Epist. ii. i. 286 Observe how seldom e'en the best succeed. |
7. sing. a. The best thing, point, circumstance, element.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 3 Heo nomen heore claþes and þe beste þet heo hefde. 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 166 Prouyde for the woorst, the best wyll saue it selfe. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. iii. i. 349 The best is, she hath no teeth to bite. 1597 Daniel Civ. Wares ii. xxiv, We needes must take the seeming best of bad. 1654 W. Jenkyn On Jude (1845) 30 The best is best cheap. a 1693 Killigrew Chit-chat i. i, I confess bad is the best. |
b. individualized, or with
indef. article
a. spec. = record n. 5 d.
| c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. xci, All these I better in one generall best. 1765 Tucker Lt. Nat. I. 617 That unknown best appointed by divine provision. Ibid. The best we may attain by the road of virtue and discretion will be..a better best, than any we can arrive at [otherwise]. 1881 Sportsman's Year-bk. 192 [Cortis] has accomplished bests on record at 10 and 20 miles. 1884 Christmas Illus. Lond. News 19/3 For certainly if I have a best I have not put it on. 1930 F. A. M. Webster Athletics of to-day for Women vi. 86 Miss M. A. Gunn..ripped through her heat in 142/5 secs., thus equalling the world's record and beating Miss Hatt's British best. 1963 G. F. D. Pearson et al. Athletics i. ii. 40 Snell was obviously not deterred by having to set personal bests en route to..the Gold Medal in Rome. Ibid. iv. 85 Lord Burghley, who produced a best of 14·5 sec. in 1930. Ibid. ii. vii. 154 A stupendous new world's best of 63 ft. 13/4 in. |
c. all the best: an expression of goodwill, used as a toast or a valediction.
| 1937 M. Sharp Nutmeg Tree xv. 192 All the best, Fred. 1951 J. B. Priestley Fest. Farbridge i. ii. 78 Let's drink to it. All the best! |
d. best of (a specified odd number): (applied to) a series of games, contests, etc., between two parties in which the first to gain a majority of successes (points, etc.) is declared the overall winner;
usu. attrib. (hyphened).
| 1895 H. W. W. Wilberforce Lawn Tennis 77 All matches shall be the best of three advantage-sets. 1933 Ld. Aberdare Rackets, &c. ix. 109 A match shall consist of the best of five games. 1957 Encycl. Brit. XIII. 792/2 A match in England and the U.S. consists ordinarily of the best of three or the best of five sets. 1977 Time 19 Sept. 56/1 Among the eagle-eyed yachting fraternity that swarmed into historic Newport for the best-of-seven series, there was nearly unanimous agreement. |
8. With possessive.
one's best:
† a. what is best for one;
b. the best one can (do);
esp. in
to do one's best, formerly,
the best of one's power.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 2456 (Gött.), Þai most nede part to seke þair beste [Fairf. to do þaire best]. 1423 Jas. I. Kings Q. v, My best was more to loke Vpon the writing of this noble man. c 1530 Ld. Berners Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814) 235, I shall do the best of my power. 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. May 225 Ne for all his worst, nor for his best Open the dore at his request. 1585 Abp. Sandys Serm. (1841) 112 When a man hath done his best, he must then begin again. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. ii. ii. 145 Do thy best To pluck this crawling serpent from my brest. 1599 Sandys Evropæ Spec. (1637) 247, I have..also, to my best, avoyded that rashnesse. c 1620 Z. Boyd Zion's Flowers (1855) 42 To turne to him's our best. 1733 Pope Hor. Sat. ii. vi. 173 He did his best to seem to eat. 1863 Kingsley Water Bab. 7 [He] would have done and behaved his best. |
c. Best state, point, or condition.
| 1571 Golding Calvin on Ps. xxxix. 6 When man seemeth to bee at his best, hee is altogither nothing. 1828 H. Steuart Plant. Guide 489 Whatever is at its best..can admit of no further improvement. 1832 Athenæum 197 She was at her best both as to voice and exertion on Tuesday last. 1871 Smiles Charac. i. (1876) 1 It exhibits man at his best. |
d. Best clothes.
| 1790 Burns Tam O'Shanter, It was her best, and she was vauntie. 1794 Southey Bot. Bay Eclog. ii, To go to fair I drest..in my Sunday's best. 1830 Galt Lawrie T. v. viii. (1849) 227 Mr. Herbert joined me, also in his modest best. 1859 Jephson Brittany xvi. 271 Little family parties dressed in their Sunday best. |
e. Ellipt. for ‘best wishes’;
usu. one's best.
U.S. colloq.| 1922 F. Scott Fitzgerald Let. Jan. (1964) 332 Zelda sends best. 1953 W. Stevens Let. 28 Jan. (1967) 770 My best to Marianne Moore. 1969 Rolling Stone 28 June 13 Billy Jean came here tonight, too, and she sends her best. |
III. Phrases.
9. With
verbs.
a. to have the best (
obs.),
to have the best of it: to have the advantage in a contest, or greatest possible advantage in a transaction, and
hence, the least possible disadvantage or loss; so
b. to make the best of.
c. to make the best of one's way: to go by the most advantageous route, hence, to go with the greatest possible speed.
| a. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, v. iii. 20 We hauing now the best at Barnet field. 1647 W. Browne Polex. ii. 343, I see well that Polexander must have the best..of his Enemies. 1832 Moore Wks. (1862) 561 Those who had the best of the joke. 1846 Browning Luria i. i, You have so plainly here the best of it. 1871 Tyndall Fragm. Sc. viii. 135 To conclude that the other had the best of it. |
| b. a 1626 Bacon (J.), Carry their commodities where they may make the best of them. 1694 R. Lestrange Fables (1708) II. 75 Making the Best of a Bad Game. 1836 Dickens Sk. Boz (C.D. ed.) 36 Accustomed to take things as they came, and to make the best of a bad job. 1862 Trollope Orley F. i. (1874) 11 Making the best of it for herself. |
| c. 1704 Addison Italy 4 The next Day we again set Sail, and made the best of our way. 1716 Lond. Gaz. No. 5450/2 Captain Vernon was ordered..to make the best of his Way to Sheerness. 1868 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) II. vii. 154 The two brothers made the best of their way towards Bristol. |
10. With
prepositions:
a. † at the best,
at best: at the best possible pitch, in the best possible way, manner, or condition; see also
quot. 1812.
Obs. at best: (taken) in the best circumstances, in the most favourable aspect, making every allowance, at most; also in
Finance, at the best possible pitch or price.
at one's best: see 8 c.
† at the best hand (see
hand n. 10 b).
at the best of times: even in the most advantageous conditions or circumstances.
| c 1325 Coer de L. 132 The wynd..servede hem atte the best. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 29 And wel we weren esed atte beste [v.r. at the beste]. c 1399 Pol. Poems (1859) II. 6 To stere peace oghte every man alyve..Ffor so this world mai stonden ate beste. 1485 Caxton Trevisa's Higden i. xxx. (1527) 31 Of whiche cleye men make erthen vessell at beste. 1586 Cogan Haven Health (1636) 169 Shell fishes be at the best when the moon increaseth, as the Poet Horace noteth. 1604 Shakes. Oth. i. iii. 171 Good Brabantio, take up this mangled matter at the best. 1812 Vaux Flash Lang. 155 To get your money at the best, signifies to live by dishonest or fraudulent practices, without labour or industry. |
| 1629 H. Burton Truth's Tri. 133 Our inherent righteousnesse, call it Christs merits, or what you will, is at the best but as Piscis in arido. 1645 Quarles Sol. Recant. iii. 48 Thy days are ev'll at best. 1722 De Foe Col. Jack (1840) 286 Man is a shortsighted creature at best. 1796 Burke Regic. Peace Wks. 1845 IV. 513 'Tis a random shot at best. 1841 Myers Cath. Th. iv. §19. 276 External Evidence must at the very best be but partial and secondary. 1938 Times 29 Sept. 19/1 Numerous orders to sell ‘at best’ have been given recently in respect of small amounts of rubber. |
| 1936 Bentley & Allen Trent's Own Case iv. 30 A shifty-looking character at the best of times, thought the Inspector; and now looking sick and frightened. 1966 M. Kelly Dead Corse x. 162 Allie could not take drink at the best of times. |
b. for the best: intended for, aiming at, tending to, the best result.
† for my, his, etc. best: for my, his, etc. greatest advantage (
obs.).
† for best: finally;
cf. ‘for good (and all),’ ‘for better or for worse’ (
obs.).
| c 1386 Chaucer Melib. ¶271, I speke for youre beste. ― Frankl. T. 158 Al is for the best. c 1450 Why I can't be Nun 156 in E.E.P. (1862) 142, I hope hyt schalle be for the best. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iii. iii. 170, I hope all's for the best. 1607 ― Cor. iv. vi. 144 That we did we did for the best. 1794 Southey Bot. Bay Eclog. iii, But all's for the best. |
| a 1674 Milton (Webster), Those constitutions..are now established for best, and not to be mended. |
c. in the best = at best (see 10 a).
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. i. v. 27 Murther most foule, as in the best it is. |
d. of the best: of the best quality or sort. In
colloq. phrases: (
i) (a specified number,
esp. six) of the best, a thrashing; (
ii) referring to a sum of money: pounds or dollars; (
iii)
one of the best: a good fellow.
| 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1725) I. 183 Ten sergeanz of þe best his targe gan him bere. c 1420 Anturs of Arth. lv, Boke-lornut byrners and bischoppus of the beste. c 1510 Skelton E. Rummyng (1568) line 265 And dame Elinoure entreaet To byrle them of the best. 1534 in E. Peacock Eng. Ch. Furniture (1866) 185 It{mtilde} ix cusshions of the best wherof..be backyd w{ttilde} red lether. 1828 T. C. Croker Fairy Leg. 481 After a supper which was of the best, they embarked. |
| 1912 ‘Saki’ Unbearable Bassington ii. 29 You'll get six of the very best, over the back of a chair. 1923 Kipling Land & Sea Tales 110, I got nine cuts of the best from the Senior Sub for occupying the bathroom ten seconds too long. 1929 Wodehouse Mr. Mulliner Speaking ix. 297 He was..an officious little devil who needed six of the best with a fives-bat. |
| 1911 E. Wallace Sanders of River v. 103, I wouldn't take a half-share of the trouble he's going to find for five hundred of the best. 1920 Wodehouse Let. 28 Feb. in Perf. Flea (1953) 15 Heaven knows what a women's magazine wants with my sort of stuff, but they are giving me fifteen thousand of the best for it. 1928 Galsworthy Swan Song ii. xii. 204 The walrus put down five thousand of the best. |
| 1917 ‘Contact’ Airman's Outings 238 The brigades are directed by the General-Officer-Commanding.., one of the best, who treats us like brothers. 1959 Listener 22 Jan. 155/1 Harry Truman was one of the best. |
e. to the best: in the best sense, for the best. (
obs.) Also, To the utmost effort or extent (of one's power, knowledge, belief, etc.).
| 1503–4 Act 19 Hen. VII, xxxiv. Pream., To helpe and assiste hym to the best of their power. 1531 Tindale Exp. & Notes (1849) 175 He taketh it to the best, and is not offended. 1843 C. Brontë in Life (1857) I. 290 She..will always serve you..to the best of her abilities. 1863 Fr. Kemble Resid. Georgia 132 To the best of his belief. 1885 Law Rep. XIV. Q. Bench Div. 891 There was no such inspector to the best of our knowledge. |
f. with the best (of them): as well as anyone.
| 1748 M. W. Montagu Let. 5 Jan. (1966) II. 393, I can ass[ure you] she jumps and Gallops with the best of them. 1864 Tennyson Grandmother 20 Only at your age, Annie, I could have wept with the best. 1935 ‘L. Luard’ Conquering Seas 32, I can make tea with the best of 'em, Peter. 1957 I. Cross God Boy (1958) xxii. 187, I can drag my share out of the old girls with the best of them. |
11. a. Comb. with
ns. used
attrib., as
best-quality.
| 1906 Westm. Gaz. 12 Nov. 2/3 It is on the best-quality produce, not the second quality..that the British agriculturalist can make the most money. 1960 Farmer & Stockbr. 29 Mar. 116/3 The production of the best-quality wood. |
b. Comb. with advbs. used
attrib., as
best-ever.
| 1959 News Chron. 23 Nov. 3/4 Twelve of Duke Ellington's best-ever pop up on..a set of re-issues from the early 'forties. 1960 Times 6 Feb. 9/1 Many a game book received its best-ever entry. |
B. adv. Superlative of
well.
1. With
vbs. In the most excellent way, in the most eminent degree; in the most suitable manner, with the greatest advantage, to the fullest extent. (For the
obs. alder-best, best of all, see
all.)
| c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. ii, Ða bereafodon ælcere lustbærnesse þa ða ic him æfre betst truwode. a 1067 Chart. Eadweard in Cod. Dipl. IV. 208 Swa freolice swa hit ic meseolf betst habbe. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 7 Þenne þu wenest þu scalt libben alre best. c 1205 Lay. 26606 Þe bezst [1250 best] þat lond cneowen. c 1380 Wyclif De Dot. Eccl. Sel. Wks. III. 433 Ensaumple of siche deds exponeþ best Cristis lawe. c 1420 Sir Amadace xl, He that furst is inne the feld, And best thenne justus thare. 1596 Spenser F.Q. ii. i. 59 But after death the tryall is to come, When best shall be to them, that liued best. 1602 T. Scott Four Parad. in Farr S.P. II. 315 He that knowes thee best, knowes nought at all. 1615 R. Brathwait Love's Labyr. (1878) 276 A Countrie lasse best fits a Countrie Swaine. c 1655 Milton Sonn. xix, Who best Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. c 1680 Beveridge Serm. 1729 I. 358 Cannot but..believe it to be well done, yea the best that could be. 1715 Burnet Own Times (1823) I. 391 He excused himself the best he could. 1797 Coleridge Anc. Mar. vii. xxiii, He prayeth best, who loveth best All things both great and small. 1843 Macaulay Ess. (1850) 686 The man who does best what multitudes do well. |
2. With
adjs. and
pples. written (for syntactical distinctness) with the hyphen.
a. In the most excellent manner; as,
best-aimed,
best-bred,
best-built,
best-clad,
best-conducted,
best-considered,
† best-consulted (most prudent, or best-advised),
best-cultivated,
best-dressed,
best-established,
best-grounded,
best-kept,
best-laid,
best-looking,
best-made,
best-managed,
best-meaning (most well-meaning),
best-meant,
best-moving,
best-preserved,
best-trained, etc.
| 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. ii. 29 We single you As our best-mouing faire soliciter. a 1659 Osborn Observ. Turks (1673) 288 Queen Elizabeth..the best consulted Monarch that ever filled the English Throne. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. II. 327 The best-meaning person in the world may err. 1762 Hume Hist. Eng. (1806) V. lxx. 253 Multitudes struck with the best-grounded terror. 1765 Tucker Lt. Nat. II. 155 Counter to the clearest best-established principles of reason. 1785 Burns To Mouse vii, The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley. 1790 Beatson Nav. & Mil. Mem. 241 To frustrate all our best-laid plans. 1794 Coleridge Relig. Musings 119 In her best-aimed blow Victorious murder a blind suicide. 1837 Lockhart Scott (1839) VIII. 12 The best looking of her daughters. 1844 Marg. Fuller Wom. 19th C. (1862) 147 The best-considered efforts have often failed. 1856 Farmer's Mag. Nov. 384 The prizes given..for the best regulated farms. 1863 Lyell Antiq. Man 69 The best-preserved human skulls. 1903 A. Bennett Leonora viii. 206 We are relying on you to be the best-dressed woman in the place. 1956 Nature 4 Feb. 214/1 In a night they [sc. worms] may cover a best-kept green with little piles of earth. 1964 McCall's Sewing i. 1/1 There are several ways to earn a place in the list of ‘best-dressed’ women in your town. 1968 Guardian 10 Aug. 6/2 You would certainly never win a best-kept village competition that way. |
b. To the fullest extent, most: forming comb. differing little from ordinary superlatives; now usually written with the hyphen; as,
best-abused,
best-accomplished,
best-beloved,
best-described,
best-discussed,
best-esteemed,
best-frequented,
best-hated,
best-known,
best-loved,
best-read,
best-skilled, etc.; including many
obs. or
arch. uses, as
best able,
best agreeable,
best-betrust (most to be trusted),
best learned,
best nourishing,
best pleasing,
best valiant,
best worthy, etc.
| c 1435 Torr. Portugal 786 Let Torrent her have, For best worthy ys he. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 17 b, He sente his..best beloved sone into this worlde. 1571 R. Ascham Scholem. i. (1863) 12 The best learned, and best men. 1579 E. K. in Spenser's Sheph. Cal. Gen. Argt. §2 The vsed and best knowen name. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. ii. ii. 181, I doe feast to-night My best-esteemd acquaintance. 1601 Downfall Earl Huntington v. i, And you Lord Ely! and old best-betruss'd? 1620 Venner Via Recta iii. 66 They are best agreeable to cholericke bodies. 1622 Bacon Hen. VII, 124 Best-bee-trust-Spies. 1641 Hinde J. Bruen 114 The first and best, and best worthy to bee first. 1685 Otway Windsor Cast., The ugliest snakes, and best lov'd favourites there. 1724 Waterland Eucharist (1737) 41 The generality of the best learned Men interpret it of the Eucharist. 1742 Jarvis Quix. i. i. vii, To give me what I am best able to bear. 1844 Marg. Fuller Wom. 19th C. (1862) 56 Binding the emblem of faith on the heart of the best-beloved. 1848 Punch XV. 155/1 We have heard certain persons whose claims to distinction arose from their being the ‘best abused men in the world’. 1866 G. Macdonald Ann. Q. Neighb. viii. (1878) 128 Will better know what is best to know than the best-read bishop. 1869 Church Times 26 Feb., [Pusey] for years and years the best abused man in England. 1872 Jenkinson Guide Eng. Lakes (1879) 4 One of the best-frequented houses in the district. 1900 Daily News 16 Feb. 7/2 Englishmen are the best-hated people in the world. 1903 ‘A. McNeill’ Egregious Eng. 100 The best-discussed and best-described man in England. |
c. In parasynthetic comb. (where the hyphen is always used), meaning ‘having the best thing of its kind’; as,
best-conditioned,
i.e. best condition +
-ed, having or being in the best condition; so
best-graced,
best-humoured,
best-intentioned,
best-minded,
best-natured,
best-policied,
best-principled,
best-resolved,
best-sighted,
best-tempered, etc.
best-graced (1580),
best-tempered (1594), may really belong to a., but lead to such as
best-minded (1586),
best-natured (1690).
| 1580 Sidney Arcadia 144 One of the proprest and best-graced men that euer I sawe. a 1586 ― in Farr S.P. I. 75 Lest the best minded..Bend to abuses. 1594 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. ii. 381 Those natures that are most moderate and best tempered. 1627 Bp. Hall Char. Virtues & V. 174 Blind in no mans cause, best-sighted in his owne. 1690 Norris Beatitudes (1692) 134 He had the Best-natured..Soul in the World. 1774 Goldsm. Retal. Postscr., Thou best humoured man with the worst humoured muse. 1789 M. Huber in Ld. Auckland's Corr. (1861) II. 326 The two best-intentioned..of their order. 1840 Carlyle Heroes vi. 369 The best-conditioned of kings! 1863 J. C. Jeaffreson Sir Everard's Dau. 208 The best-natured fellow alive. |
3. a. With
agent-nouns, as
best-wisher (
cf. well-wisher).
| 1876 C. M. Yonge Womankind viii. 58 Their best wishers are thankful if half are lost. |
b. best seller (
orig. U.S.), one of the books having the largest sale of the year or the season; also, a writer of such books; also
transf. and
attrib.; hence (as a back-formation)
best-sell v. intr., to be or become a best seller;
best-sellerdom,
-sellership, the state or achievement of being a best seller;
best-sellerism, concentration on best sellers;
best-selling a., that is a best seller.
| 1889 Kansas Times & Star 25 Apr., Kansas City's literary tone is improving. The six best sellers here last week were ‘Fools of Nature’ [etc.]. 1895 Bookman July 429/2 The best selling new book is Mr. Stockton's Adventures of Captain Horn. 1905 Out West (U.S.) Sept. 363 To be able to discuss the Six Best Sellers has become as much an article of faith as any in the Longer Catechism. 1913 R. W. Chambers Gay Rebellion ii. 28 Go on with the dolly dialogue..you third-rate best seller. 1920 Chambers's Jrnl. 8 May 363/2 [He] promised to reach the doubtful altitude of best-sellership without difficulty. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 450 He has cribbed some of my bestselling books. 1925 Punch 20 May 560/1 Fiction of best-seller quality and little more. 1926 W. R. Inge Lay Thoughts 190 Best-selling novels. 1928 Daily Express 1 June 5/3 ‘A house can be full of sweet scents..’ writes one of our best-sellers, and he is perfectly right. Ibid. 16 July 8 A ‘best-selling’ biography. 1928 Publishers' Weekly 24 Nov. 2184/2 Two books that almost made the Best Seller List. 1928 Weseen Dict. Eng. Gram. 120 Coined Words... Bestsellerdom. 1931 O. H. Cheney Economic Surv. Book Industry i. iii. 126 Best-sellerism is an intolerable curse on the industry. 1937 Observer 8 Aug. 6/5 And, in the words of the elderly, this is a thoroughly ‘nice’ book. I think it may best-sell. 1938 H. Granville-Barker Quality 11 Authors..who set out in a businesslike way to supply what is supposed to be most in demand..taking example by the latest best seller. 1946 Sat. Rev. Lit. 19 Jan. 7/1 It is one of those rare books which, fated for bestsellerdom, will at the same time interest..the serious, adult reader. 1956 A. Wilson Anglo-Saxon Attitudes ii. i. 200 All the bad writers and painters who aren't even best⁓sellers. |
Add:
[A.] [I.] [1.] e. best boy orig. and chiefly
U.S., the principal assistant to the chief electrician or ‘gaffer’ in a film crew.
| 1937 J. Arnold in N. Naumburg We make Movies xi. 158 The gaffer's assistant..answers to the amusing title of best boy! 1954 Western Folklore XIII. 9 ‘Gaffer’..usually applies peculiarly to electrical foremen. The ‘gaffer's’ assistant is the ‘best boy’. 1977 Washington Post 27 Feb. e13/2 There appears to be a long tradition of providing detailed and exact information on cast and production personnel, down to such lower rungs of the status ladder as ‘gaffer’, ‘key grip’ and even, occasionally, ‘best boy’. 1983 Verbatim Summer 8/1 I've known a few ‘best boys’, and most of them have been very close to the time of life for Social Security. |
[11.] c. Comb. with
prep. used
attrib., as
best before date, the date marked on a food package, after which the contents may be expected to deteriorate.
Cf. sell-by date s.v. sell v. 15 b.
| [1980 Food Labelling Regulations (Statutory Instrument No. 1849) Reg. 20 (1), The minimum durability of a food shall be indicated by—(a) the words ‘best before’ followed by the date up to and including which the food can reasonably be expected to retain its specific properties if properly stored.] 1983 Which? Oct. 445/4 We'd prefer to see them labelled like other foods (some supermarkets already do label them in this way) with a ‘sell-by’ or ‘best before’ date. 1990 Times 28 Mar. 2/6 A particular concern has been the re-dating of food sold off cheap near to the expiry of the ‘best before’ date and then re-dated to appear on market stalls and the like. |
Add:
[A.] [III.] [11.] [a.] best-case.
| 1975 Aviation Week 10 Nov. 23/2 Fuel saving ranged from a *best-case estimate of $120,911 per airplane per year to a worst-case estimate of $78,556. 1977 Sci. Amer. July 22/1 These and other possible outcomes are envisioned in ‘best-case scenarios’ for the future application of recombinant-DNA technology. 1991 J. Mander In Absence of Sacred i. ii. 30 The information we are given describes the technologies solely in terms of their best-case use. This is so even when the inventors have significant knowledge of terrible downside possibilities. |
▸
Brit.best pleased: most pleased, particularly pleased. Now chiefly in negative contexts.
In earlier use
prob. not as a fixed collocation.
| 1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour iii. xxviii. sig. iv, Diuers will assent to that reasons, wherewith they suppose that he whiche is chiefe in authoritie wyll be best pleased. 1624 Earl of Strafford Let. 14 Aug. (1739) I. 23, I was best pleased to hear of that Commodity, being for all the rest John Indifferent. 1775 C. Johnston Pilgrim 122 The Archbishop and he have parted not the best pleased with each other, which has put my friend a little in the pensives. 1837 Dickens Pickwick Papers xxvii. 277 The deputy shepherd seemed by no means best pleased with Sam's arrival. 1932 A. Huxley Let. 19 Mar. (1969) 359 In Cannes, we saw H. G. Wells who, I fear, wasn't best pleased with it. 1996 Independent 7 Mar. 9/3 [He], along with 80 of his colleagues at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, is not best pleased with his superiors. |
▸
the best of both worlds: the benefits available from two desirable (but seemingly incompatible) options.
| [1673 J. Flavell Fountain of Life xx. 254 Christ asks no trifles, no small things for his People. No Mercies, but the best that both worlds afford will suffice him.] 1847 Ladies' Repository June 188/2 She has become a member of a family, embracing the best of both worlds, whose lineage reaches backward to the creation, and forward through ages unnumbered and unknown. 1860 E. House Homilist lxii. 368 The religious man does make ‘the best of both worlds’, but it is not by serving God and mammon. 1960 Daily Tel. 20 Aug. 7/1 A waterfront hotel where you can..have the best of both worlds by spending your holiday sailing yet being able to live ashore in warm, dry comfort. 2003 Time Out N.Y. 14 Aug. 75/3 In theory, we get the best of both worlds: a doclike sense of Pekar's real-life personality on the one hand, the tidiness of narrative fiction on the other. |
▸
best in (also of) show: the best of all entrants in a competition or show,
spec. the dog judged best of the winners of the various classes at a dog show; the overall winner; (also with capital initials) the award given to such a winner.
| 1883 Forest & Stream 27 Sept. 170/3 She..won the special as best in show..with her kennel companion Garrylord. 1939 Zanesville (Ohio) Signal 30 Sept. 12 (caption) Be interested in pumpkins because the best-of-show will bring a prize of $10. 1955 Times 7 Apr. 5/4 Owlsmoor..won the gun dog group and was made best-in-show of all breeds. 1989 C. Clark Amer. Wines of Northwest ii. ix. 285 Hogue's very first Cabernet Sauvignon..took Best of Show at the large Atlanta wine festival. 2005 Winnipeg Sun (Nexis) 21 Nov. 6 It's a great feeling when your dog wins Best In Show. |
▸
best of breed:
(a) the animal judged to be the best of its breed in a competition or show,
esp. a dog show; (also) the award given to such an animal;
(b) (in extended use) an item or product considered to be the best in a particular category.
| 1892 Indiana (Pa.) Progress (Electronic text) 6 Jan. These are the best of breed and will be sold at some price. 1939 Times 8 June 13/4 Mrs. Hubert Roberts's French bulldog..also made best of breed. 1989 Atlantic Apr. 97/3 The best of breed in all the most vital genres of the time—screwball comedies, crime dramas, [etc.]. 1999 Time 8 Mar. 85/1 The Pentium II, whose best of breed clocks in now at 450 MHz. 2006 Independent (Nexis) 11 Mar. 12 Mrs Oliver [sc. a dog] does not, when it comes to it, win best of breed. |
▸
to give something one's best shot: to do the best that one can; to apply one's very best efforts. Esp. in
to give it one's best shot.
| 1952 Traverse City (Mich.) Record-Eagle 17 Apr. 16/6 I'm giving it my best shot now... I don't know how to do any better. 1986 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 30 July 52/2 ‘Okay Dad,’ he promised. ‘I'll give it my best shot.’ 1990 Egg Aug. 74/3 If he doesn't give acting his best shot now, how will he ever know if he could have made it or not? 2000 J. Goodwin Danny Boy v. 121 We'll give it our best shot, old mate. |
▸
best bitter n. orig. and chiefly
Brit. a bitter beer distinguished for its higher quality, strength, etc.,
esp. from among a range of beers produced by a particular brewer.
| 1908 E. T. Fowler Miss Fallowfield's Fortune x. 157 He..enjoyed a hearty meal..washed down with a pint o' *best bitter. 1951 P. Branch Lion in Cellar i. 11 Not the best bitter..but the weaker one which she privately referred to as ‘cooking’. 1969 G. Greene Trav. with my Aunt i. xx. 213 ‘Another double’, ‘Pint of best bitter’, ‘Double pink’. 2006 Irish News (Nexis) 16 Jan. 51 The studio pundits..are a throwback to the halcyon days of best bitter and double brandies on the oche. |
▸
best-of n. Music colloq. a compilation album featuring selections representing the best works or performances of a musician, group, etc.
| [1963 J. B. Morton (title) The best of Beachcomber.] 1972 Let it Rock Dec. 9/4 There are also two ‘Best Ofs’ on WB. The first one below is excellent, the second contains some re-recordings of Cadence tracks. 1990 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 26 Dec. 8/3 When a new recording, or a popular ‘best-of’ recording is issued, don't release them on LP. 1992 Folk Roots Sept. 45/1 Topic have done a ‘Best of’ from their three Simpson albums. 2005 Guardian 29 July (Friday Rev. section) 5/2 There seems to be a..shift even in the area of ‘heritage rock’, which previously relied on CD reissues, best-ofs and box sets. |
▸
best practice n. chiefly
Business (as a mass noun) the practice which is accepted by consensus or prescribed by regulation as correct; the preferred or most appropriate style.
| 1984 C. Hitching & D. Stone Understand Accounting! xvi. 315 Some of these have for long been regarded as ‘*best practice’, and most have already been defined within the accounting standards. 1993 J. Kay Found. Corporate Success vii. xxi. 350 To look at what other firms do, and copy it. This strategy is more felicitously expressed as adopting best practice. 2005 J. Diamond Collapse (2006) xv. 474 The essence of FSC certification is that consumers can believe it, because it is..the result of an examination, against internationally accepted standards of best practice. |
▪ II. best, v. colloq. (
bɛst)
[f. prec. Of dialectal origin, from the idea of ‘getting the better of,’ ‘having the best of it’; but the form is hardly in accordance with the sense, which is nearly equivalent to the existing vb. to worst, i.e. ‘to make worst, put to the worst’; cf. also to better, to make better, improve.] trans. To get the better of, get an advantage over, outdo; to outreach, outwit, circumvent.
| 1863 Trafford World in Ch. II. 77 As I am a staunch Churchman I cannot stand quiet and see the Dissenters best the Establishment. 1885 May in Fortn. Rev. Oct. 578 The quack broker who piles up money by besting his clients. |
▪ III. best obs. f. beast;
obs. Sc. f. based, see
base v.
1;
obs. 2nd.
sing. indic. of
be v.