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Vinony

best

noun

  1. superlative form of good : most good
L316951 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. triumph over, beat
L330923 on Wikidata ↗

adverb

  1. superlative form of good : most good
L333610 on Wikidata ↗

adjective

  1. superlative form of good : most good
  2. highest degree or extent of
L334835 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈbɛst/ / /ˈbest/ / /bɛst/

adj

Etymology: From Middle English best, beste, from Old English bezt, betest, from Proto-Germanic *batistaz. Cognates Cognate with Scots best (“best”), Cimbrian peste, péste (“best”), Dutch best (“best”), German beste (“best”), Yiddish בעסט (best, “best”), Danish bedst (“best”), Faroese bestur (“best”), Icelandic bestur, beztur (“best”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk best (“best”), Swedish bäst (“best”), Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐍄𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃 (batists, “best”).

  1. superlative form of good: most good.

    “I can either be your best friend or your worst enemy.”

    “[…] when he is beſt, he is a little worſe then a man, and when he is worſt, he is little better than a beaſt:”

  2. Most; largest.

    “Unpacking took the best part of a week.”

  3. Most superior; most favorable.

    “In my opinion, mushrooms are the best pizza toppings.”

adv

Etymology: From Middle English best, beste, from Old English bezt, betest, from Proto-Germanic *batistaz. Cognates Cognate with Scots best (“best”), Cimbrian peste, péste (“best”), Dutch best (“best”), German beste (“best”), Yiddish בעסט (best, “best”), Danish bedst (“best”), Faroese bestur (“best”), Icelandic bestur, beztur (“best”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk best (“best”), Swedish bäst (“best”), Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐍄𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃 (batists, “best”).

  1. superlative form of well: most well

    “A popular aphorism says it best: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

    “Out of my ſight, thou Serpent, that name beſt Befits thee with him leagu'd, thy ſelf as falſe And hateful;”

  2. To the most advantage; with the most success, cause, profit, benefit, or propriety.

    “You'd best save a backup copy, just in case the morons lose the one that you sent and then try to act like you never sent one.”

    “Had I not best go to her?”

name

Etymology: From German Beste (“a river in Germany”) or from Anglo-Norman beste (“beast”).

  1. A surname.

    “Dyshan Best, 39, was shot in the back last year as he fled from officers in Bridgeport, Connecticut. A report released this week by the state’s inspector general found that the shooting was justified because Best had a gun in his hand and the officer pursuing him had reasons to fear for his own safety.”

  2. A village and municipality in North Brabant province, Netherlands.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English best, beste, from Old English bezt, betest, from Proto-Germanic *batistaz. Cognates Cognate with Scots best (“best”), Cimbrian peste, péste (“best”), Dutch best (“best”), German beste (“best”), Yiddish בעסט (best, “best”), Danish bedst (“best”), Faroese bestur (“best”), Icelandic bestur, beztur (“best”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk best (“best”), Swedish bäst (“best”), Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐍄𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃 (batists, “best”).

  1. The supreme effort one can make, or has made.

    “I did my best.”

    “My personal best in that race is eighteen minutes, four seconds.”

  2. One's best behavior.

    “I was somewhat distant lately, and my lady promised me head every Tuesday of the week when I’m nice to her, so I better be on my best.”

  3. The person (or persons; or thing or things) that is (are) most excellent.

    “Even the best of us makes mistakes, but only a few with the best of intentions...”

    “We're (the) best of friends, who fortunately enjoy the best of health.”

verb

Etymology: Shortening of had best

  1. Had best.

    “It's getting late. You best get on home.”

    “'We best be going,' she said, looking at the clock.”