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1828.mshaffer.com › Word [best]
BEST, a. superlative. [Eng.but;] Literally, most advanced, Hence, 1. Most good; having good qualities in the highest degree; applied indifferently to physical or moral subjects; as, the best man; the best road; the best cloth; the best abilities. This, like most, and other attributes, is often used without its noun, when the noun is obvious; as, men are all sinners; the best of them fail in the performance of duty.2. Most advanced; most accurate; as the best scholar.3. Most correct or complete; as the best view of a landscape, or of a subject.4. The best. This phrase is elliptical, and may be variously interpreted; as, the utmost power; the strongest endeavor; the most, the highest perfection; as, let a man do his best; let him do a thing to the best of his power.5. At best, in the best manner, in the utmost degree or extent, applicable to the case; as, life is at best very short.To make the best of, to carry to its greatest perfection; to improve to the utmost; as, to make the best of a sum of money, or a piece of land. Also, to permit the least possible inconvenience; as, to make the best of ill fortune or a bad bargain. The best of the way. We had made the best of our way to the city; that is, the most, the greatest part of the distance. [This is the primary sense of the word.] BEST, adv. In the highest degree; beyond all other; as, to love one best; to like this best; to please best. 1. To the advantage; with the most ease; as,"which instrument can you best use?"2. With most profit or success; as, money is best employed in manufactures; this medicine will answer best in the present case.3. Most intimately or particularly; most correctly; as, what is expedient is best known to himself.
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Evolution (or devolution) of this word [best]
1828 Webster | 1844 Webster | 1913 Webster |
BEST, a. superlative. [Eng.but;] Literally, most advanced, Hence, 1. Most good; having good qualities in the highest degree; applied indifferently to physical or moral subjects; as, the best man; the best road; the best cloth; the best abilities. This, like most, and other attributes, is often used without its noun, when the noun is obvious; as, men are all sinners; the best of them fail in the performance of duty.2. Most advanced; most accurate; as the best scholar.3. Most correct or complete; as the best view of a landscape, or of a subject.4. The best. This phrase is elliptical, and may be variously interpreted; as, the utmost power; the strongest endeavor; the most, the highest perfection; as, let a man do his best; let him do a thing to the best of his power.5. At best, in the best manner, in the utmost degree or extent, applicable to the case; as, life is at best very short.To make the best of, to carry to its greatest perfection; to improve to the utmost; as, to make the best of a sum of money, or a piece of land. Also, to permit the least possible inconvenience; as, to make the best of ill fortune or a bad bargain. The best of the way. We had made the best of our way to the city; that is, the most, the greatest part of the distance. [This is the primary sense of the word.] BEST, adv. In the highest degree; beyond all other; as, to love one best; to like this best; to please best. 1. To the advantage; with the most ease; as,"which instrument can you best use?"2. With most profit or success; as, money is best employed in manufactures; this medicine will answer best in the present case.3. Most intimately or particularly; most correctly; as, what is expedient is best known to himself. | BEST, a. [superlative. Sax. best, contracted from betest, from bet, more, or better; betre is also used; betan, to amend, or restore, correct, heal; bote, reparation, compensation; Eng. boot, to boot; Goth. botyan, to profit, aid, assist; Eng. but; G. bass, good, besser, better, beste, best; D. beter, best; Dan. beste; Sw. bäst. This word has no connection in origin with good. See Better. Literally, most advanced. Hence,]- Most good; having good qualities in the highest degree; applied indifferently to physical or moral subjects; as, the best man; the best road; the best cloth; the best abilities. This, like most, and other attributes, is often used without its noun, when the noun is obvious; as, men are all sinners; the best of them fail in the performance of duty.
- Most advanced; most accurate; as, the best scholar.
- Most correct, or complete; as, the best view of a landscape, or of a subject.
- The best. This phrase is elliptical, and may be variously interpreted; as, the utmost power; the strongest endeavor; the most, the highest perfection; as, let a man do his best; let him do a thing to the best of his power.
- At best, in the best manner; in the utmost degree or extent, applicable to the case; as, life is at best very short.
To make the best of, to carry to its greatest perfection; to improve to the utmost; as, to make the best of a sum of money, or a piece of land. Also, to permit the least possible inconvenience; as, to make the best of ill fortune or a bad bargain.
The best of the way. We had made the best of our way to the city; that is, the most, the greatest part of the distance. [This is the primary sense of the word.]
BEST, adv.- In the highest degree; beyond all other; as, to love one best; to like this best; to please best.
- To the most advantage; with the most ease; as, which instrument can you best use?
- With most profit or success; as, money is best employed in manufactures; this medicine will answer best in the present case.
- Most intimately or particularly; most correctly; as, what is expedient is best known to himself.
| Best
- 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.
- 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.
- In the highest degree; beyond all
others.
- To get the better of.
- Most advanced; most correct or complete; as, the
best scholar; the best view of a subject.
- To the most advantage; with the most success,
case, profit, benefit, or propriety.
- Most; largest; as, the best part of a
week.
- Most intimately; most thoroughly or correctly;
as, what is expedient is best known to himself.
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1828 Webster | 1844 Webster | 1913 Webster |
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Best BEST, adjective superlative. [Eng.but; ] Literally, most advanced, Hence, 1. Most good; having good qualities in the highest degree; applied indifferently to physical or moral subjects; as, the best man; the best road; the best cloth; the best abilities. This, like most, and other attributes, is often used without its noun, when the noun is obvious; as, men are all sinners; the best of them fail in the performance of duty. 2. Most advanced; most accurate; as the best scholar. 3. Most correct or complete; as the best view of a landscape, or of a subject. 4. The best This phrase is elliptical, and may be variously interpreted; as, the utmost power; the strongest endeavor; the most, the highest perfection; as, let a man do his best; let him do a thing to the best of his power. 5. At best in the best manner, in the utmost degree or extent, applicable to the case; as, life is at best very short. To make the best of, to carry to its greatest perfection; to improve to the utmost; as, to make the best of a sum of money, or a piece of land. Also, to permit the least possible inconvenience; as, to make the best of ill fortune or a bad bargain. The best of the way. We had made the best of our way to the city; that is, the most, the greatest part of the distance. [This is the primary sense of the word.] BEST, adverb In the highest degree; beyond all other; as, to love one best; to like this best; to please best 1. To the advantage; with the most ease; as, 'which instrument can you best use?' 2. With most profit or success; as, money is best employed in manufactures; this medicine will answer best in the present case. 3. Most intimately or particularly; most correctly; as, what is expedient is best known to himself.
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Hard-cover Edition |
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Compact Edition |
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217 |
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CD-ROM |
262 |
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* As a note, I have purchased each of these products. In fact, as we have been developing the Project:: 1828 Reprint, I have purchased several of the bulky hard-cover dictionaries. My opinion is that the 2000-page hard-cover edition is the only good viable solution at this time. The compact edition was a bit disappointing and the CD-ROM as well. |
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