Middle English Dictionary Entry
best adj. (superlative)
Entry Info
Forms | best adj. (superlative) Also beste; (early) betste, bezste. |
Etymology | OE bet(e)st, betsta. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of persons: best, finest, greatest; also, highest in rank; ~ frend, closest friend; on the ~, one of the best; (b) of things, actions, conditions, etc.: best, most excellent or desirable, of highest quality, most advantageous; ~ is ever mete, moderation is always best; ~ wone, best course of action, best opportunity; most ~, very best; (c) alre ~, alder ~, best of all, very best [see also alder- prefix]; (d) next ~, next in order of value; seconde ~, second best; thrid ~, fourthe ~.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1119 : Þær wearð seo cyng of France aflymed, & ealle his betste mæn ge numene.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)30527 : Cadwalan him to cleopede his bezste [Otho: beste] cnihtes alle.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)27/279 : Al mi nestfalde cun þet schulde beo me best freond beoð me meast feondes.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)90a : Þet is þe beste mon of al þe world.
- c1300 SLeg.John (LdMisc 108)23 : Seint Iohan was best with him of is desciples echon.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)172 : Þe zike..zekþ bleþeliche þane beste fisician.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1964 : Alle þe best barounes & boldest of his reaume.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.5.1 : Balthasar, kyng, made a grete fest to his best men a thousand.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.3056 : To dyen whan he is best of name.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.252 : He was the beste beggere in his hous.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12619 : Þe best maisters o þe tun, He gaf thaim rede all resun.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)73 : Þay wenten to sete, þe best burne ay abof.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.100 : Most renomed..Amonges Grekis, and the beste knyȝt.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.1081 : He bicom..oon the beste knyght That in his tyme was.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)149 : He had slayne..The best body at þare ware.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)152/2618 : Here arn my best frendis.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)37/7 : Ye have macched thys day with the beste fyghters of the worlde.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)994 : Saue ffirumbras..the beste paynym.
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1100 : He..behet..þa betstan lage to healdene.
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)15/13 : Maria hæfð gecoren þæt betste dæl.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8173 : All wass itt off þe bettste pall þatt aniȝ mann maȝȝ aȝhenn.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)710 : To niht þu scalt faren a þeon time bið best.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)78a : Euch þing þah me mei ouerdon; best is eauer mete.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)514 : Ðe hunte..him wille swiken wor his beste wune is.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8663 : Þat was is beste won.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)113 : Þet is þet beste wed of þe house.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1152 : Þanne busked þei..on þe best wise.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.13 : Þis ilond is beest and bringeþ forþ trees and fruyt.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2118 : Why wiltow lette me..Syn that it is the beste rym I kan?
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)194b/a : Þe glebe þerof is beste whete londe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1012 : Right in thi beste gere..ryd forth by the place.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1987 : The beste red I can.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)249/205 : My poure is most beste.
- (1454-5) Acc.St.Ewen in BGAS 15156 : Item, two Shetes for the best vestmentes.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)8/34 : Þis Ile hathe shepe best of wolle.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)1066 : I wolde not ellis..Nouȝt for my best gold ryng!
c
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)orig.draft 381 : Þou hast..mad þy avy..for to fiȝte, Of al oure ȝonder company, þe alre beste knyȝte.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)9 : Aldyrbeste: Optimus.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)246 : I wil yive hym the alderbeste yifte.
d
- (1395) EEWills5/7 : Also I deuyse to Iohane..my secunde best fetherbed.
- (1395) EEWills6/3 : Also I deuyse to the same Alianore..my thridde beste fetherbed.
- (1438) Will Dixton in BGAS 11159 : To Richard of the Warderobe, the fourthe best hors that I have.
- (1444) Will Daubeney in Som.RS 19341 : Y wol she have iij next best brasyn pottes.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.89/20 : His secunde best beest..be i-payde to þe saide church.