best

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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. [1913 Webster]

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.— Gen. i. 31.[1913 Webster]

Good company, good wine, good welcome.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.Possessing moral excellence or virtue; virtuous; pious; religious; -- said of persons or actions. [1913 Webster]

In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works.— Tit. ii. 7.[1913 Webster]

3.Kind; benevolent; humane; merciful; gracious; polite; propitious; friendly; well-disposed; -- often followed by to or toward, also formerly by unto. [1913 Webster]

The men were very good unto us.— 1 Sam. xxv. 15.[1913 Webster]

4.Serviceable; suited; adapted; suitable; of use; to be relied upon; -- followed especially by for. [1913 Webster]

All quality that is good for anything is founded originally in merit.— Collier.[1913 Webster]

5.Clever; skillful; dexterous; ready; handy; -- followed especially by at. [1913 Webster]

He . . . is a good workman; a very good tailor.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

Those are generally good at flattering who are good for nothing else.— South.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

My reasons are both good and weighty.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

My meaning in saying he is a good man is . . . that he is sufficient . . . I think I may take his bond.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

7.Real; actual; serious; as in the phrases in good earnest; in good sooth. [1913 Webster]

Love no man in good earnest.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

9.Not lacking or deficient; full; complete. [1913 Webster]

Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.— Luke vi. 38.[1913 Webster]

10.Not blemished or impeached; fair; honorable; unsullied; as in the phrases a good name, a good report, good repute, etc. [1913 Webster]

A good name is better than precious ointment.— Eccl. vii. 1.[1913 Webster]

As good as. See under As.

For good, or For good and all, completely and finally; fully; truly. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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 humor man, a travelling vendor who sells Good Humor ice-cream (or some similar ice-cream) from a small refrigerated truck; he usually drives slowly through residential neighborhoods in summertime, loudly playing some distinctive recorded music to announce his presence. [U. S.]

Good nature, or Good-nature, habitual kindness or mildness of temper or disposition; amiability; state of being in good humor. [1913 Webster]

The good nature and generosity which belonged to his character.— Macaulay.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Each word made good and true.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

Of no power to make his wishes good.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

I . . . would by combat make her good.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

Convenient numbers to make good the city.— Shak.

To think good, to approve; to be pleased or satisfied with; to consider expedient or proper. [1913 Webster]

If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear.— Zech. xi. 12.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

When he is best, he is a little worse than a man.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

Heaven's last, best gift, my ever new delight.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

2.Most advanced; most correct or complete; as, the best scholar; the best view of a subject. [1913 Webster]

3.Most; largest; as, the best part of a week. [1913 Webster]

Best man, the only or principal groomsman at a wedding ceremony. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

1.In the highest degree; beyond all others. "Thou serpent! That name best befits thee." --Milton. [1913 Webster]

He prayeth best, who loveth best All things both great and small.— Coleridge.[1913 Webster]

2.To the most advantage; with the most success, case, profit, benefit, or propriety. [1913 Webster]

Had we best retire? I see a storm.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

Had I not best go to her?— Thackeray.[1913 Webster]

3.Most intimately; most thoroughly or correctly; as, what is expedient is best known to himself. [1913 Webster]