■ adjective of the most excellent or desirable type or quality.
↘most appropriate, advantageous, or well advised.
■ adverb to the highest degree; most.
↘to the highest standard.
↘most suitably, appropriately, or usefully.
■ noun ( the ~ ) that which is the most excellent or desirable.
↘( one's ~ ) the highest standard or level attainable.
↘(in sport) a record performance.
■ verb informal outwit or get the better of.
Phrases
all the ~ ~ wishes.
at ~ taking the most optimistic view.
be for the ~ be desirable in the end, although not at first seeming so.
the ~ of three (or five etc.) victory achieved by winning the majority of a specified odd number of games.
the ~ part of most of.
~ wishes an expression of hope for someone's future happiness.
get the ~ of overcome (someone).
give someone/thing ~ Brit. admit the superiority of someone or something.
had ~ would find it most sensible.
make the ~ of derive what limited advantage one can from (something unsatisfactory).
six of the ~ Brit. a caning as a punishment, traditionally with six strokes of the cane.
Origin
OE betest (adjective), betost (adverb), of Gmc origin.