betst

Middle English

Adjective

betst

1. (Early Middle English) Alternative form of beste

Adverb

betst

1. (Early Middle English) Alternative form of beste

Old English

Adjective

betst (positive gōd)

1. Alternative form of betest

Old Saxon

Alternative forms

• best

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *batistaz (“best”). Compare Old English betest, betst, Old Frisian betsta, Dutch best, Old High German bezzisto, Old Norse beztr, Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐍄𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃 (batists).

Adverb

betst

1. best
   • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Saint Augustine's Soliloquies

     Gyf þonne ǣfre gebyreð þæt þū þē ful hālne and ful trumne ongytst, and hæafst æalle þīne frēond myd þē, ǣġðer ge on mōde ge on līchaman, and on ðām ilcan worce and on ðām ylcan willum ðe ðē best lyst dōn, hweðer þū ðonne wille bēon āwiht blīðe?

     If then it ever happen that thou shalt find thyself full whole and full strong, and hast all thy friends with thee, both in mind and in body, and in that same work and in that same will which pleaseth thee best to do, wilt thou then be happy at all?

Descendants

• Low German: best