betest

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betest

1. inflection of beten:
   1. second-person singular present
   2. second-person singular subjunctive I

• betst, bezt, betast, betost

From Proto-Germanic *batistaz, superlative of *bataz. Compare Old Frisian betsta, Old Saxon betst, best, Old High German bezzisto, Old Norse beztr, Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐍄𐌹𐍃𐍄𐍃 (batists).

betest (positive gōd)

1. superlative degree of gōd: the best
   • 10th century, The Seafarer:

     Forþon þæt eorla ġehwām, æftercweþendra lof lifgendra lāstworda betst.

     Thus, for every man, the praise of the after-speakers is the best of the living ones' reputations.

• Middle English: beste, betst, bettst, bezst, best
  • English: best
  • Scots: best