When he is best, he is a little worse than a man.
--Shak.
Heaven's last, best gift, my ever new delight.
--Milton.
2. Most advanced; most correct or complete; as, the best
scholar; the best view of a subject.
3. Most; largest; as, the best part of a week.
{Best man}, the only or principal groomsman at a wedding
ceremony.
{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.
He prayeth best, who loveth best All things both
great and small. --Coleridge.
2. To the most advantage; with the most success, case,
profit, benefit, or propriety.
Had we best retire? I see a storm. --Milton.
Had I not best go to her? --Thackeray.
3. Most intimately; most thoroughly or correctly; as, what is
expedient is best known to himself.
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold,
it was very good. --Gen. i. 31.
Good company, good wine, good welcome. --Shak.
2. Possessing moral excellence or virtue; virtuous; pious;
religious; -- said of persons or actions.
In all things showing thyself a pattern of good
works. --Tit. ii. 7.
3. Kind; benevolent; humane; merciful; gracious; polite;
propitious; friendly; well-disposed; -- often followed by
to or toward, also formerly by unto.
The men were very good unto us. --1 Sam. xxv.
15.
4. Serviceable; suited; adapted; suitable; of use; to be
relied upon; -- followed especially by for.
All quality that is good for anything is founded
originally in merit. --Collier.
5. Clever; skillful; dexterous; ready; handy; -- followed
especially by at.
He . . . is a good workman; a very good tailor.
--Shak.
Those are generally good at flattering who are good
for nothing else. --South.
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.
My reasons are both good and weighty. --Shak.
My meaning in saying he is a good man is . . . that
he is sufficient . . . I think I may take his bond.
--Shak.
7. Real; actual; serious; as in the phrases in good earnest;
in good sooth.
Love no man in good earnest. --Shak.
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.
9. Not lacking or deficient; full; complete.
Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and
running over. --Luke vi. 38.
10. Not blemished or impeached; fair; honorable; unsullied;
as in the phrases a good name, a good report, good
repute, etc.
A good name is better than precious ointment.
--Eccl. vii.
1.
{For good}, or {For good and all}, completely and finally;
fully; truly.
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.
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.
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 nature}, or {Good-nature}, habitual kindness or
mildness of temper or disposition; amiability; state of
being in good humor.
The good nature and generosity which belonged to his
character. --Macaulay.
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.
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.
Each word made good and true. --Shak.
Of no power to make his wishes good. --Shak.
I . . . would by combat make her good. --Shak.
Convenient numbers to make good the city. --Shak.
{To think good}, to approve; to be pleased or satisfied with;
to consider expedient or proper.
If ye think good, give me my price; and if not,
forbear. --Zech. xi.
12.
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.