Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BE-SPRENT', pp.

Sprinkled over.

BE-SPRINK'LE, v.t. [be and sprinkle.]

To sprinkle over; to scatter over; as, to be sprinkle with dust.

BE-SPRINK'LED, pp.

Sprinkled over.

BE-SPRINK'LER, n.

One that sprinkles over.

BE-SPRINK'LING, ppr.

Sprinkling over.

BE-SPRINK'LINGS, n.

Sprinklings.

BEST, a. [superlative. Sax. best, contracted from betest, from bet, more, or better; betre is also used; betan, to amend, or restore, correct, heal; bote, reparation, compensation; Eng. boot, to boot; Goth. botyan, to profit, aid, assist; Eng. but; G. bass, good, besser, better, beste, best; D. beter, best; Dan. beste; Sw. bäst. This word has no connection in origin with good. See Better. Literally, most advanced. Hence,]

1. Most good; having good qualities in the highest degree; applied indifferently to physical or moral subjects; as, the best man; the best road; the best cloth; the best abilities. This, like most, and other attributes, is often used without its noun, when the noun is obvious; as, men are all sinners; the best of them fail in the performance of duty.
2. Most advanced; most accurate; as, the best scholar.
3. Most correct, or complete; as, the best view of a landscape, or of a subject.
4. The best. This phrase is elliptical, and may be variously interpreted; as, the utmost power; the strongest endeavor; the most, the highest perfection; as, let a man do his best; let him do a thing to the best of his power.
5. At best, in the best manner; in the utmost degree or extent, applicable to the case; as, life is at best very short. To make the best of, to carry to its greatest perfection; to improve to the utmost; as, to make the best of a sum of money, or a piece of land. Also, to permit the least possible inconvenience; as, to make the best of ill fortune or a bad bargain. The best of the way. We had made the best of our way to the city; that is, the most, the greatest part of the distance. [This is the primary sense of the word.]

BEST, adv.

1. In the highest degree; beyond all other; as, to love one best; to like this best; to please best.
2. To the most advantage; with the most ease; as, which instrument can you best use?
3. With most profit or success; as, money is best employed in manufactures; this medicine will answer best in the present case.
4. Most intimately or particularly; most correctly; as, what is expedient is best known to himself.

BE-STAIN', v.t. [be and stain.]

To mark with stains; to discolor, either the whole surface of a thing, or in spots. – Shak.

BEST-AR-RANG'ED, a.

Arranged in the best manner.

BEST-CON-CERT'ED, a.

Concerted in the best manner.

BE-STEAD', v.t. [bested'; pret. and pp. bested. be and stead.]

1. To profit. How little you bestead. – Milton.
2. To accommodate. They shall pass through it, hardly bestead. – Is. viii. That is, distressed; perplexed.
3. To dispose. – Spenser.

BEST-GOV'ERN-ED, a.

Governed in the best manner.

BES'TIAL, a. [from beast.]

1. Belonging to a beast, or to the class of beasts.
2. Having the qualities of a beast; brutal; below the dignity of reason or humanity; carnal; as, a bestial appetite. – Shak.

BES-TIAL'I-TY, n.

1. The quality of beasts; the state or manners of man which resemble those of brutes.
2. Unnatural connection with a beast.

BES'TIAL-IZE, v.t.

To make like a beast.

BES'TIAL-LY, adv.

Brutally; in a manner below humanity.

BE-STICK', v.t. [pret. and pp. bestuck. be and stick.]

To stick over, as with sharp points; to mark, by infixing points or spots here and there. Truth shall retire, bestuck with slanderous darts. – Milton.

BE-STIR', v.t. [bestur'; be and stir.]

To put into brisk or vigorous action; to move with life and vigor; usually with the reciprocal pronoun; as, rise and bestir yourselves.

BE-STIR'RED, pp.

Roused into vigorous action; quickened in action.

BE-STIR'RING, ppr.

Moving briskly; putting into vigorous action.

BEST'NESS, n.

The state of being best. [Not used.] – Morton.

BE-STORM', v.i. [be and storm.]

To storm; to rage. [Not used.] – Young.

BE-STOW', v.t. [be and stow, a place. See Stow. Literally, to set or place.]

1. To give; to confer; to impart; with the sense of gratuity, and followed by on or upon. Consecrate yourselves to the Lord, that he may bestow on you a blessing. – Ex. xxxii. Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor. – 1 Cor. xiii. 3. This word should never be followed by to.
2. To give in marriage; to dispose of. I could have bestowed her upon a fine gentleman. – Tatler.
3. To apply; to place for the purpose of exertion, or use; as, to bestow our whole force upon an object.
4. To lay out, or dispose of; to give in payment for; as, to bestow money for what we desire. – Deut. xiv. 26.
5. To lay up in store; to deposit for safe keeping; to stow; to place. I have no room where to bestow my fruits. – Luke xii.

BE-STOW'AL, n. [See Bestowment.]