Merriam-Webster
Ads · Best etymology dictionary
Ad
related to: best etymology dictionaryBrowse & Discover Thousands of Reference Book Titles, for Less.
Search results
- Old English beste, reduced by assimilation of -t- from earlier Old English betst "of the highest quality or standing, first, in the best manner." This originally was the superlative of bōt "remedy, reparation" (Middle English bote "advantage, help, profit"), a word now surviving in its simple form only in the expression to boot (see boot (n.2)).
www.etymonline.com › word › best
People also ask
What is the best etymology dictionary?
Where did the word best come from?
What is the Online Etymology Dictionary?
What is the etymology of good?
The Online Etymology Dictionary or Etymonline, sometimes abbreviated as OED (not to be confused with the Oxford English Dictionary, which the site often cites), is a free online dictionary that describes the origins of English words, written and compiled by Douglas R. Harper.
Oct 8, 2022 · Middle English bettre, from Old English bettra, earlier betera "of superior quality or excellence," from Proto-Germanic *batizo-, perhaps from PIE *bhad- "good," but Boutkan finds no good IE etymology. For etymology and evolution, see best.
Wiktionary is a great resource, especially useful for following the chain of derivations through different languages; however it can be unreliable. I'd never rely on an etymology from Wiktionary without confirming it in a reliable source.
Ads · Best etymology dictionary
The online etymology dictionary (etymonline) is the internet's go-to source for quick and reliable accounts of the origin and history of English words, phrases, and idioms. It is professional enough to satisfy academic standards, but accessible enough to be used by anyone.
best, adj., n.¹, & adv. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary.
: the history of a linguistic form (such as a word) shown by tracing its development since its earliest recorded occurrence in the language where it is found, by tracing its transmission from one language to another, by analyzing it into its component parts, by identifying its cognates in other languages, or by tracing it and its cognates to a c...
Including their derivatives, the dictionary delves into the origins of more than 38,000 words. For each entry, the dictionary provides the correct pronunciation, followed by a short definition, and the century and source of the word's first recording. Then come the etymological notes.
