Where does “best” come from?

best (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch betst, from Proto-Germanic batistaz, from Proto-Germanic gōdaz, from Proto-Germanic gadaną, from Proto-Indo-European gʰedʰ- — to join; to unite; to suit.

best (Middle Dutch): best; superlative degree of goet; best;...

Definitions

  1. best; superlative degree of goet; best;...

Ancestry of “best”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchbetst—
2Proto-Germanicbatistazsuperlative degree of *gōdaz; superlative degree...
3Proto-Germanicgōdazgood
4Proto-Germanicgadaną—
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʰedʰ-to join; to unite; to suit

Words derived from “best”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰedʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic gadaną →Every word from Proto-Germanic gōdaz →
best — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer