☞ The finer varieties have been wrought into gloves and cloth which are incombustible. The cloth was formerly used as a shroud for dead bodies, and has been recommended for firemen's clothes. Asbestus in also employed in the manufacture of iron safes, for fireproof roofing, and for lampwicks. Some varieties are called amianthus. Dana. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

When he is best, he is a little worse than a man. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Heaven's last, best gift, my ever new delight. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Most advanced; most correct or complete; as, the best scholar; the best view of a subject. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Most; largest; as, the best part of a week. [ 1913 Webster ]

Best man, the only or principal groomsman at a wedding ceremony. [ 1913 Webster ]

He prayeth best, who loveth best
All things both great and small. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To the most advantage; with the most success, case, profit, benefit, or propriety. [ 1913 Webster ]

Had we best retire? I see a storm. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Had I not best go to her? Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Most intimately; most thoroughly or correctly; as, what is expedient is best known to himself. [ 1913 Webster ]

They shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: . . . and curse their king and their God. Is. viii. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

Many far worse bestead than ourselves. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To put in peril; to beset. [ Only in p. p. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To serve; to assist; to profit; to avail. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Among the bestial herds to range. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having the qualities of a beast; brutal; below the dignity of reason or humanity; irrational; carnal; beastly; sensual. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Brutish; beastly; brutal; carnal; vile; low; depraved; sensual; filthy. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Unnatural connection with a beast. [ 1913 Webster ]

The process of bestializing humanity. Hare. [ 1913 Webster ]

A bestiary . . . in itself one of the numerous mediæval renderings of the fantastic mystical Zoology. Saintsbury. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Truth shall retire
Bestuck with slanderous darts. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

You have so bestirred your valor. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

See that the women are bestowed in safety. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To use; to apply; to devote, as time or strength in some occupation. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To expend, as money. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To give or confer; to impart; -- with on or upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Empire is on us bestowed. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor. 1 Cor. xiii. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To give in marriage. [ 1913 Webster ]

I could have bestowed her upon a fine gentleman. Tatler. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To demean; to conduct; to behave; -- followed by a reflexive pronoun. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

How might we see Falstaff bestow himself to-night in his true colors, and not ourselves be seen ? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To give; grant; present; confer; accord. [ 1913 Webster ]

If we consider this bestowment of gifts in this view. Chauncy. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is given or bestowed. [ 1913 Webster ]

They almost refuse to give due praise and credit to God's own bestowments. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

That horse that thou so often hast bestrid. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To step over; to stride over or across; as, to bestride a threshold. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In the West Indies the name is given to the similar fruit of Cordia Sebestana. [ 1913 Webster ]