Defeated or got the better of someone; surpassed or overcame in competition or conflict.
From 'best' (Old English 'beste,' superlative of good) + '-ed' (past tense). Originally meaning 'made the best' of a situation, it evolved to mean defeating an opponent.
The word 'best' can mean the highest quality, but when you 'best' someone, you're making yourself the best of the two—it's like turning an adjective into a weapon in competition!
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