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enus Berberis, common along roadsides and in neglected fields. B. vulgaris is the species best known; its oblong red berries are made into a preserve or sauce, and have been deemed efficacious in fluxes and fevers. The bark dyes a fine yellow, esp. the bark of the root. [Also spelt berberry.]

omycetes, characterized by having the spores borne on a basidium. It embraces those fungi best known to the public, such as mushrooms, toadstools, etc.

contest; as, the battle of life. The whole intellectual battle that had at its center the best poem of the best poet of that day. H. Morley.

The laurel tree (Laurus nobilis). Hence, in the plural, an honorary garland or crown bestowed as a prize for victory or excellence, anciently made or consisting of branches of the laurel. The patriot's honors and the poet's bays. Trumbull.

me word as by; joined with verbs, it serves: (a) To intensify the meaning; as, bespatter, bestir. (b) To render an intransitive verb transitive; as, befall (to fall upon); bespeak (to speak for). (c) To make the action of a verb particular or definite; as, beget (to get as offspring); beset (to set around).…

To be suitable to; to suit; to become. That name best befits thee. Milton.

The best quality of sole leather; a butt. See Butt.

Bestowed as a gratuity; as, beneficiary gifts.

Literally: To appear or seem (well, ill, best, etc.) for (one) to do or to have. Hence: To be fit, suitable, or proper for, or worthy of; to become; to befit. A duty well beseeming the preachers. Clarendon. What form of speech or behavior beseemeth us, in our prayers to God Hocker.

To give ; to bestow; to grant; to accord; to consent. [Obs.] Spenser. Milton.

To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of. Love betters what is best. Wordsworth. He thought to better his circumstances. Thackeray.

Best. [R.] "The bettermost classes." Brougham.

and the five large ones of the middle, of the carapace of the sea turtle, which yield the best tortoise shell. De Colange.

One who blesses; one who bestows or invokes a blessing.

Having pure blood, or a large admixture or pure blood; of approved breed; of the best stock.

To bestow a bloom upon; to make blooming or radiant. [R.] Milton. While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day. Keats.

of bluestocking. [Colloq.] The ladies were very blue and well informed. Thackeray. Blue asbestus. See Crocidolite. -- Blue black, of, or having, a very dark blue color, almost black. -- Blue blood. See under Blood. -- Blue buck (Zoöl.), a small South African antelope (Cephalophus pygmæus); also applied to a larger s…

t boot for many a bruise And healest many a wound. Sir W. Scott. Next her Son, our soul's best boot. Wordsworth.

in charity; disposed to give freely; generously liberal; munificent; beneficent; free in bestowing gifts; as, bounteous production. But O, thou bounteous Giver of all good. Cowper. -- Boun"te*ous*ly, adv. -- Boun"te*ous*ness, n.

Free in giving; liberal in bestowing gifts and favors. God, the bountiful Author of our being. Locke.