best adj. (sup.)

  best 
TR1.1079 Fŏr hé bĭcóm thĕ fréndlĭéstĕ wíght,
TR1.1080 Thĕ géntĭlést, ănd ék thĕ móostĕ fré,
TR1.1081 Thĕ thríftĭést, ănd óon thĕ béstĕ knýght
TR1.1082 Thăt ín hĭs týmĕ wás ŏr mýghtĕ bé;
TR1.1083 Déde wĕre hĭs jápĕs ánd hĭs crúĕlté,
TR1.1084 Hĭs héighĕ pórt ănd hís mănére ĕstráungĕ,
TR1.1085 Ănd écch ŏf thó găn fór ă vértŭ cháungĕ.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): For he becomes the friendliest person, the noblest and also the most generous, the most admirable, and the very best knight that there was or could be in his time. Gone were his jokes and his cruelty, his lofty bearing and distant manner, and each of those changed into a virtue.
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 何しろ彼は、彼の時代はいうに及ばず、累代のうちで最も優しい人になり、最も高貴で、最も寛大で、最も立派な人になり、とりわけ最高の騎士になって、冗談も、残酷無比もなくなり、高慢な態度も、よそよそしさもなくなり、それらの欠点はどれもこれも徳に変わったからだ。
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 他成为一个最和蔼、大方、明察的人，是当时惟一的好武士。他的冷嘲热骂再也听不见了，他那傲慢的态度也改了，每一种缺陷都变成了一种美德。

Word Information

  • Etymology: OE
  • Addresser: Narrator
  • Addressee: N/A
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: frendlieste, gentilest, (mooste) fre, thriftiest
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (male: knight)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: (Quoted) 1. (a) Of persons: best, finest, greatest; also, highest in rank; ~ frend, closest friend; on the ~, one of the best; (s.v. best,adj. (superlative))
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003: 49): The thriftiest, and oon the beste knyght: The most admirable (thriftiest) and the very best (oon the beste) knight
  • Fisher (1989: 418): oon the beste: one of the best
  • Benson (1987: 488): oon the beste knyght: the very best knight
  • Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
  • Donaldson (1975): N/A
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

Of persons: best, finest, greatest; also, highest in rank

Comments from the Editor

As Pandarus wished (1.995–1001), Troilus now has become the very best man and the most faithful believer in Love. Chaucer added this description to reveal love’s power to improve a person. See also 1.1076–85, 3.24–6 and 1772–1806 for love’s effect in ennobling lovers.