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Definitions for: Better
[n] something better; "I expected better of him"
[n] the superior one of two alternatives; "chose the better of the two"
[n] one having claim to precedence; a superior; "the common man has been kept in his place by his betters"
[n] someone who bets
[adv] comparative of `well'; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.; "She had never sung better"; "a deed better left undone"; "better suited to the job"
[adv] from a position of superiority or authority; "father knows best"; "I know better."
[adj] (comparative of `good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another; "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din"; "a better coat"; "a better type of car"; "a suit with a better fit"; "a better chance of success"; "produced a better mousetrap"; "she's better in math than in history"
[adj] (comparative of `good') changed for the better in health or fitness; "her health is better now"; "I feel better"
[adj] more than half; "argued for the better part of an hour"
[v] get better; "The weather improved toward evening."
[v] to make better; "The editor improved the manuscript with his changes"
[v] surpass in excellence; "She bettered her own record"; "break a record"
Webster (1913) Definition: Bet"ter, a.; compar. of Good. [OE. betere, bettre, and
as adv. bet, AS. betera, adj., and bet, adv.; akin to Icel.
betri, adj., betr, adv., Goth. batiza, adj., OHG. bezziro,
adj., baz, adv., G. besser, adj. and adv., bass, adv., E.
boot, and prob. to Skr. bhadra excellent. See Boot
advantage, and cf. Best, Batful.]
1. Having good qualities in a greater degree than another;
as, a better man; a better physician; a better house; a
better air.
Could make the worse appear The better reason.
--Milton.
2. Preferable in regard to rank, value, use, fitness,
acceptableness, safety, or in any other respect.
To obey is better than sacrifice. --1 Sam. xv.
22.
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put
confidence in princes. --Ps. cxviii.
9.
3. Greater in amount; larger; more.
4. Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the
patient is better.
5. More advanced; more perfect; as, upon better acquaintance;
a better knowledge of the subject.
All the better. See under All, adv.
Better half, an expression used to designate one's wife.
My dear, my better half (said he), I find I must now
leave thee. --Sir P.
Sidney.
To be better off, to be in a better condition.
Had better. (See under Had).
Note: The phrase had better, followed by an infinitive
without to, is idiomatic. The earliest form of
construction was ``were better'' with a dative; as,
``Him were better go beside.'' (--Gower.) i. e., It
would be better for him, etc. At length the nominative
(I, he, they, etc.) supplanted the dative and had took
the place of were. Thus we have the construction now
used.
By all that's holy, he had better starve Than but
once think this place becomes thee not. --Shak.
Bet"ter, n.
1. Advantage, superiority, or victory; -- usually with of;
as, to get the better of an enemy.
2. One who has a claim to precedence; a superior, as in
merit, social standing, etc.; -- usually in the plural.
Their betters would hardly be found. --Hooker.
For the better, in the way of improvement; so as to produce
improvement. ``If I have altered him anywhere for the
better.'' --Dryden.
Bet"ter, adv.; compar. of Well.
1. In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill
and wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success; as,
Henry writes better than John; veterans fight better than
recruits.
I could have better spared a better man. --Shak.
2. More correctly or thoroughly.
The better to understand the extent of our
knowledge. --Locke.
3. In a higher or greater degree; more; as, to love one
better than another.
Never was monarch better feared, and loved. --Shak.
4. More, in reference to value, distance, time, etc.; as, ten
miles and better. [Colloq.]
To think better of (any one), to have a more favorable
opinion of any one.
To think better of (an opinion, resolution, etc.), to
reconsider and alter one's decision.
Bet"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bettered; p. pr. & vb.
n. Bettering.] [AS. beterian, betrian, fr. betera better.
See Better, a.]
1. To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities
of.
Love betters what is best. --Wordsworth.
He thought to better his circumstances. --Thackeray.
2. To improve the condition of, morally, physically,
financially, socially, or otherwise.
The constant effort of every man to better himself.
--Macaulay.
3. To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel.
The works of nature do always aim at that which can
not be bettered. --Hooker.
4. To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest
of. [Obs.]
Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve
to better us and worse our foes. --Milton.
Syn: To improve; meliorate; ameliorate; mend; amend; correct;
emend; reform; advance; promote.
Bet"ter, v. i.
To become better; to improve. --Carlyle.
Bet"ter, n.
One who bets or lays a wager.
Synonyms: ameliorate, amended, best, bettor, break, finer, fitter, healthier, improve, improved, major, meliorate, punter, wagerer
Antonyms: aggravate, decline, exacerbate, exasperate, worse, worsen, worsened
See Also: advance, aid, alleviate, alter, assuage, beautify, bounce back, build, bushel, caller, change, change state, condition, convalesce, develop, distill, doctor, down, educate, embellish, emend, enhance, enrich, exceed, fine-tune, fix, fructify, furbish up, gambler, get over, get well, good, goodness, heal, help, hone, iron out, lift, make pure, mend, outdo, outgo, outmatch, outstrip, palliate, perfect, pick up, polish, prettify, purify, put right, raise, recover, recuperate, refine, reform, regenerate, relieve, remit, repair, restore, revitalize, see the light, straighten out, sublimate, superior, surmount, surpass, taker, touch on, turn, turn around, upgrade
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