better

better
better1
/bet"euhr/, adj., compar. of good with best as superl.
1. of superior quality or excellence: a better coat; a better speech.
2. morally superior; more virtuous: They are no better than thieves.
3. of superior suitability, advisability, desirability, acceptableness, etc.; preferable: a better time for action.
4. larger; greater: the better part of a lifetime.
5. improved in health; healthier than before.
6. completely recovered in health.
7. no better than one should be, Disparaging. morally inferior; immoral or amoral.
adv., compar. of well with best as superl.
8. in a more appropriate or acceptable way or manner: to behave better.
9. to a greater degree; more completely or thoroughly: He knows the way better than we do. I probably know him better than anyone else.
10. more: I walked better than a mile to town.
11. better off,
a. in better circumstances.
b. more fortunate; happier: Because of his asthma, he would be better off in a different climate.
12. go (someone) one better, to exceed the effort of; be superior to: The neighbors went us one better by buying two new cars.
13. had better, would be wiser or more well-advised to; ought to: We had better stay indoors today.
14. think better of,
a. to reconsider and decide more favorably or wisely regarding: I was tempted to make a sarcastic retort, but thought better of it.
b. to form a higher opinion of.
v.t.
15. to increase the good qualities of; make better; improve: to better the lot of the suburban commuter.
16. to improve upon; surpass; exceed: We have bettered last year's production record.
17. Cards. to raise (a previous bid).
18. better oneself, to improve one's social standing, financial position, or education: He is going to night school because he wants to better himself.
n.
19. that which has greater excellence or is preferable or wiser: the better of two choices.
20. Usually, betters. those superior to one in wisdom, wealth, etc.
21. for the better, in a way that is an improvement: His health changed for the better.
22. get or have the better of,
a. to get an advantage over.
b. to prevail against.
[bef. 900; ME bettre, OE bet(t)(e)ra; c. OHG bezziro (G besser), D beter, ON betr, Goth batiza, equiv. to bat- (c. OHG baz (adv.) better; akin to BOOT2) + -iza comp. suffix; suggested relation to Skt bhadrá- "fortunate" is doubtful. See BEST]
Syn. 15. amend; advance, promote; reform, correct, rectify. See improve.
better2
/bet"euhr/, n.
bettor.
[BET + -ER1]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Better — 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Better — is the comparative form of the adjective good .Better may also refer to: * to better as a verb means that someone or something has undergone betterment *better, an alternate spelling of bettor, as a noun, is someone who bets (gambles) *Better, a… …   Wikipedia

  • better — better1 [bet′ər] adj. [ME bettere, betere < OE betera: see BEST] 1. compar. of GOOD 2. of a more excellent sort; surpassing another or others 3. more suitable, more desirable, more favorable, more profitable, etc. 4. being more than half;… …   English World dictionary

  • better — adj Better, superior, preferable mean more worthy or more pleasing than another or others. Better, which often serves as the comparative of good, in this sense implies a quality or character in a person or thing that surpasses or exceeds that in… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Better — 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. [1913 Webster] I could have… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • better — 1. had better. This common idiom is used in the form We had better go home or We d better go home; the negative form is We d better not go home and the interrogative Hadn t we better go home?. Informally (but not in more formal contexts), the… …   Modern English usage

  • Better — 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. [1913 Webster] Love betters what is best.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • better — [adj1] excelling, more excellent bigger, choice, exceeding, exceptional, finer, fitter, greater, higher quality, improved, larger, more appropriate, more desirable, more fitting, more select, more suitable, more useful, more valuable, preferable …   New thesaurus

  • Better — Bet ter, n. 1. Advantage, superiority, or victory; usually with of; as, to get the better of an enemy. [1913 Webster] 2. One who has a claim to precedence; a superior, as in merit, social standing, etc.; usually in the plural. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Better — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Better es una canción de la banda de hard rock estadounidense Guns N Roses, que aparece en su sexto disco de estudio Chinese Democracy , album del cuál también es el segundo sencillo que se ha lanzado hasta el… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Better — Bet ter, v. i. To become better; to improve. Carlyle. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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