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better1
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.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]better2/bet"euhr/, n.bettor.[BET + -ER1]
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Universalium. 2010.