better

An entity, usually animate, deemed superior to another; one who has a claim to precedence; a superior.

Adjective

  1. comparative degree of good and well
    • How are you? ~ A little better, thanks.
    • Badger: You think you're better than other people. Mal: Just the ones I'm better than. - 2002 November 1, “Shindig”, in Firefly, episode 4:
  2. Greater in amount or quantity
    • “The air was still with the lonely thrill of 'now the hour is near' And the smell of sweat was better yet than the awful stench of fear.” - 1972, Harvey Andrews, Hey Sandy:
  3. Greater or lesser (whichever is seen as more advantageous), in reference to value, distance, time, etc.
    • The top electric vehicles have a range of 300 kilometres or better.
    • Only one swimmer finished the race with a time better than two minutes.
  4. Healed or recovered from an injury or illness.
    • We can't go to the zoo today because you're sick; let's go when you're all better.

Origin

From Middle English better, bettre, betre, from Old English betera (“better”), from Proto-West Germanic *batiʀō, from Proto-Germanic *batizô (“better”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰed-rós, from *bʰed- (“good”). Cognate with Dutch beter, German besser, Danish and Norwegian Bokmål bedre, Norwegian Nynorsk betre, Swedish bättre, Faroese and Icelandic betri. Also Sanskrit भ॒द्र (bhadrá, “blessed; fortunate; happy; good”) (from *bʰn̥d-ró-s). Related to best and battle (“getting better; improving; fruitful; fertile”). Compare also Icelandic batna (“to improve”), bót (“improvement”), German besser. More at batten, boot. False cognate of Persian بهتر (behtar).

Forms

good well betterer best betterest

Derived

against one's better judgment all to the better an ounce of prevention is better than an ounce of cure an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure are you feeling better better and better better an egg today than a hen tomorrow better angels better angels of one's nature better angels of someone's nature better ball better Dead than Red better dead than red better dead than Red better for it betterfy better half betterhood betterish better is the enemy of good better-known better known as better late than never better light

Adverb

  1. comparative form of well: more well
    • The engine runs better now that I've given it some oil.
    • I could never better stead thee than now.[…] - c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First...
    • “I’ve had enough of cycling with you chaps. I can spend my Sundays better than in tormenting cats and quarrelling and fighting.” - 1901, Louis Couperus, translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos, Small Souls:

Derived

better the devil you know had better 'd better bettern't

Noun Entry 3

  1. An entity, usually animate, deemed superior to another; one who has a claim to precedence; a superior.
    • He quickly found Ali his better in the ring.
    • Their betters would hardly be found. - [1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):

Forms

betters

Derived

get the better of

Noun alt of, alternative

  1. Alternative spelling of bettor.

Origin

Alternative spelling of bettor or modern formation from the verb to bet + -er.

Forms

betters

Verb Entry 5

  1. To improve.
    • This government will better our society.
    • Love betters what is best. - 1815, William Wordsworth, From the same (To the Supreme Being):
    • He thought to better his circumstances. - 1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 2, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:
  2. To become better; to improve.
  3. To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel.
    • The works of nature do always aim at that which can not be bettered. - [1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please...

    Synonyms: top

  4. To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of.
    • Weapons more violent, when next we meet, / May serve to better us and worse our foes. - 1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by...

Origin

From Middle English beteren, from Old English beterian, betrian, from Proto-Germanic *batizōną. Cognate with West Frisian betterje (“to better”), Dutch beteren (“to better”), German bessern (“to better”), Danish bedre (“to better”), Swedish bättra (“to better”).

Forms

betters bettering bettered no-table-tags glossary better -

Derived

betterable betterer betterment unbetterable unbettered

Verb auxiliary, colloquial

  1. Had better.
    • It's getting late. You better get on home.
    • Nobody better hurt any of my kids.
    • Nothing better've happened to the guitar I lent you!

Origin

Shortening of had better ('d better).

Related

best