■ adjective
1》 more desirable, satisfactory, or effective. [compar. of the adjective good .]
↘more appropriate, advantageous, or well advised.
2》 partly or fully recovered from illness or injury. [compar. of the adjective well 1 .]
■ adverb more excellently or effectively.
↘to a greater degree; more.
↘more suitably or usefully.
■ noun
1》 that which is ~; the ~ one.
2》 ( one's ~s ) chiefly dated or humorous one's superiors in social class or ability.
■ verb improve on or surpass.
↘( ~ oneself ) achieve a higher social position or status.
↘overcome or defeat (someone).
Phrases
one's ~ half informal one's wife, husband, or partner.
~ off in a more advantageous position, especially in financial terms.
the ~ part of most of.
~ than N. Amer. more than.
the ~ to —— so as to do the specified thing ~.
for ~ or ( for ) worse whether the outcome is good or bad.
get the ~ of defeat or overcome.
go one ~ narrowly surpass.
had ~ would find it wiser to.
Origin
OE betera (adjective), of Gmc origin.
Usage
In the verb phrase had ~ do something the word had is often dropped in informal spoken contexts, as in you ~ not come tonight . In writing, the had may be contracted to 'd but it should not be dropped altogether.