I. ˈbed.ə(r), -etə- adjective, comparative of good
Etymology: Middle English bettre, from Old English betera; akin to Old High German bezziro better, Old Norse betri, Gothic batiza; comparative (with the suffix represented by Old English -ra ) of the root found in Old English bōt remedy, compensation, batian to get better, Old High German bazzēn, Old Norse batna to get better, Gothic ga batnan to receive as a benefit, Sanskrit bhadra fortunate, good — more at -er
1. : more than half ; especially : much more than half
waiting the better part of an hour
2. : improved in health
the patient is much better after a good night's rest
3. : of higher quality (as in breeding, style, or workmanship)
a better class of people
a better line of yard goods
a better type of car
• bet·ter·ly adverb
• bet·ter·ness noun -es
II. adverb, comparative of well
Etymology: Middle English bettre, from bettre, adj
1.
a. : in a superior or more excellent manner
he writes better than I do
b. : more desirably : preferably
things better left unsaid
2.
a. : to a higher or greater degree
he knows the story better than you do
b. : more
it is better than 10 miles to the lake
the book was published better than 50 years ago
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English bettre, from bettre, adjective
1.
a. : something better
I expected better
I never looked for better at his hands — Shakespeare
b. : one who has a claim to precedence : a superior especially in merit or rank
the common man has been put and kept in his place by his betters — C.G.Benjamin
I like novels to be about my betters, in body, wit, energy, breeding, or bank balance — W.H.Auden
2. : superior position : advantage , victory — usually used with of
have the better of an argument
get the better of a rival
•
- for the better
IV. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English bettren, from bettre, adjective
transitive verb
1. : to make better : improve: as
a. : ameliorate
strive toward bettering the condition of the slum dwellers
b. : to advance or make sounder the condition or circumstances of
as time goes by and we better our acquaintance — A.T.Quiller-Couch
closer proofreading would have bettered the book — M.B.Emeneau
better his lot
2. : to surpass in excellence : exceed , excel
ran the mile in four minutes flat, bettering his own previous record by several seconds
industrial production this year considerably bettered that of last year
3. : to increase (a previous bet) in certain card games : raise
intransitive verb
: become better : improve
the general condition … must be bettering instead of worsening — Thomas Carlyle
the cattle …, though they doubled in weight and shortened their horns, but little bettered in temper — P.A.Rollins
Synonyms: see improve
V. verbal auxiliary
: had better — not often in formal use
the boy felt he better go before the fight started
VI.
variant of bettor