Nearby Words
adjective, 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.
EXPANDimproved in health; healthier than before.
6.
COLLAPSEcompletely recovered in health.
adverb, compar. of well with best as superl.
7.
in a more appropriate or acceptable way or manner: to behave better.
8.
to a greater degree; more completely or thoroughly: He knows the way better than we do. I probably know him better than anyone else.
9.
more: I walked better than a mile to town.
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Betters
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
verb (used with object)
10.
11.
to improve upon; surpass; exceed: We have bettered last year's production record.
12.
Cards. to raise (a previous bid).
noun
Idioms13.
that which has greater excellence or is preferable or wiser: the better of two choices.
14.
Usually, betters. those superior to one in wisdom, wealth, etc.
15.
better off,
a.
in better circumstances.
b.
more fortunate; happier: Because of his asthma, he would be better off in a different climate.
16.
better oneself, to improve one's social standing, financial position, or education: He is going to night school because he wants to better himself.
17.
for the better, in a way that is an improvement: His health changed for the better.
18.
get/have the better of,
a.
to get an advantage over.
b.
to prevail against.
19.
EXPANDgo (someone) one better, to exceed the effort of; be superior to: The neighbors went us one better by buying two new cars.
20.
had better, would be wiser or more well-advised to; ought to: We had better stay indoors today.
21.
no better than one should be, Disparaging. morally inferior; immoral or amoral.
22.
COLLAPSEthink 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.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English bettre, Old English bet(t)(e)ra; cognate with Old High German bezziro (German besser), Dutch beter, Old Norse betr, Gothic batiza, equivalent to bat- (cognate with Old High German baz (adv.) better; akin to boot2) + -iza comparative suffix; suggested relation to Sanskrit bhadrá- “fortunate” is doubtful. See best
before 900; Middle English bettre, Old English bet(t)(e)ra; cognate with Old High German bezziro (German besser), Dutch beter, Old Norse betr, Gothic batiza, equivalent to bat- (cognate with Old High German baz (adv.) better; akin to boot2) + -iza comparative suffix; suggested relation to Sanskrit bhadrá- “fortunate” is doubtful. See best
Related forms
un·bet·tered, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To betters
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
better
O.E. betera (see best), from P.Gmc. *batizo-, from PIE *bhad- "good." Comparative adj. of good in the older Gmc. languages (cf. O.N. betr, Dan. bedre, Ger. besser, Goth. batiza). Superseded bet in the adverbial sense by 1600. Better half "wife" is
EXPANDfirst attested 1570s; to get the better of (someone) is from mid-15c.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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