betta
See also: Betta
English
Pronunciation
Audio (AU): (file)
Etymology 1
From the genus name.
Noun
betta (plural bettas)
- Any fish of the genus Betta, especially Betta splendens (the Siamese fighting fish).
- 2005, Russell A. Powell, Introduction to Learning and Behavior[1], page 245:
- Rather than simply waiting for a clockwise turn and then presenting the mirror, past experience with another betta suggested that the turning behavior could be established more rapidly using a shaping procedure.
- 2006, Kasey Michaels, Everything's Coming Up Rosie[2], page 82:
- "Do you know that Siamese fighting fish—bettas—excrete ammonia in their waste, and that ammonia is toxic to fish? Twenty-four hours flapping their little gills in the same, unfiltered water, and they're history. […] "
- 2010, Nicole M. Jenkins, Glass Rock[3], page 163:
- I had previously bought a bright red betta fish from the Chinese spiritual store, which I also sense had been sent for Aurayah.
Synonyms
- (Betta splendens): Siamese fighting fish
Translations
Fish of the genus Betta
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See also
betta on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
betta on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
Etymology 2
Adjective
betta
- Eye dialect spelling of better (comparative of good).
- 1894, Robert Louis Stevenson, The Ebb-Tide, 2001, page 69,
- 'I think no savvy. This one mo' betta,' he added, pointing to the house where the drunken captain slumbered: 'Take-a-sun all-e-time.'
- 2008, Sandra Snowden, The New Plantation[4], page 316:
- I pray dat dey he'p us liv' a betta lif ' den dey had.
- 2009, Jack Freeze, chapter IC, in They Shall Be Remembered: A Great American Saga from the War of 1812 to World War I[5], page 56:
- Joshua shyly looks down at his feet but then glances over at Harriet and says - “Miss Harriet, a beautiful form is betta dan a beautiful face, and a beautiful behavior is betta dan a beautiful form, it gives mo pleasure than statues or pictures. […] "
- 1894, Robert Louis Stevenson, The Ebb-Tide, 2001, page 69,
Adverb
betta
- Eye dialect spelling of better (comparative of well).
- 2003, William Jackson, And the Sea Shall Hide Them, 2005, page 202,
- “Now she be lookin' betta,” one of the women said. “Like she has a chance to make it.”
- 2003, Karen Williams, chapter IC, in Passion and Pain[6], page 268:
- Now you even know the dope game betta than me, look how much money you save fo me when I went to jail.
- 2008, Sarah Deckard, Tapestry of Tales: Classic Fairy Tales Retold[7], page 181:
- “I see she's feelin' betta’,” he said in a muffled voice.
- 2010, Kathy R. Jackson, My Box of Jewels[8], page 237:
- Other than the omnipotent one, who betta to ask to help us pray for God's mercy and grace than Jesus' mother, the ev'a bless'd Virgin Mary.
- 2003, William Jackson, And the Sea Shall Hide Them, 2005, page 202,
Verb
betta
- (slang) Eye dialect spelling of better (had better).
- 2007, Gwendolyn Pless, chapter IC, in Praying Hearts and Labor of Love[9], page 72:
- “Boy, if I done told you once, I done told you a thousand times, you betta leave them white girls alone before one of their boyfriends or husbands roll up on you, and put a hurtin on yo lil behind.”
- 2010, Deborah Wofford, Pour Me Out A Blessing Ministries: Presents Lyrical Bliss[10], page 25:
- You betta praise the Lord that's all I can say.
- 2010, Kenya K. Watkins, chapter IC, in The Life You Choose[11], page 58:
- If I had a lil sister, she betta be scared to screw and be about gettin that paper.
Anagrams
Westrobothnian
Etymology
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Noun
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