better
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents
English[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
- IPA(key): /ˈbɛtə/ (Panda–pander merger)
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): [ˈbɛ̝tʰə~ˈbɛ̝ʔə]
- (Australia, New Zealand) IPA(key): [ˈbeɾə]
- IPA(key): /ˈbɛtər/
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Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɛtə(r)
- Hyphenation: bet‧ter
Etymology 1[edit]
From Middle English better, bettre, betre, from Old English betera (“better”), from Proto-Germanic *batizô (“better”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhAd- (“good”). Cognate with Sanskrit भद्र (bhadrá, “blessed, fortunate, happy, good”). For Germanic cognates: see Proto-Germanic *batizô. Verb is from Middle English beteren, from Old English beterian (“to make better, improve”). Related to best and battle (“getting better, improving, fruitful, fertile”). Compare also Icelandic batna (“to improve”), Icelandic bót (“improvement”). More at batten, boot.
Adjective[edit]
better
- comparative form of good: more good
- comparative form of well: more well
Alternative forms[edit]
- betta
- bettuh
- sometimes humorously elongated, like: betterererer, betterererererer
Derived terms[edit]
Terms derived from better (adjective)
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
comparative of the adjectives good or well
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Adverb[edit]
better
- comparative form of well: more well
- 1901, Louis Couperus, Alexander Teixeira de Mattos (translator), Small Souls,
- “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, Alexander Teixeira de Mattos (translator), Small Souls,
- More, in reference to value, distance, time, etc.
- ten miles and better
Derived terms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
comparative form of the adverb well
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Noun[edit]
better (plural betters)
- 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.
- Hooker
- Their betters would hardly be found.
Derived terms[edit]
Etymology 2[edit]
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”).
Verb[edit]
better (third-person singular simple present betters, present participle bettering, simple past and past participle bettered)
- (transitive) To improve.
- Wordsworth
- Love betters what is best.
- Thackeray
- He thought to better his circumstances.
- Macaulay
- the constant effort of every man to better himself
- Wordsworth
- (intransitive) To become better; to improve.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Carlyle to this entry?)
- (transitive) To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel.
- Hooker
- The works of nature do always aim at that which can not be bettered.
- Hooker
- (transitive) To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of.
- Milton
- Weapons more violent, when next we meet, / May serve to better us and worse our foes.
- Milton
- (colloquial) Had better.
- You better do that if you know what's good for you.
Derived terms[edit]
Synonyms[edit]
- See also Wikisaurus:improve
Translations[edit]
to improve
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Etymology 3[edit]
Alternate pronunciation of bettor or modern formation from the verb to bet.
Noun[edit]
better (plural betters)
- Alternative spelling of bettor
Statistics[edit]
Most common English words before 1923 in Project Gutenberg: going · knew · seen · #207: better · name · among · done
Central Franconian[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Old High German bittar
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
better (masculine bettere, feminine better, comparative betterer, superlative et betterste)
- (most dialects) bitter
- Mösse es e better Krock.
- To be obliged is a bitter herb. (A proverb.)
- Mösse es e better Krock.
Scots[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
better
- comparative degree of guid
Derived terms[edit]
Derived terms
- better-faured (“better-featured, better-looking”)
- bettermaist (“better-class”)
- betterment (“improvement”)
- betterness (“recovery”)
- the better o that (“the better for that”)
Adverb[edit]
better (comparative mair better, superlative maist better)
Noun[edit]
better (uncountable)
- that which is better, something better or superior
Verb[edit]
better (third-person singular present betters, present participle betterin, past bettert, past participle bettert)
West Frisian[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Old Frisian betera, from Proto-Germanic *batizô. Compare English better, Low German beter, Dutch beter, German besser, Danish bedre.
Adjective[edit]
better
Categories:
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English non-lemma forms
- English adjective comparative forms
- English adverb comparative forms
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms inherited from Old English
- English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- English verbs
- English transitive verbs
- English intransitive verbs
- Requests for quotation/Carlyle
- English colloquialisms
- English modal verbs
- English basic words
- en:Betting
- Central Franconian terms derived from Old High German
- Central Franconian terms with IPA pronunciation
- Central Franconian lemmas
- Central Franconian adjectives
- Scots terms with IPA pronunciation
- Scots non-lemma forms
- Scots adjective comparative forms
- Scots lemmas
- Scots adverbs
- Scots nouns
- Scots uncountable nouns
- Scots verbs
- West Frisian terms derived from Old Frisian
- West Frisian terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- West Frisian lemmas
- West Frisian adjectives
