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more about better
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8 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Better \Bet"ter\, a.; compar. of Good. [OE. betere bettre and as adv bet, AS betera adj., and bet, adv.; akin to Icel. betri, adj., betr, adv., Goth. batiza adj., OHG. bezziro adj., baz, adv., G. besser, adj and adv., bass, adv., E. boot, and prob. to Skr. bhadra excellent. See {Boot} advantage, and cf {Best}, {Batful}.] 1. Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; as a better man; a better physician; a better house; a better air. Could make the worse appear The better reason. --Milton. 2. Preferable in regard to rank, value, use fitness, acceptableness, safety, or in any other respect. To obey is better than sacrifice. --1 Sam. xv 22. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. --Ps. cxviii 9. 3. Greater in amount; larger; more 4. Improved in health; less affected with disease; as the patient is better. 5. More advanced; more perfect; as upon better acquaintance; a better knowledge of the subject. {All the better}. See under {All}, adv {Better half}, an expression used to designate one's wife. My dear, my better half (said he), I find I must now leave thee. --Sir P. Sidney. {To be better off}, to be in a better condition. {Had better}. (See under {Had}). Note: The phrase had better, followed by an infinitive without to is idiomatic. The earliest form of construction was ``were better'' with a dative; as ``Him were better go beside.'' (--Gower.) i. e., It would be better for him etc At length the nominative (I, he they etc.) supplanted the dative and had took the place of were Thus we have the construction now used By all that's holy, he had better starve Than but once think this place becomes thee not --Shak. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Better \Bet"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bettered}; p. pr & vb n. {Bettering}.] [AS. beterian betrian fr betera better. See {Better}, a.] 1. To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of Love betters what is best. --Wordsworth. He thought to better his circumstances. --Thackeray. 2. To improve the condition of morally, physically, financially, socially, or otherwise. The constant effort of every man to better himself. --Macaulay. 3. To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel. The works of nature do always aim at that which can not be bettered. --Hooker. 4. To give advantage to to support; to advance the interest of [Obs.] Weapons more violent, when next we meet May serve to better us and worse our foes. --Milton. Syn: To improve; meliorate; ameliorate; mend; amend; correct; emend; reform; advance; promote. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Better \Bet"ter\, n. 1. Advantage, superiority, or victory; -- usually with of as to get the better of an enemy. 2. One who has a claim to precedence; a superior, as in merit, social standing, etc.; -- usually in the plural. Their betters would hardly be found --Hooker. {For the better}, in the way of improvement; so as to produce improvement. ``If I have altered him anywhere for the better.'' --Dryden. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Better \Bet"ter\, adv.; compar. of {Well}. 1. In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success; as Henry writes better than John; veterans fight better than recruits. I could have better spared a better man. --Shak. 2. More correctly or thoroughly. The better to understand the extent of our knowledge. --Locke. 3. In a higher or greater degree; more as to love one better than another. Never was monarch better feared, and loved. --Shak. 4. More in reference to value, distance, time, etc.; as ten miles and better. [Colloq.] {To think better of} (any one), to have a more favorable opinion of any one {To think better of} (an opinion, resolution, etc.), to reconsider and alter one's decision. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Better \Bet"ter\, v. i. To become better; to improve. --Carlyle. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Better \Bet"ter\, n. One who bets or lays a wager. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Good \Good\, a. [Compar. {Better}; superl. {Best}. These words though used as the comparative and superlative of good, are from a different root.] [AS. G[=o]d, akin to D. goed, OS g[=o]d, OHG. guot, G. gut, Icel. g[=o][eth]r, Sw & Dan. god, Goth. g[=o]ds; prob. orig., fitting, belonging together, and akin to E. gather. [root]29 Cf {Gather}.] 1. Possessing desirable qualities; adapted to answer the end designed; promoting success, welfare, or happiness; serviceable; useful; fit excellent; admirable; commendable; not bad corrupt, evil, noxious, offensive, or troublesome, etc And God saw everything that he had made and behold, it was very good. --Gen. i. 31. Good company, good wine, good welcome. --Shak. 2. Possessing moral excellence or virtue; virtuous; pious; religious; -- said of persons or actions. In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works --Tit. ii 7. 3. Kind benevolent; humane; merciful; gracious; polite; propitious; friendly; well-disposed; -- often followed by to or toward, also formerly by unto. The men were very good unto us --1 Sam. xxv. 15. 4. Serviceable; suited; adapted; suitable; of use to be relied upon -- followed especially by for All quality that is good for anything is founded originally in merit. --Collier. 5. Clever; skillful; dexterous; ready; handy; -- followed especially by at He . . . is a good workman; a very good tailor. --Shak. Those are generally good at flattering who are good for nothing else. --South. 6. Adequate; sufficient; competent; sound; not fallacious; valid; in a commercial sense to be depended on for the discharge of obligations incurred; having pecuniary ability; of unimpaired credit. My reasons are both good and weighty. --Shak. My meaning in saying he is a good man is . . . that he is sufficient . . . I think I may take his bond. --Shak. 7. Real; actual; serious; as in the phrases in good earnest; in good sooth. Love no man in good earnest. --Shak. 8. Not small insignificant, or of no account; considerable; esp., in the phrases a good deal a good way a good degree, a good share or part etc 9. Not lacking or deficient; full; complete. Good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over --Luke vi 38. 10. Not blemished or impeached; fair; honorable; unsullied; as in the phrases a good name a good report, good repute, etc A good name is better than precious ointment. --Eccl. vii. 1. {As good as}. See under {As}. {For good}, or {For good and all}, completely and finally; fully; truly. The good woman never died after this till she came to die for good and all --L'Estrange. {Good breeding}, polite or polished manners, formed by education; a polite education. Distinguished by good humor and good breeding. --Macaulay. {Good cheap}, literally, good bargain; reasonably cheap. {Good consideration} (Law). a A consideration of blood or of natural love and affection. --Blackstone. b A valuable consideration, or one which will sustain a contract. {Good fellow}, a person of companionable qualities. [Familiar] {Good folk}, {or Good people}, fairies; brownies; pixies, etc [Colloq. Eng. & Scot.] {Good for nothing}. a Of no value; useless; worthless. b Used substantively, an idle, worthless person. My father always said I was born to be a good for nothing. --Ld. Lytton. {Good Friday}, the Friday of Holy Week, kept in some churches as a fast in memoory of our Savior's passion or suffering; the anniversary of the crucifixion. {Good humor}, or {Good-humor}, a cheerful or pleasant temper or state of mind. {Good nature}, or {Good-nature}, habitual kindness or mildness of temper or disposition; amiability; state of being in good humor. The good nature and generosity which belonged to his character. --Macaulay. The young count's good nature and easy persuadability were among his best characteristics. --Hawthorne. {Good people}. See {Good folk} (above). {Good speed}, good luck; good success; godspeed; -- an old form of wishing success. See {Speed}. {Good turn}, an act of kidness; a favor. {Good will}. a Benevolence; well wishing; kindly feeling. b (Law) The custom of any trade or business; the tendency or inclination of persons, old customers and others to resort to an established place of business; the advantage accruing from tendency or inclination. The good will of a trade is nothing more than the probability that the old customers will resort to the old place --Lord Eldon. {In good time}. a Promptly; punctually; opportunely; not too soon nor too late. b (Mus.) Correctly; in proper time. {To hold good}, to remain true or valid; to be operative; to remain in force or effect; as his promise holds good; the condition still holds good. {To make good}, to fulfill; to establish; to maintain; to supply (a defect or deficiency); to indemmify to prove or verify (an accusation); to prove to be blameless; to clear; to vindicate. Each word made good and true. --Shak. Of no power to make his wishes good. --Shak. I . . . would by combat make her good. --Shak. Convenient numbers to make good the city. --Shak. {To think good}, to approve; to be pleased or satisfied with to consider expedient or proper. If ye think good, give me my price; and if not forbear. --Zech. xi 12. Note: Good, in the sense of wishing well is much used in greeting and leave-taking; as good day good night, good evening, good morning, etc From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: better adj 1: (comparative of `good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another; "You're a better man than I am Gunga Din"; "a better coat"; "a better type of car"; "a suit with a better fit"; "a better chance of success"; "produced a better mousetrap"; "she's better in math than in history" [ant: {worse}] 2: (comparative of `good') changed for the better in health or fitness; "her health is better now"; "I feel better" [ant: {worse}] 3: (comparative and superlative of `well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable; "it would be better to speak to him"; "the White House thought it best not to respond" [syn: {better(p)}, {best(p)}] 4: more than half; "argued for the better part of an hour" n 1: one having claim to precedence; a superior: "the common man has been kept in his place by his betters" 2: something better: "I expected better of him" 3: someone who bets [syn: {bettor}, {wagerer}, {punter}] 4: the superior one of two alternatives: "chose the better of the two" adv 1: comparative of `well'; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.; "She had never sung better"; "a deed better left undone"; "better suited to the job" 2: from a position of superiority or authority; "father knows best"; "I know better." [syn: {best}] v 1: surpass in excellence; "She bettered her own record"; "break a record" [syn: {break}] 2: to make better in quality or more valuable; "The editor improved the manuscript with his changes." [syn: {improve}, {amend}, {ameliorate}, {meliorate}] [ant: {worsen}] 3: get better; "The weather improved toward evening." [syn: {improve}, {ameliorate}, {meliorate}] [ant: {worsen}]
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