better

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   comparative of `well'

   in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.

2. 2
   adj

   changed for the better in health or fitness

   Their health is better now.

3. 3
   adj

   more than half

   argued for the better part of an hour

4. 4
   noun

   something superior in quality or condition or effect

   a change for the better

5. 5
   noun

   the superior one of two alternatives

   chose the better of the two

6. 6
   noun

   a superior person having claim to precedence

   I was kept in my place by my betters.

7. 7
   verb

   to get better

   I bettered over time.

8. 8
   verb

   to improve or make something better

   Their ideas for bettering the work conditions were well received.

Etymology

From Middle English better, bettre, betre, from Old English betera (“better”), from Proto-West Germanic *batiʀō, from Proto-Germanic *batizô (“better”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰed-rós, from *bʰed- (“good”). Cognate with Sanskrit भ॒द्र (bhadrá, “blessed; fortunate; happy; good”) (from *bʰn̥d-ró-s). For Germanic cognates: see Proto-Germanic *batizô. Related to best and battle (“getting better; improving; fruitful; fertile”). Compare also Icelandic batna (“to improve”), bót (“improvement”), German besser. More at batten, boot. False cognate of Persian بهتر (behtar).