Better — Defs

01 a. Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; as, a better man; a better physician; a better house; a better air.

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.
“My dear, my better half (said he), I find I must now leave thee.” — Sir P. Sidney.

“By all that's holy, he had better starve Than but once think this place becomes thee not.” — Shak.

02 n. Advantage, superiority, or victory; -- usually with of; as, to get the better of an enemy.

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.

Phrases & compounds

For the better — in the way of improvement; so as to produce improvement.

03 adv. In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success; as, Henry writes better than Jo…

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.]

Phrases & compounds

To think better of — to have a more favorable opinion of any one.

To think better of — to reconsider and alter one's decision.

04 v. t. To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of.

imp. & p. p. Bettered; p. pr. & vb. n. Bettering

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.

05 v. i. To become better; to improve.

06 n. One who bets or lays a wager.