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1828.mshaffer.com › Word [better]
BET'TER, a comp. of bet. See Best.] 1. Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; applied to physical, acquired or moral qualities; as a better soil, a better man, a better physician, a better house, a better air, a better harvest.2. More advantageous. Were it not better for us to return to Egypt: Ex.14.3. More acceptable. To obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Sam.15.4. More safe. It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. Ps.118.5. Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the patient is better.6. To be better off, to be in a better condition. Beddoes,Hygeia. This is a very common phrase; but ought not off, to be of? It is not elegant.7. To have the better, is to have the advantage or superiority, followed by of before him or that over which the advantage is enjoyed; as, the English had the better of the Spaniards.8. To get or gain the better, is to obtain the advantage, superiority or victory; as, to get the better of an enemy.9. For the better, is for the advantage or improvement.BET'TER, adv. In a more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, virtue, advantage or success; as, to perform work better; to plan a scheme better; land better cultivated; laws better executed; government better administered. 1. More correctly, or fully; as, to understand a subject better than another.2. With superior excellence; as, to write or speak better than another.3. With more affection; in a higher degree; as, to love one better than another.It is not easy to specify and exemplify the various applications of better. In general,it implies what is more excellent, advantageous, useful, or virtuous, than something else. BET'TER, v.t. 1. To improve; to meliorate; to increase the good qualities of; as, manure betters land; discipline may better the morals.2. To surpass; to exceed. The works of nature do always aim at that which cannot be bettered. Qu.is not the sense, made better: 3. To advance; to support; to give advantage to; as, to better a party; to better a cause.BET'TER, n. A superior; one who has a claim to precedence on account of his rank, age, or office; as, give place to your betters. It is generally or always used in the plural.
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Evolution (or devolution) of this word [better]
1828 Webster | 1844 Webster | 1913 Webster |
BET'TER, a comp. of bet. See Best.] 1. Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; applied to physical, acquired or moral qualities; as a better soil, a better man, a better physician, a better house, a better air, a better harvest.2. More advantageous. Were it not better for us to return to Egypt: Ex.14.3. More acceptable. To obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Sam.15.4. More safe. It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. Ps.118.5. Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the patient is better.6. To be better off, to be in a better condition. Beddoes,Hygeia. This is a very common phrase; but ought not off, to be of? It is not elegant.7. To have the better, is to have the advantage or superiority, followed by of before him or that over which the advantage is enjoyed; as, the English had the better of the Spaniards.8. To get or gain the better, is to obtain the advantage, superiority or victory; as, to get the better of an enemy.9. For the better, is for the advantage or improvement.BET'TER, adv. In a more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, virtue, advantage or success; as, to perform work better; to plan a scheme better; land better cultivated; laws better executed; government better administered. 1. More correctly, or fully; as, to understand a subject better than another.2. With superior excellence; as, to write or speak better than another.3. With more affection; in a higher degree; as, to love one better than another.It is not easy to specify and exemplify the various applications of better. In general,it implies what is more excellent, advantageous, useful, or virtuous, than something else. BET'TER, v.t. 1. To improve; to meliorate; to increase the good qualities of; as, manure betters land; discipline may better the morals.2. To surpass; to exceed. The works of nature do always aim at that which cannot be bettered. Qu.is not the sense, made better: 3. To advance; to support; to give advantage to; as, to better a party; to better a cause.BET'TER, n. A superior; one who has a claim to precedence on account of his rank, age, or office; as, give place to your betters. It is generally or always used in the plural. | BET'TER, a. [comp. of Bet. See Best. Sax. bet, more, better; betere, betera, better; Sw. bätter; D. beter; G. besser; D. baat, profit; baaten, to boot, to avail; Sans. bhadra, good. The primary sense is more, or advanced further; and in America, this is a common popular signification. This vessel contains better than half, that is, more than half; he walked better than a mile, that is, more than a mile.]- Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; applied to physical, acquired, or moral qualities; as, a better soil, a better man, a better physician, a better house, a better air, a better harvest.
- More advantageous.
Were it not better for us to return to Egypt. – Ex. xiv.
- More acceptable.
To obey is better than sacrifice. – 1 Sam. xv.
- More safe.
It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. – Ps. cxviii.
- Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the patient is better.
- To be better off, to be in a better condition. Beddoes, Hygeia. This is a very common phrase; but ought not off, to be of? It is not elegant.
- To have the better, is to have the advantage or superiority, followed by of before him or that over which the advantage is enjoyed; as, the English had the better of the Spaniards.
- To get or gain the better, is to obtain the advantage, superiority, or victory; as, to get the better of an enemy.
- For the better, is for the advantage or improvement.
BET'TER, adv.- In a more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, virtue, advantage, or success; as, to perform work better; to plan a scheme better; land better cultivated; laws better executed; government better administered.
- More correctly, or fully; as, to understand a subject better than another.
- With superior excellence; as, to write or speak better than another.
- With more affection; in a higher degree; as, to love one better than another.
It is not easy to specify and exemplify the various applications of better. In general, it implies what is more excellent, advantageous, useful, or virtuous, than something else.
BET'TER, n.A superior; one who has a claim to precedence on account of his rank, age, or office; as, give place to your betters. It is generally or always used in the plural. BET'TER, v.t. [Sax. beterian, betrian. See Better.]- To improve; to meliorate; to increase the good qualities of; as, manure betters land; discipline may better the morals.
- To surpass; to exceed.
The works of nature do always aim at that which can not be bettered. – Hooker.
Qu. is not the sense, made better?
- To advance; to support; to give advantage to; as, to better a party; to better a cause.
| Bet"ter
- Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; as, a
better man; a better physician; a better house; a
better air.
- Advantage, superiority, or victory; -- usually with of; as, to get the
better of an enemy.
- 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.
- To
improve or ameliorate] to increase the good qualities of.
- To become better; to
improve.
- One who bets or lays a
wager.
- Preferable in regard to rank, value, use,
fitness, acceptableness, safety, or in any other respect.
- One who has a claim to precedence; a superior,
as in merit, social standing, etc.; -- usually in the plural.
- More correctly or thoroughly.
- To improve the condition of, morally,
physically, financially, socially, or otherwise.
- Greater in amount; larger; more.
- In a higher or greater degree; more; as, to love
one better than another.
- To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to
excel.
- Improved in health; less affected with disease;
as, the patient is better.
- More, in reference to value, distance, time,
etc.; as, ten miles and better.
- To give advantage to; to support; to advance the
interest of.
- More advanced; more perfect; as, upon
better acquaintance; a better knowledge of the
subject.
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1828 Webster | 1844 Webster | 1913 Webster |
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Better BET'TER, a comparative of bet. See Best.] 1. Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; applied to physical, acquired or moral qualities; as a better soil, a better man, a better physician, a better house, a better air, a better harvest. 2. More advantageous. Were it not better for us to return to Egypt:Exodus 14:12. 3. More acceptable. To obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22. 4. More safe. It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. Psalms 118:8. 5. Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the patient is better 6. To be better off, to be in a better condition. Beddoes, Hygeia. This is a very common phrase; but ought not off, to be of? It is not elegant. 7. To have the better is to have the advantage or superiority, followed by of before him or that over which the advantage is enjoyed; as, the English had the better of the Spaniards. 8. To get or gain the better is to obtain the advantage, superiority or victory; as, to get the better of an enemy. 9. For the better is for the advantage or improvement. BET'TER, adverb In a more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, virtue, advantage or success; as, to perform work better; to plan a scheme better; land better cultivated; laws better executed; government better administered. 1. More correctly, or fully; as, to understand a subject better than another. 2. With superior excellence; as, to write or speak better than another. 3. With more affection; in a higher degree; as, to love one better than another. It is not easy to specify and exemplify the various applications of better In general, it implies what is more excellent, advantageous, useful, or virtuous, than something else. BET'TER, verb transitive 1. To improve; to meliorate; to increase the good qualities of; as, manure betters land; discipline may better the morals. 2. To surpass; to exceed. The works of nature do always aim at that which cannot be bettered. Qu.is not the sense, made better: 3. To advance; to support; to give advantage to; as, to better a party; to better a cause. BET'TER, noun A superior; one who has a claim to precedence on account of his rank, age, or office; as, give place to your betters. It is generally or always used in the plural.
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* As a note, I have purchased each of these products. In fact, as we have been developing the Project:: 1828 Reprint, I have purchased several of the bulky hard-cover dictionaries. My opinion is that the 2000-page hard-cover edition is the only good viable solution at this time. The compact edition was a bit disappointing and the CD-ROM as well. |
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