better English · revision 1854

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725 (Beowulf)|origins=gem-pro *batizô}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbet.ə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈbet̬.ɚ/ ''(US)''^(Roach et al. 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|bettre]],^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[inh|ang|betera]], later [[m|ang|bettra]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(AHD) from [[gem-pro|*batizô]], the comparative of a positive [[m|gem-pro|*bat-]] that is not in use.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) That root is also found in [[ang|bōt|t=remedy, compensation]] (see [[boot]]).^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986)^(Chambers 2008) It has been traced to [[ine-pro|*bʰad-|t=good]], and Merriam-Webster compares [[sa|भद्र|tr=bhadrá|t=fortunate]],^(AHD 2000)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) but Etymonline notes that Boutkan finds no good Indo-European etymology, and Random House calls the link to Sanskrit doubtful.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) Cognates include [[nl|beter]], [[de|besser]], [[non|betri]] and [[got|𐌱𐌰𐍄𐌹𐌶𐌰|tr=batiza]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Klein 1966) The verb continues [[ang|beterian|t=to improve]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of superior quality; the comparative of ''good'' (Old English ''betera'', about 725, in ''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle English the usual adverb was ''bet'', which was displaced by ''better'' about 1600.^(Etymonline)^(Weekley 1921) ''Better'' meant “improved in health” from late Old English,^(Etymonline) and “more useful or desirable” from the late 12th century.^(Etymonline) As a noun, “that which is better”, it is recorded from the late 12th century, and “one's superior” from the early 14th;^(Etymonline) ''the better'', an improvement (''for the better''), dates from the 1690s, and ''get the better of'' dates from the 1650s.^(Etymonline) ''Better half'', a wife, is from the 1570s, first in Sidney.^(Etymonline)^(Weekley 1921) The verb took the sense “to surpass” in the 1540s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and ''to better oneself'' (17th century) was called a “significant vulgar phrase” by Mary Wollstonecraft.^(Weekley 1921) The phrase ''we had better'' replaced earlier ''us were better'', with ''had'' modelled on ''had liefer'';^(Weekley 1921) ''better'' alone as an auxiliary, ''you better hurry'', dates from 1817 in Merriam-Webster.^(MWU 2024)^(HTOED) In 19th-century America ''better than'' also meant “more than”, as in ''better than a year''.^(Bartlett 1848)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''betera'', in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late Old English – improved in health.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 12th century – more useful; as a noun, that which is better.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 14th century – one's superior.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1540s – verb, to surpass.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1570s – ''better half''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1650s – ''get the better of''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1817 – ''better'' for ''had better''.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # The [[comparative]] of ''[[good]]'': of higher quality or excellence.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+ # More useful, suitable, advantageous or desirable.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Improved in health; recovered from illness.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)

+ # Greater in amount: ''the better part of an hour''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # The comparative of ''[[well]]'': in a more excellent way.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To a greater extent; more: ''better than ten miles''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something better.^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)

+ # ''(usually plural)'' A person superior in rank or merit: ''his betters''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Advantage or victory: ''get the better of''.^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make better; to [[improve]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To surpass or exceed: ''bettered his own record''.^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+ # ''(South Africa)'' To manage land as part of a betterment scheme.^(DSAE)

+

+ ===Auxiliary verb===

+ # ''(informal)'' Had better; ought to: ''you better hurry''.^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[unbettered]]

+ * [[betterment]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[best]]

+ * [[boot]]

+ * [[bet]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary accepts ''had better'' and ''you'd better'', but not ''you better'' without ''had'' or its contraction.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}