Origin: Germanic Old English prefix
Better has 19 different meanings across 4 categories:
a superior person having claim to precedence
"the common man has been kept in his place by his betters"
An entity, usually animate, deemed superior to another; one who has a claim to precedence; a superior.
"In the old handwritten ledger, the merchant signed his name as "Johann Better," which was simply an alternative spelling for "Bettor.""
Alternative spelling of bettor
In plain English: Better (noun: Alternative spelling of bettor) Plain English Definition: A better is someone who places wagers on games or events.
"The doctor said that getting better was taking too long."
Usage: Do not use "better" as a noun to mean a gambler; that role belongs exclusively to the word "bettor." Instead, reserve "better" as a noun for the concept of an improvement or a person who surpasses others in quality.
to make better
"The editor improved the manuscript with his changes"
Had better.
"The regular exercise routine has made my overall health better than it was last year."
To improve.
In plain English: To make something improved or more effective than it was before.
"The new software update will make your computer run better."
Usage: Use "better" as a verb only when you mean to make something more favorable or successful, such as in the phrase "to better your skills." Do not use it as a synonym for "get along with" or "improve upon" someone's character without the specific context of improvement.
(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"
(comparative of `good') changed for the better in health or fitness
"her health is better now"
"I feel better"
comparative form of good: more good
"The weather today is better than it was yesterday."
In plain English: Better means something is improved, higher quality, or more enjoyable than before.
Usage: Use "better" only when directly comparing two specific things or people to indicate that one possesses a higher degree of goodness than the other. Do not use it to describe a single item's quality in isolation; simply say "good" instead.
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"
comparative form of well: more well
"After resting for a few hours, she felt much better than before."
In plain English: Better means doing something more successfully or having higher quality than before.
"You can run much better on fresh grass than on concrete."
Usage: Use "better" as an adverb only when comparing how well two actions are performed, such as saying "He drives better than his brother." Do not use it to modify a single action, which requires the standard adverb "well" instead.
The word "better" comes from Old English, where it originally meant "good." Its roots trace back through West Germanic and Proto-Germanic languages to a common ancestor meaning "good."