BETTER
ADJECTIVES
1807 ► BETTERISH somewhat better, of somewhat superior sort → colloq.
1843 ► BETTAMY → BETTERMER → BETTERMORE → BETTERMY better, superior → Eng. dial.
1843 ► BETTERSOME better → Amer. dial. obs.
1882 ► BETTERLY better; superior → Eng. dial.
1892 ► BEST WAY(S) better → Eng. dial.
ADVERBS
..888 ► BET better → obs.
1892 ► BETTERGATES in a better way or manner → Sc.
1911 ► BETTERLINS better → Sc. (Bk.)
NOUNS
1614 ► BETTERANCE the process of bettering; amelioration, improvement; betterment
1615 ► BETTERHOOD the condition of being better; superiority
1673 ► BETTERMENT the fact of being better; difference for the better → obs.
PHRASES
1574 ► THE FEWER THE BETTER CHEER the fewer people there are, the better the occasion or situation will be, or the more there will be for each to eat
1911 ► TEN BETTERS ten times better → Sc. (Bk.)
1920 ► BETTER THAN A DIG IN THE EYE WITH A BLUNT STICK better than nothing
1920 ► BETTER THAN A KICK IN THE ASS WITH A FROZEN BOOT better than nothing
1920 ► BETTER THAN A KICK IN THE PANTS better than nothing
1920 ► BETTER THAN A POKE IN THE EYE WITH A SHARP STICK better than nothing
1920 ► BETTER THAN A SLAP IN THE BELLY WITH A WET FISH better than nothing
1920 ► BETTER THAN SLEEPING WITH A DEAD POLICEMAN better than nothing
1999 ► BETTER THAN A POKE UP THE ARSE WITH A BURNT STICK not as bad as all that; an admission that things could be worse → Aust. sl. (Bk.)
VERBS
1552 ► MELIORATE to make better, to improve, to ameliorate; to grow better
1586 ► TOP to surpass; to better
1598 ► MELIORIZE to make better; to improve; to grow better
1651 ► LURCH to get the better of, to deceive
1711 ► HEAD to get the better of, to outwit, to surpass, to outdo, to excel
1790 ► MANN to get the better of, to overcome, to manage → Sc. & Eng. dial.
1812 ► NAIL to get the better of; to cheat → obs.
1825 ► GUMPH to beat, to baffle, to defeat, to get the better of → Sc.
1834 ► HORNSWOGGLE to get the better of; to cheat or trick, to swindle, to deceive; to hoodwink, to humbug, to bamboozle → colloq., orig. US
1836 ► LAY SALT ON ONE’S TAIL to get the better of; to catch; to take advantage of; to cajole → Sc.
1843 ► HAVE to have the better of; to surpass, to be superior to → Eng. dial.
1856 ► KNOCK SPOTS OFF to be better than, to surpass; to outdo easily; to beat → sl., orig. US
1856 ► MEGGAR to get better, to improve; to recover from an illness, etc.; to get over an illness → Eng. dial.
1870 ► MEND to produce (e.g. a story) better than somebody else → Brit. colloq.
1889 ► TAKE A FALL OUT OF to get the better of → Amer. sl.
1897 ► GO SOUTH to take a turn for the better → Amer. dial.
..L19 ► GET A FALL OUT OF to get the better of someone → US & Aust. sl.
1902 ► BE ALL BUCKLED WITH ONE HASP not to be better than one another → Sc. (Bk.)
1902 ► LANT to get the better of; to vanquish, to beat → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1903 ► RING IN to get the better of → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1905 ► WALLOP to get the better of; to surpass → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1913 ► SLIP ONE OVER to get the better of someone → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
1923 ► OUT-DUGAN to get the better of; to outwit, to cheat → Amer. dial.
1928 ► WAGGLE to get the better of; to overcome → US sl. (Bk.)
1944 ► EAT UP to get the better of; to baffle, to foil → US sl.
Lexicophilia 