0%

have the better of

have the bet·ter of
H h

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [hav stressed th ee bet-er uhv, ov]
    • /hæv stressed ði ˈbɛt ər ʌv, ɒv/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [hav stressed th ee bet-er uhv, ov]
    • /hæv stressed ði ˈbɛt ər ʌv, ɒv/

Definitions of have the better of words

  • adjective have the better of of superior quality or excellence: a better coat; a better speech. 1
  • adjective have the better of morally superior; more virtuous: They are no better than thieves. 1
  • adjective have the better of of superior suitability, advisability, desirability, acceptableness, etc.; preferable: a better time for action. 1
  • adjective have the better of larger; greater: the better part of a lifetime. 1
  • adjective have the better of improved in health; healthier than before. 1
  • adjective have the better of completely recovered in health. 1
See all 22 definitions of have the better of

Information block about the term

Origin of have the better of

First appearance:

before 900
One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English bettre, Old English bet(t)(e)ra; cognate with Old High German bezziro (German besser), Dutch beter, Old Norse betr, Gothic batiza, equivalent to bat- (cognate with Old High German baz (adv.) better; akin to boot2) + -iza comparative suffix; suggested relation to Sanskrit bhadrá- “fortunate” is doubtful. See best

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Have the better of

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of Have the better of

have the better of popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

have the better of usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

See also

Matching words

Was this page helpful?
Yes No
Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page
Tell us why?