[ME. bet(e)re(n:—OE. *bęt(e)rian (only ʓebętrod is found) = OFris. beteria, Du. beteren, ON. betra, OHG. baȥirôn, beȥȥerôn, MHG. beȥȥern, mod.G. bessern:—OTeut. *batizojan, f. *batiz- BETTER.]
1. trans. To make better; to improve, amend, ameliorate.
[c. 897. K. Ælfred, Past. Care, 204. Þa scamfæstan bioð oft mid ʓemetlicre lare ʓebetrod.]
1384. Wyclif, De Eccl., v. Sel. Wks. III. 349. Siþ þei witen not who is beterid by entryng into þes ordris.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, II. xvii. I did it to this entent that it sholde better thy courage.
1585. Abp. Sandys, Serm. (1841), 95. Granted that some rites … might be bettered, or omitted.
1650. Gell, Serm., 8 Aug., 48. He will improve and better the land he holds.
1711. J. Greenwood, Eng. Gram., 10. As to our daily borrowing abundance of Words, I cannot think our Language is better’d by it.
1752. Hume, Ess. & Treat. (1777), I. 283. It is difficult for labourers and artisans to better their condition.
a. 1850. Wordsw., Sonn., I. xxv. Love betters what is best, Even here below.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), III. xiii. 311. Swend’s chances were distinctly bettered by the transfer of the Crown to a dynasty of which he might almost count as a member.
b. To make morally better.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1351/1. Are you not resolued to better your life?
a. 1593. H. Smith, Wks. (1867), I. 486. If we will be bettered … by the word, we must be as newborn babes.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., II. Wks. (1851), 148. Instructing and bettering the Nation at all opportunities.
1849. Ruskin, Sev. Lamps, vii. § 8. 194. We think too much … of bettering men by giving them advice and instruction.
c. To make better in health; to make better off in worldly condition.
1581. W. Stafford, Exam. Compl., iii. (1876), 91. Oure Townes myght be soone … farre bettered.
1611. Bible, Mark v. 26. A certaine woman which … had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered.
1655. Gouge, Comm. Heb. xiii. 5. So great hope of bettering himself.
1792. Mary Wollstonecr., Rights Wom., iv. 164. Girls marry merely to ‘better themselves,’ to borrow a significant vulgar phrase.
1840. Marryat, Poor Jack, i. She left to better herself, and obtained the situation of nurse.
† 2. intr. To be better, have the mastery. Obs.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter xii. [xiii.] 5. Les when mi wither-win he sai, I betred againes him ai. Ibid., lxiv. [lxv.] 4. Wordes of wike bettred over us nou.
3. trans. To do better than, surpass, excel.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par., Pref. 15. Begrieued to see his thing bettered.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. i. 22. Each day still better others happinesse!
1623. Cockeram, III. s.v. Isæan, Salmon, which is … not to be betterd in any part of the world.
1821. Keats, Lamia, 229. Jove heard his vows, and better’d his desire.
1848. Ruskin, Mod. Painters, II. III. xiv. § 15. 114. It hardly betters the blocks … in barbers’ windows.
† 4. absol. To be better, to be an improvement.
1592. Warner, Alb. Eng., VIII. xxxviii. (1612), 189. It betters not to tarie.
5. intr. To grow better, improve. Cf. BETTERING vbl. sb. 2.
1839. Carlyle, Chartism, ii. 116. The general condition of the poor must be bettering instead of worsening.
1883. Miss Broughton, Belinda, II. II. viii. 113. The day has bettered.
