better

Multiple Entries:
  better    bet    good    well  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
better/ˈbetə(r)/

▶adjective

• 1 more desirable, satisfactory, or effective. [compar. of good (adjective).]

  ■ more appropriate, advantageous, or well advised.

• 2 partly or fully recovered from illness or injury. [compar. of well1 (adjective).]

▶adverb more excellently or effectively.

■ to a greater degree; more.

■ more suitably or usefully.

▶noun

• 1 that which is better; the better one.

• 2 (one's betters) chiefly dated or humorous one's superiors in social class or ability.

▶verb improve on or surpass.

■ (better oneself) achieve a higher social position or status.

■ overcome or defeat (someone).

– phrases
one's better half informal one's wife, husband, or partner.
better off in a more advantageous position, especially in financial terms.
the better part of most of.
better than N. Amer. more than.
the better to —— so as to do the specified thing better.
for better or (for) worse whether the outcome is good or bad.
get the better of defeat or overcome.
go one better narrowly surpass.
had better would find it wiser to.

– origin OE betera (adj.), of Gmc origin.

usage: In the verb phrase had better do something the word had is often dropped in informal spoken contexts, as in you better not come tonight. In writing, the had may be contracted to 'd but it should not be dropped altogether.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bet/bet/

▶verb (bets, betting; past and past part. bet or betted)

• 1 risk a sum of money or other valued item against someone else's on the basis of the outcome of an unpredictable event such as a race or game.

• 2 informal used to express certainty: he'll be surprised to see me, I'll bet.

▶noun an act of betting.

■ a sum of money staked.

■ informal a candidate or option offering a specified likelihood of success: Allen looked a good bet for victory.

■ (one's bet) informal one's opinion.

– phrases
you bet! informal you may be sure; certainly.

– derivatives
betting noun,
bettor (also better) noun.

– origin C16: perh. a shortening of the obs. noun abet ‘abetment’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
good/ɡʊd/

▶adjective (better, best)

• 1 to be desired or approved of; pleasing.

  ■ (good for) beneficial to.

  ■ expressing good wishes on meeting: good morning.

• 2 having the required qualities; of a high standard.

  ■ (often good at) skilled at doing or dealing with a specified thing.

  ■ appropriate.

  ■ (of language) with correct grammar and pronunciation.

  ■ strictly adhering to the principles of a religion or cause: a good Catholic girl.

• 3 morally right; virtuous.

  ■ (of a child) obedient; well behaved.

• 4 enjoyable or satisfying: a good time.

  ■ (of clothes) smart and formal.

• 5 thorough: a good look around.

  ■ at least; no less than: a good twenty years.

• 6 chiefly N. Amer. (of a ticket) valid.

▶noun

• 1 that which is morally right; righteousness.

• 2 benefit or advantage.

– phrases
as good as —— very nearly or inevitably ——.
be any (or no or much) good have some (or none or a lot of) merit.
be to the good have a net profit or advantage.
do good

• 1 act virtuously, especially by helping others.

• 2 make a helpful contribution.

do someone good be beneficial, especially to health.
for good forever.
(as) good as gold (of a child) extremely well behaved.
the Good Book the Bible.
good for (or on) you! well done!
the Good Shepherd a name for Jesus.
a good word words in recommendation or defence of a person.
in good time

• 1 with no risk of being late.

• 2 (also all in good time) in due course but without haste.

make good be successful.
make something good

• 1 compensate for loss, damage, or expense.

• 2 fulfil a promise or claim.

take something in good part not be offended.
up to no good doing something wrong.

– origin OE gōd, of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
well1

▶adverb (better, best)

• 1 in a good or satisfactory way.

  ■ in a condition of prosperity or comfort.

  ■ archaic luckily; opportunely: hail fellow, well met.

• 2 in a thorough manner.

  ■ to a great extent or degree; very much.

  ■ Brit. informal very; extremely: he was well out of order.

• 3 very probably; in all likelihood.

  ■ without difficulty.

  ■ with good reason.

▶adjective (better, best)

• 1 in good health; free or recovered from illness.

  ■ in a satisfactory state or position.

• 2 sensible; advisable.

▶exclamation used to express surprise, anger, resignation, etc., or when pausing in speech.

– phrases
as well

• 1 in addition; too.

• 2 (as well or just as well) with equal reason or an equally good result.

  ■ sensible, appropriate, or desirable.

be well out of Brit. informal be fortunate to be no longer involved in.
be well up on (or in) know a great deal about.
leave (or let) well (N. Amer. enough) alone refrain from interfering with or trying to improve something.
very well used to express agreement or understanding.
well and truly completely.

– derivatives
wellness noun.

– origin OE wel(l), of Gmc origin; prob. rel. to the verb will1.

usage: The adverb well is often used in combination with past participles to form adjectival compounds. The general stylistic principle for hyphenation is that if the adjectival compound is placed attributively (i.e. before the noun), it should be hyphenated (a well-intentioned remark) but that if it is placed predicatively (i.e. standing alone after the verb), it should not be hyphenated (her remarks were well intentioned). In this dictionary, the unhyphenated form is generally the only one given.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
well2

▶noun

• 1 a shaft sunk into the ground to obtain water, oil, or gas.

  ■ a depression made to hold liquid.

• 2 a plentiful source or supply: a deep well of sympathy.

• 3 an enclosed space in the middle of a building, giving room for stairs or a lift or allowing light or ventilation.

• 4 Brit. the place in a law court where the clerks and ushers sit.

• 5 Physics a region of minimum potential.

• 6 archaic a water spring or fountain.

▶verb (often well up) (of a liquid) rise up to the surface and spill or be about to spill.

■ (of an emotion) develop and become more intense.

– origin OE wella, of Gmc origin.