English-Thai Dictionary

better

ADJ ดีกว่า  finer de-kwa

 

better

ADJ ดีขึ้น (สภาพร่างกาย  ฟื้นตัว  ทุเลา  ค่อยยังชั่ว  คลี่คลาย  กระเตื้อง  well de-khuen

 

better

ADJ ปรับปรุง ให้ ดี ยิ่งขึ้น  เหนือกว่า  พัฒนา คุณ ภาพ ให้ ดีขึ้น  prab-prung-hai-de-ying-khuen

 

better

ADV มาตรฐาน หรือ คุณ ภาพ ที่ ดีกว่า  mad-tra-tan-rue-kun-na-phab-ti-de-kwa

 

better

ADV เป็น ที่ ชอบ หรือ พึงพอใจ มากกว่า  pen-ti-chob-rue-phueng-por-jai-mak-kwa

 

better

N ผู้ ที่ เหนือกว่า  ผู้ ที่ ดีกว่า  phu-ti-nuea-kwa

 

better

N เรื่องราว ที่ ค่อนข้าง ดี (เงื่อนไข  การกระทำ  rueang-rao-ti-kon-kang-de

 

better

VT ปรับปรุง  ทำให้ ดี ยิ่งขึ้น  improve prab-prung

 

better

VT พัฒนา ตัวเอง  phad-tha-na-tua-eng

 

betterment

N การปรับปรุง  การ ทำให้ ดีขึ้น  improvement kan-prab-prung

 

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

BETTER

a comp. of bet. [See Best. ] 1. Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; applied to physical, acquired or moral qualities; as a better soil, a better man, a better physician, a better house, a better air, a better harvest.
2. More advantageous.
Were it not better for us to return to Egypt: Numbers 14:3.
3. More acceptable.
To obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22.
4. More safe.
It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8, 9.
5. Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the patient is better.
6. To be better off, to be in a better condition. Beddoes, Hygeia. This is a very common phrase; but ought not off, to be of? It is not elegant.
7. To have the better, is to have the advantage or superiority, followed by of before him or that over which the advantage is enjoyed; as, the English had the better of the Spaniards.
8. To get or gain the better, is to obtain the advantage, superiority or victory; as, to get the better of an enemy.
9. For the better, is for the advantage or improvement.

 

BETTER

adv. In a more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, virtue, advantage or success; as, to perform work better; to plan a scheme better; land better cultivated; laws better executed; government better administered. 1. More correctly, or fully; as, to understand a subject better than another.
2. With superior excellence; as, to write or speak better than another.
3. With more affection; in a higher degree; as, to love one better than another.
It is not easy to specify and exemplify the various applications of better. In general, it implies what is more excellent, advantageous, useful, or virtuous, than something else.

 

BETTER

v.t. 1. To improve; to meliorate; to increase the good qualities of; as, manure betters land; discipline may better the morals.
2. To surpass; to exceed.
The works of nature do always aim at that which cannot be bettered.
Qu. is not the sense, made better:
3. To advance; to support; to give advantage to; as, to better a party; to better a cause.

 

BETTER

n.A superior; one who has a claim to precedence on account of his rank, age, or office; as, give place to your betters. It is generally or always used in the plural.

 

BETTERED

pp. Improved; meliorated; made better.

 

BETTERING

ppr. Making better; improving.

 

BETTERING-HOUSE

n.A house for the reformation of offenders.

 

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

BETTER

Bet "ter, a.; compar. of Good. Etym: [OE. betere, bettre, and as adv. bet, AS. betera, adj. , and bet, adv. ; akin to Icel. betri, adj. , betr, adv. , Goth. batiza, adj. , OHG. bezziro, adj. , baz, adv. , G. besser, adj. and adv. , bass, adv. , E. boot, and prob. to Skr. bhadra excellent. See Boot advantage, and cf. Best, Batful. ]

 

1. Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; as, a better man; a better physician; a better house; a better air. Could make the worse appear The better reason. Milton.

 

2. Preferable in regard to rank, value, use, fitness, acceptableness, safety, or in any other respect. To obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Sam. xv. 22. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.Ps. cxviii. 9.

 

3. Greater in amount; larger; more.

 

4. Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the patient is better.

 

5. More advanced; more perfect; as, upon better acquaintance; a better knowledge of the subject. All the better. See under All, adv. -- Better half, an expression used to designate one's wife. My dear, my better half (said he ), I find I must now leave thee. Sir P. Sidney. -- To be better off, to be in a better condition. -- Had better. (See under Had ).

 

Note: The phrase had better, followed by an infinitive without to, is idiomatic. The earliest form of construction was "were better " with a dative; as, "Him were better go beside. " (Gower.) i. e., It would be better for him, etc. At length the nominative (I, he, they, etc. )supplanted the dative and had took the place of were. Thus we have the construction now used. By all that's holy, he had better starve Than but once think this place becomes thee not. Shak.

 

BETTER

BETTER Bet "ter, n.

 

1. Advantage, superiority, or victory; -- usually with of; as, to get the better of an enemy.

 

2. One who has a claim to precedence; a superior, as in merit, social standing, etc. ; -- usually in the plural. Their betters would hardly be found. Hooker. For the better, in the way of improvement; so as to produce improvement. "If I have altered him anywhere for the better. " Dryden.

 

BETTER

BETTER Bet "ter, adv. ; compar. of Well.

 

1. In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success; as, Henry writes better than John; veterans fight better than recruits. I could have better spared a better man. Shak.

 

2. More correctly or thoroughly. The better to understand the extent of our knowledge. Locke.

 

3. In a higher or greater degree; more; as, to love one better than another. Never was monarch better feared, and loved. Shak.

 

4. More, in reference to value, distance, time, etc. ; as, ten miles and better. [Colloq. ] To think better of (any one ), to have a more favorable opinion of any one. -- To think better of (an opinion, resolution, etc. ), to reconsider and alter one's decision.

 

BETTER

Bet "ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bettered; p. pr. & vb. n. Bettering. ]Etym: [AS. beterian, betrian, fr. betera better. See Better, a.]

 

1. To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of. Love betters what is best. Wordsworth. He thought to better his circumstances. Thackeray.

 

2. To improve the condition of, morally, physically, financially, socially, or otherwise. The constant effort of every man to better himself. Macaulay.

 

3. To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel. The works of nature do always aim at that which can not be bettered. Hooker.

 

4. To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of. [Obs. ] Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us and worse our foes. Milton.

 

Syn. -- To improve; meliorate; ameliorate; mend; amend; correct; emend; reform; advance; promote.

 

BETTER

BETTER Bet "ter, v. i.

 

Defn: To become better; to improve. Carlyle.

 

BETTER

BETTER Bet "ter, n.

 

Defn: One who bets or lays a wager.

 

BETTERMENT

BETTERMENT Bet "ter *ment, n.

 

1. A making better; amendment; improvement. W. Montagu.

 

2. (Law )

 

Defn: An improvement of an estate which renders it better than mere repairing would do; -- generally used in the plural. [U. S.] Bouvier.

 

BETTERMOST

BETTERMOST Bet "ter *most `, a.

 

Defn: Best. [R.] "The bettermost classes." Brougham.

 

BETTERNESS

BETTERNESS Bet "ter *ness, n.

 

1. The quality of being better or superior; superiority. [R.] Sir P. Sidney.

 

2. The difference by which fine gold or silver exceeds in fineness the standard.

 

New American Oxford Dictionary

better

bet ter 1 |ˈbetər ˈbɛdər | ▶adjective 1 comparative of good and well 1. • of a more excellent or effective type or quality: hoping for better weather | the new facilities were far better | I'm better at algebra than Alice. • more appropriate, advantageous, or well advised: there couldn't be a better time to start this job | it might be better to borrow the money. 2 [ predic. ] partly or fully recovered from illness, injury, or mental stress; less unwell: she's much better today | his leg was getting better | we'll feel a lot better after a decent night's sleep. ▶adverb comparative of well 1. • more excellently or effectively: Johnny could do better if he tried | instruments are generally better made these days. • to a greater degree; more: I liked it better when we lived in the country | you may find alternatives that suit you better. • more suitably, appropriately, or usefully: the money could be better spent on more urgent cases. ▶noun 1 the better one; that which is better: the Natural History Museum book is by far the better of the two | a change for the better . 2 (one's betters ) chiefly dated or humorous one's superiors in social class or ability: amusing themselves by imitating their betters. ▶verb [ with obj. ] improve on or surpass (an existing or previous level or achievement ): bettering his previous time by ten minutes. • make (something ) better; improve: his ideas for bettering the working conditions. • (better oneself ) achieve a better social position or status: the residents are mostly welfare mothers who have bettered themselves. • overcome or defeat (someone ): she bettered him at archery. PHRASES be better off be in a better position, esp. in financial terms: the promotion would make her about $750 a year better off | (as plural noun the better off ) : a paper read mainly by the better off. the —— the better used to emphasize the importance or desirability of the quality or thing specified: the sooner we're off, the better | the more people there the better. the better part of almost all of; most of: it is the better part of a mile. better safe than sorry proverb it's wiser to be cautious than to be hasty or rash and so do something you may later regret. better than more than: he'd lived there for better than twenty years. the better to —— so as to —— better: he leaned closer the better to hear her. for better or ( for ) worse whether the outcome is good or bad: ours, for better or for worse, is the century of youth. get the better of (often of something immaterial ) win an advantage over (someone ); defeat or outwit: curiosity got the better of her. go one better narrowly surpass a previous effort or achievement: I want to go one better this time and score. • narrowly outdo (another person ): he went one better than Jack by reaching the finals. had better do something would find it wiser to do something; ought to do something: you had better be careful. have the better of be more successful in a contest: she usually had the better of these debates. no (or little ) better than just (or almost ) the same as; merely: government officials who were often no better than bandits. ORIGIN Old English betera (adjective ), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to best . usage: 1 In the verb phrase had better do something, the word had acts like an auxiliary verb; in informal spoken contexts, it is often dropped, as in you better not come tonight. In writing, the had may be contracted to ’d ( you'd better call ), but it should not be dropped altogether (not you better call ). 2 On the punctuation of better in compound adjectives, see usage at well 1 .

 

better

bet ter 2 |ˈbɛdər ˈbetər | ▶noun variant spelling of bettor.

 

better half

bet ter half |ˈˌbɛdər ˈhæf | ▶noun informal a person's wife, husband, or partner.

 

betterment

bet ter ment |ˈbetərmənt ˈbɛdərmənt | ▶noun the act or process of improving something: they believed that what they were doing was vital for the betterment of society | [ as modifier ] : working at betterment projects throughout the city. • the enhanced value of real property arising from local improvements: [ as modifier ] : a betterment charge.

 

Betterton, Thomas

Bet ¦ter |ton |ˈbɛtət (ə )n | (1635 –1710 ), English actor. A leading actor of the Restoration period, he also adapted the plays of John Webster, Molière, and Beaumont and Fletcher for his own productions.

 

Oxford Dictionary

better

better 1 |ˈbɛtə | ▶adjective 1 more desirable, satisfactory, or effective: we're hoping for better weather tomorrow | the new facilities were far better | I'm better at doing sums than Alice. [comparative of the adjective good . ] • more appropriate, advantageous, or well advised: there couldn't be a better time to take up this job | it might be better to borrow the money. 2 [ predic. or as complement ] partly or fully recovered from illness, injury, or mental stress: his leg was getting better. [comparative of the adjective well 1 . ] ▶adverb more excellently or effectively: Jonathon could do better if he tried | sound travels better in water than in air | instruments are generally better made these days. • to a greater degree; more (used in connection with success or with desirable actions or conditions ): I liked it better when we lived in the country | well-fed people are better able to fight off infection. • more suitably, appropriately, or usefully: the money could be better spent on more urgent cases. ▶noun 1 [ mass noun ] the better one; that which is better: the Natural History Museum book is by far the better of the two | you've a right to expect better than that | a change for the better . 2 (one's betters ) chiefly dated or humorous one's superiors in social class or ability: educating the young to respect their elders and betters. ▶verb [ with obj. ] improve on or surpass (an existing or previous level or achievement ): his account can hardly be bettered | bettering his previous time by ten minutes. • make (something ) better; improve: his ideas for bettering the lot of the millhands. • (better oneself ) achieve a higher social position or status: the residents are mostly Londoners who have bettered themselves. • overcome or defeat (someone ): she had almost bettered him at archery. PHRASES the —— the better used to emphasize the importance or desirability of the thing specified: the sooner we're off the better. better the devil you know than the devil you don't know proverb it's wiser to deal with an undesirable but familiar situation than to risk a change that might lead to an even worse situation. better off in a more desirable or advantageous position, especially in financial terms: the proposals would make her about £400 a year better off. the better part of almost all of; most of: it is the better part of a mile. better safe than sorry proverb it's wiser to be cautious and careful than to be hasty or rash and so do something you may later regret. better than N. Amer. more than: he'd lived there for better than twenty years. the better to —— so as to —— better: he leaned closer the better to hear her. for better or ( for ) worse whether the outcome is good or bad. get the better of gain an advantage over or defeat (someone ) by superior strength or ability: no one has ever got the better of her yet. • (of a feeling or urge ) be too strong to conceal or resist: curiosity got the better of her. go one better narrowly surpass a previous effort or achievement: I want to go one better this time and score. • narrowly outdo (another person ). had better do something would find it wiser to do something; ought to do something: you had better be careful. have the better of be more successful in (a contest ): Attlee had the better of these exchanges. no (or little ) better than just (or almost ) the same as (something bad ); merely: viceroys who were often no better than bandits. no better than one should (or ought to ) be regarded as sexually promiscuous or of doubtful moral character. ORIGIN Old English betera (adjective ), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to best . usage: In the verb phrase had better do something the word had acts like an auxiliary verb, and in informal spoken contexts it is often dropped, as in you better not come tonight. In writing, the had may be contracted to 'd but should not be dropped altogether.

 

better

better 2 |ˈbɛtə | ▶noun variant spelling of bettor.

 

better half

bet ¦ter half ▶noun informal a person's wife, husband, or partner.

 

betterment

bet ¦ter |ment |ˈbɛtəm (ə )nt | ▶noun [ mass noun ] the improvement of something: they believed that what they were doing was vital for the betterment of society. • Law the enhanced value of real property arising from local improvements.

 

Betterton, Thomas

Bet ¦ter |ton |ˈbɛtət (ə )n | (1635 –1710 ), English actor. A leading actor of the Restoration period, he also adapted the plays of John Webster, Molière, and Beaumont and Fletcher for his own productions.

 

American Oxford Thesaurus

better

better adjective 1 better facilities: superior, finer, of higher quality; preferable; informal a cut above, head and shoulders above, ahead of the pack /field. ANTONYMS worse, inferior. 2 there couldn't be a better time: more advantageous, more suitable, more fitting, more appropriate, more useful, more valuable, more desirable. ANTONYMS worse. 3 are you better? healthier, fitter, stronger; well, cured, healed, recovered; recovering, on the road to recovery, making progress, improving; informal on the mend. ANTONYMS worse, sicker. ▶adverb 1 I played better today: to a higher standard, in a superior /finer way. 2 this may suit you better: more, to a greater degree /extent. 3 the money could be better spent: more wisely, more sensibly, more suitably, more fittingly, more advantageously. ▶verb 1 he bettered the record: surpass, improve on, beat, exceed, top, cap, trump, eclipse. 2 refugees who want to better their lot: improve, ameliorate, raise, advance, further, lift, upgrade, enhance. ANTONYMS worsen.

 

betterment

betterment noun sometimes, you have to make sacrifices for the betterment of the entire group: improvement, amelioration, advancement, change for the better, furtherance, upgrading, enhancement; reform, rectification.

 

Oxford Thesaurus

better

better adjective 1 the better player | better facilities: superior, finer, of higher quality, greater, in a different class, one step ahead; more acceptable, preferable, recommended; informal a cut above, streets ahead, head and shoulders above, ahead of the pack /field. ANTONYMS worse, inferior. 2 there couldn't be a better time to take up this job: more advantageous, more suitable, more fitting, more appropriate, more useful, more valuable, more desirable. ANTONYMS worse. 3 is Emma any better today? healthier, fitter, stronger, less ill; well, cured, healed, recovered; convalescent, recovering, on the road to recovery, making progress, progressing, improving; informal on the mend, looking up. ANTONYMS worse. ▶adverb 1 I played better today: to a higher standard, in a superior /finer way. 2 you may find alternatives that suit you better: more, to a greater degree. 3 the money could be better spent on more urgent cases: more wisely, more sensibly, more suitably, more fittingly, more advantageously. ▶verb 1 a record bettered by only one other non-league side: surpass, improve on, beat, exceed, excel, top, cap, trump, eclipse, outstrip, outdo, outmatch, go one better than; informal best. 2 musicians will be advised on how to better their work: improve, make better, ameliorate, raise, advance, further, lift, upgrade, enhance; reform, rectify; rare meliorate. ANTONYMS worsen. ▶noun PHRASES get the better of I was going to disagree but impulse got the better of me | he usually gets the better of the bigger and stronger animals: defeat, beat, best, conquer, trounce, thrash, rout, vanquish, overcome, overwhelm, overpower, destroy, drub, triumph over, prevail over, gain a victory over, win over /against, worst, subdue, quash, crush; informal lick, slaughter, murder, kill, clobber, hammer, whip, paste, crucify, demolish, wipe the floor with, make mincemeat of, take to the cleaners, walk (all ) over, run rings around; Brit. informal stuff, marmalize; N. Amer. informal shellac, skunk.

 

betterment

betterment noun the betterment of society as a whole: improvement, amelioration, advancement, change for the better, furtherance, upgrading, enhancement; reform, rectification.

 

French Dictionary

betterave

betterave n. f. nom féminin Plante à racine charnue. : Une salade de betteraves, mais du sucre de betterave.

 

Sanseido Wisdom Dictionary

better

bet ter 1 /bétə r /↓語源 (! good, wellの比較級 ) 語源 better, bestには当初は原級が存在せず, 後に別の語であったgoodが両者の原級として代用されるようになった. この現象を補充法と呼ぶ. ただ, 一部にはbetter, bestの原級はboot 2 であるという説もある .形容詞 1 〖goodの比較級 〗【人 物 事にとって 】(質 技術 機能の点で )より良い , より優れた [うまい . 上手な ]; (判断として )より望ましい [適切な ]; (程度の点で )より良い [いっそうの, 十分な ] «for » (↔worse ) (!肯定的に 「…より良い 」の意にも否定的に 「…よりまし 」の意にも用いる ) ▸ There must be a better way to do this .これをやるのにもっといい方法があるに違いない ▸ get a better understanding of [look at ] A Aをより良く理解する [見る ]▸ An A grade is better than a B grade .A評価はB評価より良い (╳more better [good ]としない )▸ You're much better at speaking Japanese than I am .君は私よりずっと日本語を話すのがうまい (!強調するときはmuch, even, a lot, far, stillなどを用いる ) ▸ I think things are getting better .事態は改善していると思う ▸ “How is your business? ” “Never better [(It ) couldn't be better ].”「お仕事の方はいかがですか 」「 (これ以上ないくらい )最高ですよ 」 (!(It ) could be better .は 「 (これ以上良い状態があり得るので )ぱっとしないね 」) ▸ You look slightly [significantly ] better in those clothes .その服を着ているとふだんより少し [大いに ]美人に見えるよ ▸ Give me the better [｟話 ｠best ] wine of these two .ここにある2種のうち良い方のワインを下さい (!2者の比較が明示される場合は通例theを伴う; ↓名詞 1 ; →best 語法 (2 )) 2 a. 〖wellの比較級; be ～〗(肉体的 精神的に )〈人が 〉より健康である , より調子 [具合, 気分 ]が良い; 〈病人が 〉回復 [全快 ]している ; 〈物 事が 〉【人の 】健康にいっそう良い «for » ▸ The patient is getting better and better .その患者は日増しに快方に向かっている ▸ “You (are ) feeling any better ?” “A little bit. ”「気分は少しはいいかい 」「少しね 」▸ Low-fat milk is better for you than whole milk .低脂肪乳は全乳よりも体にいい ▸ get completely [quite ] better すっかり回復する (!他の比較級と違ってcompletelyやquiteと用いることが可能 ) .b. 〖goodの比較級 〗〖feel better 〗 «…のことで /…の理由で » 〈人が 〉 (気落ちしていたが )気分が良くなる, 気持ちがおさまる [楽になる ], 安心する «about /for » ▸ He felt better for having taken a walk .少し散歩したので彼は気分が良くなった ▸ Look better and feel better about yourself .おしゃれをして自分に自信を持ちなさい ▸ It makes me feel better hearing about people who are worse off .落ち目の人の話を聞いていると気が楽になる .3 a. 〖it is [would be ] better (for A ) to do 〗(Aが )…する方がいい (!(1 )had better do のような強制的な響きはない; wouldを用いる方がさらに穏やかな言い方. (2 )文脈から明らかな場合for Aはしばしば省略される. (3 )時にfor A to do の代わりにif節やthat節が用いられる; to do の代りに do ingを従えるのは ｟まれ ｠) ▸ It is better for us not to see each other any more .我々はもう会わない方がいい (!It would be better for us not to [if we didn't ] see each other any more. の方が控えめな言い方; if節中は通例仮定法過去 [現在 ]) ▸ It may be better to buy a new computer .新しいコンピュータを買った方がいいかもしれない .b. ｟まれ ｠〖be ～ to do /do ing 〗(人が )…する方がいい (!しばしばwould, may, mightなどの 助動詞 を伴う ) ▸ You'd be better to do it this way .それならこういうふうにやった方がいい ▸ You are better wearing the jacket .君は上着を着ておいた方がいい .4 〖goodの比較級 〗(主に物 時間などについて )大半の, 半数以上の ▸ for the better part of a week 1週間のうち半分以上の間 (!betterの代わりにbestを用いることもある ) 5 〖絶対比較 〗〈性質などが 〉良い , 〈製品などが 〉高級な (!特に比較対象は示さず絶対的評価を表す ) ▸ a better dress (shop )高級ドレス (店 ).be (à ll ) the b é tter ｟主に話 ｠ «…の理由で /…なので /…であれば » いっそう良い, かえって良い «for /because , since /if » (!allを省略するのは ｟まれ ｠) ▸ The view was all the better for the rain .その景色は雨のためにいっそう美しかった .be b è tter than n ó thing ｟話 ｠〈人 物などが 〉ないよりはましという程度である ; かなりのものである (!特定の量 価値 程度を少ないと見る場合にも多いと見る場合にも用いる ) ▸ It's [That's ] better than nothing .それでも何もないよりましだ ▸ But $100 is little [considerably ] better than nothing .しかし100ドルといってもたかが知れている [といったらかなりの額だ ]be n ò [n ò t à ny, l ì ttle ] b é tter than A A 〈人 物 〉も同然である, Aにすぎない, Aと同じくらい悪い (!いかにgoodでないかを強調する ) ▸ That lawyer is no better than a fraud .あの弁護士は詐欺師同然だ be so m ù ch the b é tter ＝be (all ) the better .B è tter l ù ck n é xt t ì me! この次はもっとうまくいくといいね, 次はがんばろうね (!失敗した人への励ましの言葉 ) .B è tter y ò u than m é .｟米話 ｠(困難 不快なことをやるはめになった人に対して )私ならいやだ, 私でなくてよかった .Ì s that b é tter?｟話 ｠(変更 改善後の満足度を尋ねて )これで良くなりましたか, これでいいですか (!何らかの変更 改善を行った後でそれに対する相手の満足度を尋ねる ) ▸ “I'll speak a bit louder. Is that any better ?” “Yes, that's much better now. ”｟電話 ｠「少し大きな声で話すよ, 少しはよく聞こえるようになったかい 」「ああ, 今度はずっとよくなったよ 」n ò b é tter A «…に » まさるAはない ; «…と » 同程度のAしかない «than » ▸ We can expect no better treatment .我々はこれ以上の待遇を期待することはできない ▸ There's no better place than my own veranda to sit and watch a sunset .座って夕日を眺めるのに私のベランダほどいい場所はない .n ò thing b é tter 1 «…より » よりよいことが何もない «than » ▸ I've got nothing better to do than go shopping. ≒There's nothing better than going shopping .買い物に行くくらいしかすることがない .2 «…を » 何にもまして 〈好きだ 欲する 楽しむなど 〉 «than » ▸ John likes nothing better than to watch [watching ] TV .ジョンはテレビを見るのが何にもまして好きだ .(≒John likes to watch [watching ] TV best. )Th á t's b è tter .｟話 ｠(ほめたり励まして )良くなってきたよ, それでいいんだ, その調子だ ; (状況に満足して )良くなったよ ; (安心させて )もう大丈夫だ .副詞 〖wellの比較級 〗1 (程度の点で )より良く , よりいっそう [十分に ]; (質的に )より良く, よりうまく [上手に, 適切に ](↔worse )▸ As parents, you know your children better than anyone .親としてあなた方はだれよりも自分の子供たちのことをよく知っている (╳more better [well ]としない )▸ Come on up here. You can see better .こっちの方まで来いよ, その方がよく見えるよ ▸ BSE is better known as “mad cow disease. ”BSE (牛海綿状脳症 )は 「狂牛病 」としての方がよく知られている ▸ be better able to do より …できる (!｟コーパス ｠moreより普通; →able 1 ) ▸ I like baseball better than tennis .私はテニスより野球の方が好きだ (≒I prefer baseball to tennis. ; ↓語法 )▸ I think I could have done better .もっとうまくやれただろうにと思う ▸ Exercise makes your lungs work better .運動によって肺はより適切に機能するようになる ▸ I'm going to treat you just as I would any other caller. No better . No worse .私は君をほかの訪問者と同じように扱うつもりだ, それ以上でもないし, それ以下でもない .語法 コーパス 動詞 ＋ … betterと 動詞 ＋ … more know, understand, realizeなど認識を表す 動詞 や, see, hearなど知覚を表す 動詞 の程度を強める際しばしば (very ) wellを用い, その比較構文ではbetterを用いる. 一方, like, loveなど好みを表す 動詞 の程度を強める際にはしばしばvery muchを用いるが, 比較構文ではmoreよりbetterの方が好まれる. ただし, 比較の対象よりも程度差自体を問題にする場合はmoreの方が好まれる ▸ I like baseball more than I like tennis .私はテニスも好きだがそれよりもっと野球が好きだ .2 a. 〖～ do 〗…した方が良い , …するべきだ (!しばしば強い助言 忠告 強制を含意; had better do の省略形 ↓成句 ; 時に主語も省略される ) ▸ (You had ) better apply for that .君はそれに申し込むべきだ b. 〖do ～ doing [to do 〗]…した方が良い (!通例wouldを伴う ) ▸ Doctors would do better to emphasize the side effects of medicine .医者は薬の副作用を強調しておくべきだろう .à ll the b é tter ｟主に話 ｠ «…の理由で / …なので /…であれば » いっそう良く, かえって良く «for /because , since /if » (!良い理由でいっそう良くなる場合にも, 悪い理由で結果的に良くなる場合にも用いる ) ▸ We like him all the better for his intelligence [foolishness ].聡明なのでいっそう [愚かなのでかえって ]彼が好きだ ▸ The change made the film all the better .その改変で映画はさらに良くなった .be b è tter ó ff 1 暮らし向きが良くなっている, 実入りが増えている, より豊かである ▸ You might be better off .前より暮らしぶりがよさそうだね ▸ Quitting smoking made me $25 a week better off .タバコをやめたので週25ドル分が浮いた 2 ｟くだけて 主に話 ｠ «…があれば /…がなければ /…すれば » もっと良い, 満足できる «with /without /do ing » ▸ I'm better off without him .彼がいない方が良い ▸ You're better off watching sports on television than going to see them live .スポーツを実際に見に行くよりも, テレビ観戦する方がいい b è tter st í ll [y é t ](前言より良い代案を示して )さらに良いのは ; それならばいっそ, むしろ ▸ His plan is well thought out, and better still , economical .彼の計画はよく練られており, さらに良いことには経済的である b é tter than …1 ↑副詞 1 .2 〈数量 〉より多い, 以上の ▸ better than ten meters 10メートル以上 (!more than …の方が普通 ) g ò one b é tter 〈人が 〉【競争相手などよりも 】一枚上手 （うわて ）をゆく, 一歩先んじる «than » ▸ He may have been good, but I would go one better .彼もよくやったかもしれないが, 私ならもっとうまくできる had b é tter do ｟主に話 ｠1 (強い助言を表して )〈人が 〉(必ず )…した方がいい ; …すべきだ ; ｟かたく まれ ｠〈事が 〉…の方がいい (!もしそうしないと不快な結果になることを暗示し, shouldやought toより強く響く; 差し迫った状況を除いて; 社会的に上の立場の人には通例用いない ) ▸ I think you'd better hurry and pay for that dress. We have lunch reservations .急いでそのドレスの代金を支払った方がいいと思うよ, 昼食の予約があるんだ ▸ I'd better talk to him later on .後で彼と話した方がいい (!自分自身について述べるときは特に不快な結果は暗示しない ) ▸ Well, we'd better be going . It's almost ten-thirty .それはそうと, そろそろおいとました方がいいかな, もう少しで10時半だ ▸ There had better be a good reason for any call over 5 minutes .5分を超えるならどんな電話でもちゃんとした理由があった方がいい ▸ The answers had better be clear .回答は明快な方がいい ▸ That approach had better be [not be ] taken .その手法をとる [とらない ]方がいい (!受け身は ｟まれ ｠) .2 (警告 脅迫して )…した方がいい (さもないと …)▸ I don't want any trouble. You'd better give me your passport now .面倒なことにはしたくないんだ, 君のパスポートを今こっちに渡した方がいいぞ ▸ Sir, I think you'd better come with me .(警官が容疑者に )あの, 一緒に来てもらえますか .3 〖～ have done 〗(未知の結果について確認 警告して ) (すでに )…しているでしょうね ; (未来時の完了に言及して ) (ある時までに )…しておいた方がいい (!「した方がよかったのに (しなかった )」の意は ｟古 ｠でshould [ought to ] have doneが普通 ) ▸ You'd better have read those books I gave you .君にあげた本は読んでいるだろうね ▸ You'd better have finished it by Monday .月曜日までにそれを終えたおいた方がよい .語法 1 短縮形 通例hadはきわめて軽く発音され, しばしば 'd betterのように短縮される. また, ｟非標準 ｠ではhadおよび主語が省略されることもある.｟コーパス ｠You had better do ＜You'd better do ＜｟非標準 ｠(You ) better do の順でくだけた言い方となる. ｟かたく ｠を除いてYou 'd better do , You better do の形で用いられることが多い .2 文の種類 ▸ Had I better leave now? 僕はもう帰った方がいいのだろうか (!疑問文 ) ▸ You had better not [｟まれ ｠You hadn't better ] leave now .今は帰らない方がいい (!否定文 ) ▸ Hadn't you better leave now? もう帰ったらどうか (!否定疑問文 ) ▸ I had better leave now, hadn't I?もう帰った方がいいんだよね (!付加疑問文 ) .3 控えめ表現 通例強制的な響きを持つため, しばしばmaybe, perhaps, I think [suppose ]などを付加して控えめな表現にする. 目上の人に対して丁寧な助言を行う場合は, had better doは避けて, might do, may as well do, it would be better to doなどの 助動詞 を含む表現やsuggest, recommendなどの 動詞 を用いる. なお, 動詞 adviseはhad better do同様, 強制的意味を持つため, 丁寧な文脈では不適 (↑副詞 2 ; →advise ) ▸ Maybe you had better leave now .もう帰った方がいいんじゃないかな .4 省略表現 対話文などで文脈から明らかな場合, 原形不定詞部分が省略されることがある ▸ “Want me to spray it for you? ” “Perhaps you'd better .”(ヘアドレッサーと客の会話で )「スプレーしましょうか 」「そうね, お願いしようかしら 」▸ “What about a beer? ” “I' d better not. ”「ビールどう 」「やめとくよ 」5 近接未来 had betterはごく近い未来のことに用い, ある程度先のことには避けられる ▸ You should [must , ｟まれ ｠ had better ] see a doctor one of these days .近いうちに医者に診てもらった方がいい .6 語順の転倒 ｟主に英 ｠では強調のためしばしば対話文でbetter hadの語順となることがある ▸ “Can we keep the door open? ” “Perhaps you better had .”「ドアを開けておいていいかな 」「まあその方がいいだろうね 」.7 比較文 比較の対象は示さないのが普通だが, 特に明示する場合はrather than doもしくはinstead of doingなどを文尾に加える ▸ You had better leave now, rather than stay here [instead of staying here ].ここにいるより, もう帰った方がよい .n ò b é tter than A A 〈人 物 〉同然に ▸ treat him no better than a dog 彼を犬同然に扱う so m ù ch the b é tter →much .do A the b é tter to do B ｟主に書 ｠より良くBするためにAする ; Aをやり次により良く [うまく ]Bをやる ▸ We need to wait, the better to judge how the economy is going .経済の先行きをより良く判断するためにしばらく待たねばならない 動詞 他動詞 1 (質 量などの点で )〈従来の記録 成績 期待 ライバルなど 〉より良くなる , …を上回る, しのぐ ▸ Try to better your record .自己記録の更新を目指せ 2 ｟かたく ｠〈社会環境 生活 状況など 〉を改善する ▸ better the lives of third world people 第三世界の人々の暮らしを向上させる 自動詞 〈人 物が 〉より良くなる, 改善する .b é tter one s è lf 〈人などが 〉 (内面的に )自分を磨く, 教養を身につける ; (社会的 経済的に )向上する, 出世 [昇進 ]する .名詞 C 1 より良い物 [人 ]; 〖the ～〗【似ている2者のうち 】より良い方 «of » ▸ the better of these two guys 2人のうちのより良い方 2 ｟やや古 おどけて ｠〖通例 one's ～(s )〗(地位 知性 能力などが )より優れた [優位の ]人, 目上の人, 先輩 ▸ Follow your elders and betters in the decision .何かを決定する際には年長者や先輩の意見に従いなさい 3 〖the ～〗過半数以上 .for b è tter or (for ) w ó rse 1 良くても悪くても, 良かれ悪しかれ, 将来どうなろうとも .2 (結婚宣誓で )富める時も貧しき時も, 健 （すこ ）やかなる時も病める時も .for the b é tter より良く 〈変える 改善するなど 〉; 〈人 状況などが 〉快方に 〈向かう 変化するなど 〉▸ A man could change for the better .人は成長することができる g è t [h à ve ] the b é tter of A 1 〈感情 欲望などが 〉A 〈人 〉を支配する ▸ My curiosity got the better of me .好奇心に負けてしまった 2 〈人が 〉A 〈人 議論など 〉に打ち勝つ, A 〈人 〉より勝る ; (商売などで )A 〈人 〉を出し抜く (!時に強意のためbetterの代わりにbestを用いる ) ▸ get the better of the enemy 敵に打ち勝つ ～̀ h á lf 1 ｟くだけて おどけて ｠〖one's ～〗伴侶, つれあい (other half )(｟男女共用 ｠spouse, partner ) (!妻 夫 恋人のいずれにも用いるが, 妻をさすことが多い ) .2 〖the ～〗(2分割のうち )よい方 .～̀ n á ture 〖one's ～〗良心 (親切 寛容さなど ).

 

better

bet ter 2 名詞 ＝bettor .

 

betterment

b é t ter ment 名詞 1 U ｟かたく ｠〖単数形で 〗(地域社会 人の社会的 経済的 )向上, 改善 .2 〖通例 ～s 〗〘法 〙(地域環境の改善に伴う不動産の )値上がり .