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
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.