Adjacent Words

Bettering definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

BET'TERING, ppr. Making better; improving.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: changing for the better [ant: worsening]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Better Bet"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bettered; p. pr. & vb. n. Bettering.] [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.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Improvement, amendment, melioration, amelioration, betterment.