bet

Ⅰ.

bet ► VERB (betting; past and past part. bet or betted) 1) risk money or property against another's on the basis of the outcome of an unpredictable event such as a race or game. 2) informal feel sure.

► NOUN 1) an act of betting. 2) a sum of money staked. 3) informal a candidate or option with a specified likelihood of success: Allen looked a good bet for victory. 4) (one's bet) informal one's opinion.

● you bet — Cf. ↑you bet

DERIVATIVES bettor (also better) noun.

ORIGIN perhaps a shortening of obsolete abet «abetment».

Ⅱ.

better ► ADJECTIVE 1) more desirable, satisfactory, or effective. 2) partly or fully recovered from illness or injury.

► ADVERB 1) more satisfactorily or effectively. 2) to a greater degree; more.

► 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 1) improve on or surpass. 2) (better oneself) achieve a higher social position or status.

● better the devil you know than the devil you don't know — Cf. ↑better the devil you know than the devil you don't know

● better off — Cf. ↑better off

● the better part of — Cf. ↑the better part of

● better safe than sorry — Cf. ↑better safe than sorry

● for better or worse — Cf. ↑for better or worse

● get the better of — Cf. ↑get the better of

● had better — Cf. ↑had better

USAGE In the 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 it should not be dropped altogether.

ORIGIN Old English.