Search the Dictionary

on; to restore to a former good state, or bring from bad to good; to change from worse to better; to amend; to correct; as, to reform a profligate man; to reform corrupt manners or morals. The example alone of a vicious prince will corrupt an age; but that of a good one will not reform it. Swift.

The act of reforming, or the state of being reformed; change from worse to better; correction or amendment of life, manners, or of anything vicious or corrupt; as, the reformation of manners; reformation of the age; reformation of abuses. Satire lashes vice into reformation. Dryden.

Hence, to make a radical change for the better in the character or condition of; as, to regenerate society.

To execise or have the power of memory; as, some remember better than others. Shak.

rpose; to make a decision; especially, to determine after reflection; as, to resolve on a better course of life.

Declining from a better to a worse state; as, a retrograde people; retrograde ideas, morals, etc. Bacon.

Tending to retrograde; going or moving backward; declining from a better to a worse state.

e; reversal; hence, total change in circumstances or character; especially, a change from better to worse; misfortune; a check or defeat; as, the enemy met with a reverse. The strange reverse of fate you see; I pitied you, now you may pity me. Dryden. By a reverse of fortune, Stephen becomes rich. Lamb.…

To attain to a better social position; to be promoted; to excel; to succeed. Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall. Shak.

A convex curve or arch cut in the edge of a sail to prevent chafing, or to secure a better fit. As sound as a roach Etym: [roach perhaps being a corruption of a F. roche a rock], perfectly sound.

roof, some writers call the vault the roof, and the outer protection the roof mask. It is better, however, to consider the vault as the ceiling only, in cases where it has farther covering.

ursion from the usual track; range; digression; deviation. Every one shall know a country better that makes often sallies into it, and traverses it up and down, than he that . . . goes still round in the same track. Locke.

s, as if with sauce; to make an application to. [R.] Earth, yield me roots; Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate With thy most operant poison! Shak.

Tried quality; temper; proof. [Obs.] he found a sword of better say. Spenser.

One who says; an utterer. Mr. Curran was something much better than a sayer of smart sayings. Jeffrey.

e scandalize by using harmless things. Hooker. the congregation looked on in silence, the better class scandalized, and the lower orders, some laughing, others backing the soldier or the minister, as their fancy dictated. Sir W. Scott.

Barter; exchange; trade. [Obs.] And recompensed them with a better scorse. Spenser.

To cleanse anything. Warm water is softer than cold, for it scoureth better. Bacon.

l writer; one whose occupation is to draw contracts or prepare writings. Shak. The writer better scrivener than clerk. Fuller.

s. The wretched affectation of scurrile laughter. Cowley. A scurrile or obscene jest will better advance you at the court of Charles than father's ancient name. Sir W. Scott.