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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



262 words match “BETTER”

GRADE n. 2 definitions
The result of crossing a native stock with some better breed. If the crossbreed have more than three fourths of the better blood, it is called high grade. At grade, on the same level; -- said of the crossing of a railroad with another railroad or a highway, when they are on the same level at the point of crossing. --…
GUESS v.
to suppose; to believe; to imagine; -- followed by an objective clause. Not all together; better far, I guess, That we do make our entrance several ways. Shak. But in known images of life I guess The labor greater. Pope.
HAD p.
See Have. Had as lief, Had rather, Had better, Had as soon, etc., with a nominative and followed by the infinitive without to, are well established idiomatic forms. The original construction was that of the dative with forms of be, followed by the infinitive. See Had better, under Better. And lever me is be pore and tr…
HALF n.
yet despised. Milton. A friendship so complete Portioned in halves between us. Tennyson. Better half. See under Better. -- In half, in two; an expression sometimes used improperly instead of in or into halves; as, to cut in half. [Colloq.] Dickens. -- In, or On, one's half, in one's behalf; on one's part. [Obs.] --…
HAND n.
ded with difficulties. -- To have, or get, the (higher) upper hand, to have, or get, the better of another person or thing. -- To his hand, To my hand, etc., in readiness; already prepared. "The work is made to his hands." Locke. -- To hold hand, to compete successfully or on even conditions. [Obs.] Shak. -- To lay…
HEART n.
the understanding or will; -- usually in a good sense, when no epithet is expressed; the better or lovelier part of our nature; the spring of all our actions and purposes; the seat of moral life and character; the moral affections and character itself; the individual disposition and character; as, a good, tender, lovi…
HELP v.
To change for the better; to remedy. Cease to lament for what thou canst not help. Shak.
HEM interj.
t, etc. It is often a sort of voluntary half cough, loud or subdued, and would perhaps be better expressed by hm. Cough or cry hem, if anybody come. Shak.
HIEROGLYPHIC; HIEROGLYPHICAL a.
racters, pictures, or figures; as, hieroglyphic writing; a hieroglyphic obelisk. Pages no better than blanks to common minds, to his, hieroglyphical of wisest secrets. Prof. Wilson.
HORSE v.
To provide with a horse, or with horses; to mount on, or as on, a horse. "Being better horsed, outrode me." Shak.
HOTEL n.
A house for entertaining strangers or travelers; an inn or public house, of the better class.
HOWEVER conj.
r, approve of it. In your excuse your love does little say; You might howe'er have took a better way. Dryden.
HYPERBOLE n.
ning intended to be conveyed, or by which things are represented as much greater or less, better or worse, than they really are; a statement exaggerated fancifully, through excitement, or for effect. Our common forms of compliment are almost all of them extravagant hyperboles. Blair. Somebody has said of the boldest fi…
HYPOCRITE n.
ning approbation of favor, puts on a fair outside seeming; one who feigns to be other and better than he is; a false pretender to virtue or piety; one who simulates virtue or piety. The hypocrite's hope shall perish. Job viii. 13. I dare swear he is no hypocrite, but prays from his heart. Shak.
IMPROVABLE a. 2 definitions
Capable of being improved; susceptible of improvement; admitting of being made better; capable of cultivation, or of being advanced in good qualities. Man is accommodated with moral principles, improvable by the exercise of his faculties. Sir M. Hale. I have a fine spread of improvable lands. Addison.…
IMPROVE v. 2 definitions
To make better; to increase the value or good qualities of; to ameliorate by care or cultivation; as, to improve land. Donne. I love not to improve the honor of the living by impairing that of the dead. Denham.
IMPROVEMENT n. 3 definitions
proving; advancement or growth; promotion in desirable qualities; progress toward what is better; melioration; as, the improvement of the mind, of land, roads, etc. I look upon your city as the best place of improvement. South. Exercise is the chief source of improvement in all our faculties. Blair.…
IMPROVING a.
Tending to improve, beneficial; growing better. -- Im*prov"ing*ly, adv. Improving lease (Scots Law), an extend lease to induce the tenant to make improvements on the premises.
INCORPORATE v.
of it; to be mixed or blended; -- usually followed by with. Painters' colors and ashes do better incorporate will oil. Bacon. He never suffers wrong so long to grow, And to incorporate with right so far As it might come to seem the same in show. Daniel.
INDIFFERENT a.
ased; disinterested. In choice of committees for ripening business for the counsel, it is better indifferent persons than to make an indifferency by putting in those that are strong on both sides. Bacon. Indifferent tissue (Anat.), the primitive, embryonic, undifferentiated tissue, before conversion into connective, mu…
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