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; to animate; to mold; to figure; to fashion. "The informing Word." Coleridge. Let others better mold the running mass Of metals, and inform the breathing brass. Dryden. Breath informs this fleeting frame. Prior. Breathes in our soul,informs our mortal part. Pope.

of the relations of persons of different nationalities. International law is now, by the better opinion, part of the common law of the land. Cf. Conflict of laws, under Conflict. Wharton.

er; the intrinsic merit of an action; the intrinsic worth or goodness of a person. He was better qualified than they to estimate justly the intrinsic value of Grecian philosophy and refinement. I. Taylor.

ircumstances into consideration. Prosperity, considered absolutely and irrespectively, is better and more desirable than adversity. South.

A long outer garment worn by both sexes of Mohammedans of the better class.

of statutes so as extend or restrict their scope, as to meet new cases, to provide new or better remedies, etc., and often used opprobriously of acts of judicial interpretation considered as doing this.

The art or practice of captivating the hearts of women. Better for the sake of womankind that this dangerous dog should leave off lady-killing. Thackeray.

d. -- Land of Nod, sleep. -- Land of promise, in Bible history, Canaan: by extension, a better country or condition of which one has expectation. -- Land of steady habits, a nickname sometimes given to the State of Connecticut. -- Land office, a government office in which the entries upon, and sales of, public land…

ure use, or continue in existence, without impairment or exhaustion; as, this cloth lasts better than that; the fuel will last through the winter.

This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask. Content, though blind, had I no better guide. Milton.

eaf wasp (Zoöl.), a sawfiy. -- To turn over a new leaf, to make a radical change for the better in one's way of living or doing. [Colloq.] They were both determined to turn over a new leaf. Richardson.

complexion; aspect; appearance. [Obs.] A Rosalind of a better leer than you. Shak.

The inferior, younger, or smaller. The less is blessed of the better. Heb. vii. 7.

st, therefore he chose there. R. of Gloucester. I willingly confess that it likes me much better when I find virtue in a fair lodging than when I am bound to seek it in an ill-favored creature. Sir P. Sidney.

Looking; appearing; as, better or worse liking. See Like, to look. [Obs.] Chaucer. Why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort Dan. i. 10.

To seem; to appear; to have a particular appearance; as, the patient looks better; the clouds look rainy. It would look more like vanity than gratitude. Addison. Observe how such a practice looks in another person. I. Watts.

wly place or manner; humbly. [Obs. or R.] Thinking lowlily of himself and highly of those better than himself. J. C. Shairp.

fortune; as, good, bad, ill, or hard luck. Luck is often used for good luck; as, luck is better than skill. If thou dost play with him at any game, Thou art sure to lose; and of that natural luck, He beats thee 'gainst the odds. Shak. Luck penny, a small sum given back for luck to one who pays money. [Prov. Eng.] -- T…

To grow exuberantly; to grow to superfluous abundance. " Corn luxuriates in a better mold." Burton.

ntains or supports; means of sustenance; supply of necessaries and conveniences. Those of better fortune not making learning their maintenance. Swift.