Part 1082

<blockquote>He, in the first flower of my freshest age, <b>Betrothed</b> me unto the only heir. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Ay, and we are <b>betrothed</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To promise to take (as a future spouse); to plight one's troth to.</def>

<blockquote>What man is there that hath <b>betrothed</b> a wife, and hath not taken her? <i>Deut. xx. 7.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To nominate to a bishopric, in order to consecration.</def>

<i>Ayliffe.</i>

<h1>Betrothal</h1> <Xpage=141>

<hw>Be*troth"al</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The act of betrothing, or the fact of being betrothed; a mutual promise, engagement, or contract for a future marriage between the persons betrothed; betrothment; affiance.</def> "The feast of <i>betrothal</i>."

<i>Longfellow.</i>

<h1>Betrothment</h1> <Xpage=141>

<hw>Be*troth"ment</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The act of betrothing, or the state of being betrothed; betrothal.</def>

<h1>Betrust</h1> <Xpage=141>

<hw>Be*trust"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To trust or intrust.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Betrustment</h1> <Xpage=141>

<hw>Be*trust"ment</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The act of intrusting, or the thing intrusted.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Chipman.</i>

<h1>Betso</h1> <Xpage=141>

<hw>Bet"so</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[It. <ets>bezzo</ets>.]</ety> <def>A small brass Venetian coin.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Better</h1> <Xpage=141>

<hw>Bet"ter</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt>; <i>compar</i>. of Good. <ety>[OE. <ets>betere</ets>, <ets>bettre</ets>, and as adv. <ets>bet</ets>, AS. <ets>betera</ets>, adj., and <ets>bet</ets>, adv.; akin to Icel. <ets>betri</ets>, adj., <ets>betr</ets>, adv., Goth. <ets>batiza</ets>, adj., OHG. <ets>bezziro</ets>, adj., <ets>baz</ets>, adv., G. <ets>besser</ets>, adj. and adv., <ets>bass</ets>, adv., E. <ets>boot</ets>, and prob. to Skr. <ets>bhadra</ets> excellent. See <er>Boot</er> advantage, and cf. <er>Best</er>, <er>Batful</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; <as>as, a <ex>better</ex> man; a <ex>better</ex> physician; a <ex>better</ex> house; a <ex>better</ex> air.</as></def>

<blockquote>Could make the worse appear The <b>better</b> reason. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Preferable in regard to rank, value, use, fitness, acceptableness, safety, or in any other respect.</def>

<blockquote>To obey is <b>better</b> than sacrifice. <i>1 Sam. xv. 22.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>It is <b>better</b> to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. <i>Ps. cxviii. 9.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Greater in amount; larger; more.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Improved in health; less affected with disease; <as>as, the patient is <ex>better</ex></as>.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>More advanced; more perfect; <as>as, upon <ex>better</ex> acquaintance; a <ex>better</ex> knowledge of the subject.</as></def>

<cs><col>All the better</col>. <cd>See under <er>All</er>, <tt>adv.</tt></cd> -- <col>Better half</col>, <cd>an expression used to designate one's wife.</cd>