Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Better \Bet"ter\, a.; compar. of Good. [OE. betere, bettre, and
   as adv. bet, AS. betera, adj., and bet, adv.; akin to Icel.
   betri, adj., betr, adv., Goth. batiza, adj., OHG. bezziro,
   adj., baz, adv., G. besser, adj. and adv., bass, adv., E.
   boot, and prob. to Skr. bhadra excellent. See {Boot}
   advantage, and cf. {Best}, {Batful}.]
   1. Having good qualities in a greater degree than another;
      as, a better man; a better physician; a better house; a
      better air.

            Could make the worse appear The better reason.
                                                  --Milton.

   2. Preferable in regard to rank, value, use, fitness,
      acceptableness, safety, or in any other respect.

            To obey is better than sacrifice.     --1 Sam. xv.
                                                  22.

            It is better to trust in the Lord than to put
            confidence in princes.                --Ps. cxviii.
                                                  9.

   3. Greater in amount; larger; more.

   4. Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the
      patient is better.

   5. More advanced; more perfect; as, upon better acquaintance;
      a better knowledge of the subject.

   {All the better}. See under {All}, adv.

   {Better half}, an expression used to designate one's wife.

            My dear, my better half (said he), I find I must now
            leave thee.                           --Sir P.
                                                  Sidney.

   {To be better off}, to be in a better condition.

   {Had better}. (See under {Had}).

   Note: The phrase had better, followed by an infinitive
         without to, is idiomatic. The earliest form of
         construction was ``were better'' with a dative; as,
         ``Him were better go beside.'' (--Gower.) i. e., It
         would be better for him, etc. At length the nominative
         (I, he, they, etc.) supplanted the dative and had took
         the place of were. Thus we have the construction now
         used.

               By all that's holy, he had better starve Than but
               once think this place becomes thee not. --Shak.

Had \Had\, imp. & p. p. of {Have}. [OE. had, hafde, hefde, AS.
   h[ae]fde.]
   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 trewe. [And more
            agreeable to me it is to be poor and true.] --C.
                                                  Mundi (Trans.
                                                  ).

            Him had been lever to be syke. [To him it had been
            preferable to be sick.]               --Fabian.

            For him was lever have at his bed's head Twenty
            bookes, clad in black or red, . . . Than robes rich,
            or fithel, or gay sawtrie.            --Chaucer.

   Note: Gradually the nominative was substituted for the
         dative, and had for the forms of be. During the process
         of transition, the nominative with was or were, and the
         dative with had, are found.

               Poor lady, she were better love a dream. --Shak.

               You were best hang yourself.       --Beau. & Fl.

               Me rather had my heart might feel your love Than
               my unpleased eye see your courtesy. --Shak.

               I hadde levere than my scherte, That ye hadde rad
               his legende, as have I.            --Chaucer.

               I had as lief not be as live to be In awe of such
               a thing as I myself.               --Shak.

               I had rather be a dog and bay the moon, Than such
               a Roman.                           --Shak.

               I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my
               God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
                                                  --Ps.
                                                  lxxxiv.10.