Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BET'TER, v.t. [Sax. beterian, betrian. See Better.]

1. To improve; to meliorate; to increase the good qualities of; as, manure betters land; discipline may better the morals.
2. To surpass; to exceed. The works of nature do always aim at that which can not be bettered. – Hooker. Qu. is not the sense, made better?
3. To advance; to support; to give advantage to; as, to better a party; to better a cause.