Crossword clues for better half
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Half \Half\ (h[aum]f), n.; pl. Halves (h[aum]vz). [AS. healf. See Half, a.]
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Part; side; behalf. [Obs.]
--Wyclif.The four halves of the house.
--Chaucer. -
One of two equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided; -- sometimes followed by of; as, a half of an apple.
Not half his riches known, and 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 halves or into halves; as, to cut in half. [Colloq.]
--Dickens.In one's half or On one's half, in one's behalf; on one's part. [Obs.]
To cry halves, to claim an equal share with another.
To go halves, to share equally between two.
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.]
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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. -
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. Greater in amount; larger; more.
Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the patient is better.
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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.
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context idiomatic US Canada English) A person's spouse or lover, most commonly a man's wife. Generally a compliment or sign of respect. 2 (context idiomatic archaic English) A person's close friend or companion
WordNet
n. a person's partner in marriage [syn: spouse, partner, married person, mate]
Wikipedia
Better half is a euphemism for one's spouse in marriage.
Better half, my better half, or the better half or Better Halves may refer to:
"Better Half" is the ninth episode of the eighth season of the American television medical drama series House and the 164th overall episode of the series. It aired on Fox Network in the United States on January 23, 2012.
While in the hospital for an Alzheimer's disease drug trial, the patient starts suffering from severe vomiting and increasingly explosive temper. As the case proceeds, it becomes clear to the team that there is more conflict in the patient's marriage than either spouse is willing to let on. Meanwhile, Wilson treats a woman who claims to be in a chaste marriage and House becomes obsessed with proving her lack of interest in sex has an organic cause. House and Foreman literally play mind games over House's case and the subject of House's ankle monitor.
Usage examples of "better half".
Bullocks supported her better half to his bed and undressed him with feverish haste.
Satranji's little lady, his better half, the machine called Dorijen, was joining the assembled members of the team—.
Of course he had in his favour all the women, that is to say, the better half of the audience.
Younghusband, bringing her better half back to the present moment.
And yet, what is there to say except that war puts a strain on human nature that breaks down the better half of it, and makes the worse half a diabolical virtue?
Were you an ape, you would know that only a bull in the throes of madness will turn upon a female other than to gently chastise her, with the occasional exception of the individual whom we find exemplified among our own kind, and who delights in beating up his better half because she happens to be smaller and weaker than he.
Then he tries to be charitable, knowing that he wasn't looking any better half an hour earlier, knowing that, let's face it, in physical terms, with his stocky build, thinning hair, thick jaw and heavy brows, he's not much of a prize on his best day.