better
UK[ˈbetə(r)]US[ˈbetər]
adj
Comparative form of 'good'; of a higher quality or more desirable than something else.
adj
Comparative form of 'well'; healthier or recovered from illness.
adv
Comparative form of 'well'; in a more excellent or effective manner.
v
To improve something or surpass in excellence.
n
Something that is superior or more desirable.
Etymology
The word 'better' originates from the Old English 'betera', which is itself the comparative form of the root 'bōt', meaning 'remedy' or 'advantage'. This Old English term is cognate with Old Frisian 'betera', Old Saxon 'betiro', and Old High German 'bezziro', all pointing back to a Proto-Germanic root batizô. The core semantic link from 'remedy' or 'improvement' to the modern sense of 'superior quality' or 'more desirable state' is clear. Over time, 'better' supplanted the regular comparative form of 'good', creating a unique and irregular pairing in English ('good-better-best') that illustrates how language logic can evolve through historical suppletion rather than straightforward derivation.
Analysis
The word 'better' is a suppletive comparative form. It is not derived from the base 'good' by regular morphological rules but is a separate lexical item that has taken on the comparative function. Its root is from Old English 'betera'.
Examples
Her new apartment is in a much better neighborhood.
I hope you feel better after taking that medicine.
He worked hard to better his chances of getting the promotion.