[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

had \had\ ha^d, imp.  p. p. of have. oe. had, hafde,
   hefde, as. haefde.
   see have.
   1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

            and lever me is be pore and trewe.
            and more agreeable to me it is to be poor and
            true.                                --c. mundi
                                                  trans..
      1913 webster

            him had been lever to be syke.
            to him it had been preferable to be sick.
                                                  --fabian.
      1913 webster

            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.
      1913 webster

   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.
         1913 webster

               poor lady, she were better love a dream. --shak.
         1913 webster

               you were best hang yourself.       --beau.  fl.
         1913 webster

               me rather had my heart might feel your love
               than my unpleased eye see your courtesy. --shak.
         1913 webster

               i hadde levere than my scherte,
               that ye hadde rad his legende, as have i.
                                                  --chaucer.
         1913 webster

               i had as lief not be as live to be
               in awe of such a thing as i myself. --shak.
         1913 webster

               i had rather be a dog and bay the moon,
               than such a roman.                 --shak.
         1913 webster

               i had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my
               god, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
                                                  --ps. lxxxiv.
                                                  10.
         1913 webster
see also:
have had as lief had rather had better had as soon better 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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.
      1913 webster

            could make the worse appear
            the better reason.                    --milton.
      1913 webster

   2. preferable in regard to rank, value, use, fitness,
      acceptableness, safety, or in any other respect.
      1913 webster

            to obey is better than sacrifice.     --1 sam. xv.
                                                  22.
      1913 webster

            it is better to trust in the lord than to put
            confidence in princes.                --ps. cxviii.
                                                  9.
      1913 webster

   3. greater in amount; larger; more.
      1913 webster

   4. improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the
      patient is better.
      1913 webster

   5. more advanced; more perfect; as, upon better acquaintance;
      a better knowledge of the subject.
      1913 webster

   all the better. see under all, adv.

   better half, an expression used to designate one's wife.
      1913 webster

            my dear, my better half said he,
            i find i must now leave thee.         --sir p.
                                                  sidney.
      1913 webster

   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.
         1913 webster

               by all that's holy, he had better starve
               than but once think this place becomes thee not.
                                                  --shak.
         1913 webster
see also:
boot best batful all the better all better half 
to be better off had better had 

Had Better >> H Words
Had Better, definition of term: Had Better
had+better_pag1.html

Better >> B Words
Better, definition of term: Better
better_pag1.html

Had >> H Words
Had, definition of term: Had
had_pag1.html

Better Off >> B Words
Better Off, definition of term: Better Off
better+off_pag1.html

Get Better >> G Words
Get Better, definition of term: Get Better
get+better_pag1.html

29. had better. 1. Grammar. The American Heritage Book of English Usage. 1996
...29. had better. Had better is an idiomatic verb phrase meaning “ought ... people have a tendency to leave out had: You better clean up your room ... ..
http://www.bartleby.com/64/C001/029.html, score=100, date indexed=December 31, 2005, 9:56 am

Labor Has Had Better Days - Forbes.com
...Top Of The News. Labor Has Had Better Days. Dan Ackman,. 09.07.04, 9: ... ..
http://www.forbes.com/2004/09/07/cx_da_0907topnews.html, score=86, date indexed=January 20, 2006, 10:07 pm

Am I Right - Song Parodies, Blink 182 Had Better Beware
...... had Better Beware. For Those who come across the seas, Had Better Be ... Blink 182 Had Better Beware. (Punkstralian National Anthem) Punk ... ..
http://www.amiright.com/parody/2000s/theaustraliannationalanthem0.shtml, score=82, date indexed=January 4, 2006, 11:50 am

ENGLISH PAGE - Had Better - Modal Verb Tutorial
...The movie had better end soon. They had better be here before we start ... They had better not be late. They had better not forget Tom's birthday ... ..
http://www.englishpage.com/modals/hadbetter.html, score=72, date indexed=November 6, 2005, 1:57 am

Hey Everybody, Thought I Had Better Introduce Myself
...Re: Hey Everybody, Thought I Had Better Introduce Myself Your bike ... Nice song but I can't say that I had ever heared of that Zippy before ... ..
http://www.cyclingforums.com/t121617-hey-everybody-thought-i-had-better-introduce-myself.html, score=68, date indexed=January 31, 2006, 4:09 am

Page 1 2 3 Next