better halfn.

Brit.

/ˌbɛtə ˈhɑːf/, U.S.

/ˌbɛdər ˈhæf/

Forms: see better adj., n.¹, and adv. and half n.

Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: better adj., half n.

Etymology: < better adj. + half n.With sense 2 compare the following similar phrases in classical Latin: meae..partem animae ‘part of my soul’ (Horace Odes 2. 17. 5), animae dimidium meae ‘half of my soul’ (Horace Odes 1. 3. 8), animae partem..nostrae maiorem ‘the greater part of our soul’ (Statius Silvae 3. 2. 7-8). With sense 2 compare also other half n. 2.

1. Usually with the. The larger portion of something; more than half. Cf. the better part of at better adj. 5.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a great part or proportion > the greater part, the majority

the more partOE

the best part ofOE

(the) more parta1350

(the) most parta1350

(the) most part alla1350

(the) most party1372

for (also be, in) the most part (also deal, party)a1387

the better part ofa1393

the mo?a1400

most forcea1400

substancea1413

corsec1420

generalty?c1430

the greater partc1430

three quartersc1470

generalityc1485

the most feck1488

corpse1533

most1553

nine-tenths?1556

better half1566

generality?1570

pluralityc1570

body1574

the great body (of)1588

flush1592

three fourths1600

best1601

heap1609

gross1625

lump1709

bulk1711

majority1714

nineteen in twenty1730

balance1747

sweighta1800

heft1816

chief1841

the force1842

thick end1847

1566 T. Stapleton Returne Vntruthes Jewelles Replie iv. f. 28 If they had at that time also burned the Canons of the Nicene Councell..it woulde well lacke the better halfe of jx. yeres after the deathe of Marcus, that those Canons were burnte.

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) iii. sig. Ff3^v I..shall thinke the better halfe of it alreadie atchieued.

1662 A. Marvell Let. 8 May in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 250 Your businesse is the better halfe done.

1698 J. Savage Hist. Poland II. x. 99 It is a part of Livonia, and when under the Teutonic Knights was the better half of it, but now its Limits are not a little Abridged.

1707 J. Freind Acct. Earl of Peterborow's Conduct in Spain 197 That the Forces shou'd be divided, and the better half march immediately into Valencia.

1773 Monthly Rev. July 78 The Author has been deprived of his minor canonry, which is the better half of his income.

1812 T. Ashe Liberal Critic II. xxiii. 57 A gentleman who had wasted the better half of his estate in gambling.

1858 A. W. Drayson Sporting Scenes S. Afr. 74 The better half of a chicken-pie.

1942 R. S. Platt Lat. Amer. p. v Harriet Shanks Platt..did a better half of the fieldwork and provided the ambiente simpático.

1992 N.Y. Times 8 Nov. v. 39/4 The children..would reappear with hungry looks on their faces, eager to consume the better half of my île flottant, gâteau au chocolat or crème brûlée.

2. Frequently with possessive.

a. A person's husband, wife, or (in later use) partner. Cf. other half n. 2.Originally sometimes with the implication that a husband or wife is regarded as so important, dear, etc., as to be equivalent to more than half of a person's being. In later use frequently somewhat humorous.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > married person > [noun] > spouse, consort, or partner

ferec975

matchOE

makec1175

spousea1200

lemanc1275

fellowc1350

likea1393

wed-ferea1400

partyc1443

espouse?c1450

bedfellow1490

yokefellow?1542

espousal1543

spouse1548

mate1549

marrow1554

paragon1557

yokemate1567

partner1577

better halfa1586

twin1592

moiety1611

copemate1631

consort1634

half-marrow1637

matrimonya1640

helpmeet1661

other half1667

helpmate1715

spousie1735

life companion1763

worse half1783

life partner1809

domestic partner1815

ball and chain1921

lover1969

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xii. sig. Pp7^v [Argalus to Parthenia, his wife] My deare, my better halfe (said hee) I finde I must now leaue thee.

1603 H. Holland Pancharis i. sig. E5 Since my Lord, my life..Was laide..My better halfe since he was laide in graue, I neuer yet came foorth in companie.

1640 A. Hill Peace of Enmity 8 [Of Eve] Mans helper, dimidium anime, his better halfe, his yoke-fellow, his second selfe.

1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. i. 45 Man..had his better half..T'amend his Natural defects And perfect his recruited Sex.

a1721 J. Sheffield Death Marcus Brutus in Wks. (1723) I. 372 My dear, and better half, is out of Danger.

1783 H. Walpole Let. 17 Oct. in Corr. (1961) XXXI. 209 It is not fit my better half should be ignorant of the state of her worse half.

1805 W. Ioor Independence ii. 32 But how is my darling nephew? I needn't enquire after the health of your better half, as I had a glimpse of him just now.

1842 Fraser's Mag. Dec. 241/2 I..shall look out for a better-half.

1918 Australian at Weymouth 2 July 8/2 He soon returns to Aussie with his ‘better half’.

1999 Advocate 20 July 72/1 I fretted endlessly over our partnership plans... My better half was mystified by my worries.

2006 Sunday Times (S. Afr.) 17 Dec. 31/4 The better half of Brad Pitt says she wants a larger brood.

b. More generally: a close and intimate friend. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [noun] > friend > close or intimate friend

belamy?c1225

friarc1290

specialc1300

necessaryc1384

familiar?c1400

great frienda1425

gossea1549

particular1577

shopfellow?1577

cockmate1578

privado1584

bosom friend1590

better half1596

ingle1602

inward1607

bully boy1609

bosom-piecea1625

hail-fellow1650

bosom-bird1655

intimate1660

crony1665

intimado1682

chum1684

friend of one's bosom1712

right bower1829

inquaintancea1834

cad1836

chummy1849

bond-friend1860

raggie1901

bosom1913

aceboy1951

boon coon1951

mellow1967

squeeze1980

acegirl2009

1596 J. Davies Orchestra sig. A2 To whom shall I this dauncing Poeme send..? To you,..Mine-owne-selues better halfe, my deerest frend.

?1655 R. Baron Mirza ii. 28 Sel. Well met dear Colonel. Ben. Welcome my better half, welcome to th' Camp.

1696 R. Gould Rival Sisters i. 2 Thy Father was my Friend, my better half, Yet, while I clasp thee thus, Methinks I have not lost him.

1828 T. Wyse Continental Traveller's Oracle I. 89 My yellow armchair is now my better half; it hath been my inseparable, the constant companion of my griefs and joys, for twenty long years and more.

1868 F. Jordan tr. L. Mühlbach Andreas Hofer xxxvi. 215/2 She is the better half of my soul; we grew up together, we shared all joys and afflictions, and have sworn to shed our heart's blood and die for each other, if need be.

1912 F. Boreham Luggage of Life iii. vii. 217 My next-door neighbour is my better half; I cannot do without him.

†c. A person's soul. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > soul > [noun]

souleOE

spiritc1384

better half1629

atman1785

p'o1850

1629 W. Mure True Crucifixe 8 The Soule our better halfe to God bee bound.

a1677 T. Manton Sermons (1684) II. xxv. 196 They are in Hell as soon as the Soul departeth out of the Body; that is, as to the Soul, as to the better half.

1743 R. Blair Grave 38 The lag Flesh Rests too in Hope of meeting once again Its better Half.

1805 Scots Mag. Oct. 784/1 To jag an' stang ye, My better half, my daun'rin saul, Saunters amang ye.

a1879 C. T. Turner in Poems by Two Brothers (1893) 98 Her soul defies the ravage of the worm; Her better half has sought its heavenly rest.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	better half
释义	better halfn. Brit. /ˌbɛtə ˈhɑːf/, U.S. /ˌbɛdər ˈhæf/ Forms: see better adj., n.¹, and adv. and half n. Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: better adj., half n. Etymology: < better adj. + half n.With sense 2 compare the following similar phrases in classical Latin: meae..partem animae ‘part of my soul’ (Horace Odes 2. 17. 5), animae dimidium meae ‘half of my soul’ (Horace Odes 1. 3. 8), animae partem..nostrae maiorem ‘the greater part of our soul’ (Statius Silvae 3. 2. 7-8). With sense 2 compare also other half n. 2. 1. Usually with the. The larger portion of something; more than half. Cf. the better part of at better adj. 5. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a great part or proportion > the greater part, the majority the more partOE the best part ofOE (the) more parta1350 (the) most parta1350 (the) most part alla1350 (the) most party1372 for (also be, in) the most part (also deal, party)a1387 the better part ofa1393 the mo?a1400 most forcea1400 substancea1413 corsec1420 generalty?c1430 the greater partc1430 three quartersc1470 generalityc1485 the most feck1488 corpse1533 most1553 nine-tenths?1556 better half1566 generality?1570 pluralityc1570 body1574 the great body (of)1588 flush1592 three fourths1600 best1601 heap1609 gross1625 lump1709 bulk1711 majority1714 nineteen in twenty1730 balance1747 sweighta1800 heft1816 chief1841 the force1842 thick end1847 1566 T. Stapleton Returne Vntruthes Jewelles Replie iv. f. 28 If they had at that time also burned the Canons of the Nicene Councell..it woulde well lacke the better halfe of jx. yeres after the deathe of Marcus, that those Canons were burnte. a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) iii. sig. Ff3^v I..shall thinke the better halfe of it alreadie atchieued. 1662 A. Marvell Let. 8 May in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 250 Your businesse is the better halfe done. 1698 J. Savage Hist. Poland II. x. 99 It is a part of Livonia, and when under the Teutonic Knights was the better half of it, but now its Limits are not a little Abridged. 1707 J. Freind Acct. Earl of Peterborow's Conduct in Spain 197 That the Forces shou'd be divided, and the better half march immediately into Valencia. 1773 Monthly Rev. July 78 The Author has been deprived of his minor canonry, which is the better half of his income. 1812 T. Ashe Liberal Critic II. xxiii. 57 A gentleman who had wasted the better half of his estate in gambling. 1858 A. W. Drayson Sporting Scenes S. Afr. 74 The better half of a chicken-pie. 1942 R. S. Platt Lat. Amer. p. v Harriet Shanks Platt..did a better half of the fieldwork and provided the ambiente simpático. 1992 N.Y. Times 8 Nov. v. 39/4 The children..would reappear with hungry looks on their faces, eager to consume the better half of my île flottant, gâteau au chocolat or crème brûlée. 2. Frequently with possessive. a. A person's husband, wife, or (in later use) partner. Cf. other half n. 2.Originally sometimes with the implication that a husband or wife is regarded as so important, dear, etc., as to be equivalent to more than half of a person's being. In later use frequently somewhat humorous. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > married person > [noun] > spouse, consort, or partner ferec975 matchOE makec1175 spousea1200 lemanc1275 fellowc1350 likea1393 wed-ferea1400 partyc1443 espouse?c1450 bedfellow1490 yokefellow?1542 espousal1543 spouse1548 mate1549 marrow1554 paragon1557 yokemate1567 partner1577 better halfa1586 twin1592 moiety1611 copemate1631 consort1634 half-marrow1637 matrimonya1640 helpmeet1661 other half1667 helpmate1715 spousie1735 life companion1763 worse half1783 life partner1809 domestic partner1815 ball and chain1921 lover1969 a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xii. sig. Pp7^v [Argalus to Parthenia, his wife] My deare, my better halfe (said hee) I finde I must now leaue thee. 1603 H. Holland Pancharis i. sig. E5 Since my Lord, my life..Was laide..My better halfe since he was laide in graue, I neuer yet came foorth in companie. 1640 A. Hill Peace of Enmity 8 [Of Eve] Mans helper, dimidium anime, his better halfe, his yoke-fellow, his second selfe. 1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. i. 45 Man..had his better half..T'amend his Natural defects And perfect his recruited Sex. a1721 J. Sheffield Death Marcus Brutus in Wks. (1723) I. 372 My dear, and better half, is out of Danger. 1783 H. Walpole Let. 17 Oct. in Corr. (1961) XXXI. 209 It is not fit my better half should be ignorant of the state of her worse half. 1805 W. Ioor Independence ii. 32 But how is my darling nephew? I needn't enquire after the health of your better half, as I had a glimpse of him just now. 1842 Fraser's Mag. Dec. 241/2 I..shall look out for a better-half. 1918 Australian at Weymouth 2 July 8/2 He soon returns to Aussie with his ‘better half’. 1999 Advocate 20 July 72/1 I fretted endlessly over our partnership plans... My better half was mystified by my worries. 2006 Sunday Times (S. Afr.) 17 Dec. 31/4 The better half of Brad Pitt says she wants a larger brood. b. More generally: a close and intimate friend. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [noun] > friend > close or intimate friend belamy?c1225 friarc1290 specialc1300 necessaryc1384 familiar?c1400 great frienda1425 gossea1549 particular1577 shopfellow?1577 cockmate1578 privado1584 bosom friend1590 better half1596 ingle1602 inward1607 bully boy1609 bosom-piecea1625 hail-fellow1650 bosom-bird1655 intimate1660 crony1665 intimado1682 chum1684 friend of one's bosom1712 right bower1829 inquaintancea1834 cad1836 chummy1849 bond-friend1860 raggie1901 bosom1913 aceboy1951 boon coon1951 mellow1967 squeeze1980 acegirl2009 1596 J. Davies Orchestra sig. A2 To whom shall I this dauncing Poeme send..? To you,..Mine-owne-selues better halfe, my deerest frend. ?1655 R. Baron Mirza ii. 28 Sel. Well met dear Colonel. Ben. Welcome my better half, welcome to th' Camp. 1696 R. Gould Rival Sisters i. 2 Thy Father was my Friend, my better half, Yet, while I clasp thee thus, Methinks I have not lost him. 1828 T. Wyse Continental Traveller's Oracle I. 89 My yellow armchair is now my better half; it hath been my inseparable, the constant companion of my griefs and joys, for twenty long years and more. 1868 F. Jordan tr. L. Mühlbach Andreas Hofer xxxvi. 215/2 She is the better half of my soul; we grew up together, we shared all joys and afflictions, and have sworn to shed our heart's blood and die for each other, if need be. 1912 F. Boreham Luggage of Life iii. vii. 217 My next-door neighbour is my better half; I cannot do without him. †c. A person's soul. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > soul > [noun] souleOE spiritc1384 better half1629 atman1785 p'o1850 1629 W. Mure True Crucifixe 8 The Soule our better halfe to God bee bound. a1677 T. Manton Sermons (1684) II. xxv. 196 They are in Hell as soon as the Soul departeth out of the Body; that is, as to the Soul, as to the better half. 1743 R. Blair Grave 38 The lag Flesh Rests too in Hope of meeting once again Its better Half. 1805 Scots Mag. Oct. 784/1 To jag an' stang ye, My better half, my daun'rin saul, Saunters amang ye. a1879 C. T. Turner in Poems by Two Brothers (1893) 98 Her soul defies the ravage of the worm; Her better half has sought its heavenly rest. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < n.1566
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