better-to-doadj.n.
/ˌbɛtətəˈduː/, U.S. /ˌbɛdərtəˈdu/ A. adj.
More prosperous; wealthier. Cf. well-to-do adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > wealth > [noun] > rich or wealthy person > well-off person or people
subsidy man1591
subsidy citizen1607
well-to-passer1654
well to pass1695
havea1739
have-something1755
best off1824
well off1828
well-to-do1829
better-to-do1860
kulak1877
better off1895
have-got1897
the mind > possession > wealth > [adjective] > well-off > more
better off1840
better-to-do1860
better-heeled1873
1860 Deb. Houses Legislature S. Austral. (2nd Parl., 1st Sess.) 220 Regarding sheepwash tobacco, he thought the better-to-do class could very well pay all that.
1890 W. Booth In Darkest Eng. ii. vi. 217 His better-to-do neighbour will often assist him by providing the capital.
1905 Westm. Gaz. 31 Jan. 3/2 Better-to-do parents.
1965 in P. Jennings Living Village (1968) 133 Many of the better-to-do people send their children away to school.
1990 M. Booth Triads 199 The headmen, and better-to-do class of members, never intended to risk their own lives and persons on such occasions.
B. n.
With the and plural agreement. Those who are more prosperous or wealthy, as a class.
ΚΠ
1875 Appleton's Jrnl. 28 Aug. 276/1 The charity of the better-to-do..should organize excursions to the country.
1889 C. H. Harrison Race with Sun xi. 83 The rich or better-to-do, are bare-headed everywhere, and carry umbrellas when the sun is hot.
1905 Daily Chron. 1 Feb. 6/2 Children..of the better-to-do.
1940 Manch. Guardian Weekly 9 Feb. 116 Even among the better-to-do there is greater simplicity of living and independence of service than among their compeers in England.
2011 V. Tanzi Govt. vs. Markets iii. 83 The government should aim at redistributing income and wealth, from the better to do to those with lower incomes.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
adj.n.1860