{ } n. One who abets; an instigator of an offense or an offender. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The form abettor is the legal term and also in general use. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Abettor, Accessory, Accomplice. These words denote different degrees of complicity in some deed or crime. An abettor is one who incites or encourages to the act, without sharing in its performance. An accessory supposes a principal offender. One who is neither the chief actor in an offense, nor present at its performance, but accedes to or becomes involved in its guilt, either by some previous or subsequent act, as of instigating, encouraging, aiding, or concealing, etc., is an accessory. An accomplice is one who participates in the commission of an offense, whether as principal or accessory. Thus in treason, there are no abettors or accessories, but all are held to be principals or accomplices. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who banquets; one who feasts or makes feasts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. bareter to exchange. Cf. Barter. ] 1. (Electronics) a resistor inserted into a circuit to compensate for changes (such as those arising from temperature fluctuations); a thermal cymoscope. Syn. -- ballast resistor. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. + WordNet 1.5 ]

☞ The original form consisted of an extremely fine platinum wire loop attached to terminals and inclosed in a small glass or silver bulb. It operates by increased resistance when subjected to the influence of an electric current. In a later variety, called the
liquid barretter, wire is replace by a column of liquid in a very fine capillary tube. A recent version has a resistor composed of an iron wire in a glass bulb containing hydrogen, with the temperature variation of resistance such that the current passing through it remains constant over a wide range of applied voltages. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. + PJC ]

n. One who begets; a father. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, besets. [ 1913 Webster ]

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). 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 ]

n. 1. Advantage, superiority, or victory; -- usually with of; as, to get the better of an enemy. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who has a claim to precedence; a superior, as in merit, social standing, etc.; -- usually in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their betters would hardly be found. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

For the better, in the way of improvement; so as to produce improvement. “If I have altered him anywhere for the better.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv.; compar. of Well. 1. In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success; as, Henry writes better than John; veterans fight better than recruits. [ 1913 Webster ]

I could have better spared a better man. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. More correctly or thoroughly. [ 1913 Webster ]

The better to understand the extent of our knowledge. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. In a higher or greater degree; more; as, to love one better than another. [ 1913 Webster ]

Never was monarch better feared, and loved. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. More, in reference to value, distance, time, etc.; as, ten miles and better. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To think better of (any one), to have a more favorable opinion of any one. --
To think better of (an opinion, resolution, etc.), to reconsider and alter one's decision. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bettered p. pr. & vb. n. Bettering. ] [ AS. beterian, betrian, fr. betera better. See Better, a. ] 1. To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of. [ 1913 Webster ]

Love betters what is best. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

He thought to better his circumstances. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To improve the condition of, morally, physically, financially, socially, or otherwise. [ 1913 Webster ]

The constant effort of every man to better himself. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel. [ 1913 Webster ]

The works of nature do always aim at that which can not be bettered. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Weapons more violent, when next we meet,
May serve to better us and worse our foes. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To improve; meliorate; ameliorate; mend; amend; correct; emend; reform; advance; promote. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become better; to improve. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who bets or lays a wager. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. changing for the better; -- antonym of worsening. [ Narrower terms: ameliorating(prenominal), ameliorative, amelioratory, meliorative ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. prenom. more familiar or renowned than the other of two. Antonym of lesser-known. the better known book of the two
Syn. -- better known(predicate). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. more pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion. better-looking than her sister
Syn. -- fine-looking, good-looking, handsome, well-favored, well-favoured. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. A making better; amendment; improvement. W. Montagu. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) An improvement of an estate which renders it better than mere repairing would do; -- generally used in the plural. [ U. S. ] Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Best. [ R. ] “The bettermost classes.” Brougham. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The quality of being better or superior; superiority. [ R. ] Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The difference by which fine gold or silver exceeds in fineness the standard. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. being in a more prosperous condition. better-off than his classmate [ Narrower terms: rich (vs. poor) ] WordNet 1.5 ]

2. in a more fortunate condition. she would have been better off if she had stuck to her Bible
Syn. -- better off. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

The old English or Gothic letter, in which the Early English manuscripts were written, and the first English books were printed. It was conspicuous for its blackness. See Type. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Written or printed in black letter; as, a black-letter manuscript or book. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Given to the study of books in black letter; that is, of old books; out of date. [ 1913 Webster ]

Kemble, a black-letter man! J. Boaden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Of or pertaining to the days in the calendar not marked with red letters as saints' days; -- compare red-letter. Hence: Unlucky; inauspicious. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, lets blood; a phlebotomist. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who sets broken or dislocated bones; -- commonly applied to one, not a regular surgeon, who makes an occupation of setting bones. -- Bone"set*ting, n. [1913 Webster]

v. t. To make better. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To bind in fetters; to enchain. “Enfettered to her love.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Atter. ] (Zoöl.) The stingfish, or lesser weever (Tranchinus vipera). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. fetor, feter; akin to OS. feterōs, pl., OD. veter, OHG. fezzera, Icel. fjöturr, L. pedica, Gr. pe`dh, and to E. foot. √ 77. See Foot. ] [ Chiefly used in the plural, fetters. ] 1. A chain or shackle for the feet; a chain by which an animal is confined by the foot, either made fast or disabled from free and rapid motion; a bond; a shackle. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ They ] bound him with fetters of brass. Judg. xvi. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything that confines or restrains; a restraint. [ 1913 Webster ]

Passion's too fierce to be in fetters bound. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fettered p. pr. & vb. n. Fettering. ] 1. To put fetters upon; to shackle or confine the feet of with a chain; to bind. [ 1913 Webster ]

My heels are fettered, but my fist is free. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To restrain from motion; to impose restraints on; to confine; to enchain; as, fettered by obligations. [ 1913 Webster ]

My conscience! thou art fettered
More than my shanks and wrists. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. An ornamental evergreen shrub (Pieris floribunda) of the Southeastern U. S. having small white bell-shaped flowers.
Syn. -- mountain fetterbush, mountain andromeda, Pieris floribunda. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. A showy evergreen shrub (Lyonia lucida) of the Southeastern U. S. with shiny leaves and angled branches and umbel-like clusters of pink to reddish flowers.
Syn. -- fetter bush, shiny lyonia, Lyonia lucida. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. (Zool.) Seeming as if fettered, as the feet of certain animals which bend backward, and appear unfit for walking. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who fetters. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Free from fetters. Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who forgets; a heedless person. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, frets. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who gets, gains, obtains, acquires, begets, or procreates. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who contrives, makes, or arranges for, anything, as a book, a machine, etc. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A diligent getter-up of miscellaneous works. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ G., lit. Twilight of the Gods; a modern mistranslation of the Old Icelandic Ragnarok, meaning, fate of the gods. RHUD ] (German mythology) 1. A myth about the ultimate destruction of the gods in a battle with evil.
Syn. -- Ragnarok, Twilight of the Gods. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. An opera by Richard Wagner. [ PJC ]

n. a person disposed to initiate action, rather than take instructions; an enterprising person; a person with a strong drive to accomplish useful goals; especially, one whose career progresses rapidly. [ wns=1 ]
Syn. -- whizz-kid, whiz-kid, ball of fire. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. a member of the jet set. [ PJC ]

n. One who struts; one who bears himself jauntily; a fop. [ Obs. ] Palsgrave. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. lettre, F. lettre, OF. letre, fr. L. littera, litera, a letter; pl., an epistle, a writing, literature, fr. linere, litum, to besmear, to spread or rub over; because one of the earliest modes of writing was by graving the characters upon tablets smeared over or covered with wax. Pliny, xiii. 11. See Liniment, and cf. Literal. ] 1. A mark or character used as the representative of a sound, or of an articulation of the human organs of speech; a first element of written language. [ 1913 Webster ]

And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew. Luke xxiii. 38. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A written or printed communication; a message expressed in intelligible characters on something adapted to conveyance, as paper, parchment, etc.; an epistle. [ 1913 Webster ]

The style of letters ought to be free, easy, and natural. Walsh. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A writing; an inscription. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

None could expound what this letter meant. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Verbal expression; literal statement or meaning; exact signification or requirement. [ 1913 Webster ]

We must observe the letter of the law, without doing violence to the reason of the law and the intention of the lawgiver. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

I broke the letter of it to keep the sense. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Print.) A single type; type, collectively; a style of type. [ 1913 Webster ]

Under these buildings . . . was the king's printing house, and that famous letter so much esteemed. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. pl. Learning; erudition; as, a man of letters. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. pl. A letter; an epistle. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Teleg.) A telegram longer than an ordinary message sent at rates lower than the standard message rate in consideration of its being sent and delivered subject to priority in service of regular messages. Such telegrams are called by the Western Union Company day letters, or night letters according to the time of sending, and by The Postal Telegraph Company day lettergrams, or night lettergrams. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Dead letter,
Drop letter, etc. See under Dead, Drop, etc. --
Letter book, a book in which copies of letters are kept. --
Letter box, a box for the reception of letters to be mailed or delivered. --
Letter carrier, a person who carries letters; a postman; specif., an officer of the post office who carries letters to the persons to whom they are addressed, and collects letters to be mailed. --
Letter cutter, one who engraves letters or letter punches. --
Letter lock, a lock that can not be opened when fastened, unless certain movable lettered rings or disks forming a part of it are in such a position (indicated by a particular combination of the letters) as to permit the bolt to be withdrawn. [ 1913 Webster ] A strange lock that opens with AMEN. Beau. & Fl. --
Letter paper, paper for writing letters on; especially, a size of paper intermediate between note paper and foolscap. See Paper. --
Letter punch, a steel punch with a letter engraved on the end, used in making the matrices for type. --
Letters of administration (Law), the instrument by which an administrator or administratrix is authorized to administer the goods and estate of a deceased person. --
Letter of attorney,
Letter of credit, etc. See under Attorney, Credit, etc. --
Letter of license, a paper by which creditors extend a debtor's time for paying his debts. --
Letters close or
Letters clause (Eng. Law.), letters or writs directed to particular persons for particular purposes, and hence closed or sealed on the outside; -- distinguished from letters patent. Burrill. --
Letters of orders (Eccl.), a document duly signed and sealed, by which a bishop makes it known that he has regularly ordained a certain person as priest, deacon, etc. --
Letters patent,
Letters overt, or
Letters open (Eng. Law), a writing executed and sealed, by which power and authority are granted to a person to do some act, or enjoy some right; as, letters patent under the seal of England. The common commercial patent is a derivative form of such a right. --
Letter-sheet envelope, a stamped sheet of letter paper issued by the government, prepared to be folded and sealed for transmission by mail without an envelope. --
Letters testamentary (Law), an instrument granted by the proper officer to an executor after probate of a will, authorizing him to act as executor. --
Letter writer. (a) One who writes letters. (b) A machine for copying letters. (c) A book giving directions and forms for the writing of letters. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Let to permit. ] One who lets or permits; one who lets anything for hire. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Let to hinder. ] One who retards or hinders. [ Archaic. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lettered p. pr. & vb. n. Lettering. ] To impress with letters; to mark with letters or words; as, a book gilt and lettered. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A bomb disguised as a letter and sent through the mail, usually rigged to explode and kill or harm the recipient when opened. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. to send a letter-bomb to. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a postcard that folds so that the message is inside. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. 1. Literate; educated; versed in literature. “ Are you not lettered?” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The unlettered barbarians willingly accepted the aid of the lettered clergy, still chiefly of Roman birth, to reduce to writing the institutes of their forefathers. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to learning or literature; learned. “ A lettered education.” Collier. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Inscribed or stamped with letters. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who makes, inscribes, or engraves, alphabetical letters. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Letter{ 8 }, above. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. 1. The act or business of making, or marking with, letters, as by cutting or painting. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The letters made; as, the lettering of a sign. [ 1913 Webster ]