Middle English Dictionary Entry
bet adv. & adj. as n.
Entry Info
Forms | bet adv. & adj. as n. |
Etymology | Appar. by taking the adv. phrases the bet, no bet as noun phrases. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A better thing or person; better luck, advantage; haven the ~, have the advantage, be better off; tak þe ~, make the best of it, do your best; ben no ~, be of no advantage or use; him fil no ~ ne wers, he had no other luck; (b) for bet or wers, for better or worse.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)767 : Roulondes spere..caste him doun. 'Aris,' quaþ roulond, '& tak þe bet; At this time þou art i-let' [! rime].
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)344 : Þe bet may þe bi-falle, þe worse bestow neuere.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3733 : Absolon, hym fil no bet ne wers, But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.404 : Atte ende I hadde the bet in ech degree, By sleighte or force.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)415 : Sir Antynor sey, it was no bette [LinI: bote] Agayns hem al for to mete.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)7642 : Wiþ þat folke soone he met And wiȝtly wan of hem þe bet.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4971 : Mannys wit myȝt nat discerne To fynde a bet, doutles, þan sche.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3090 : I ax ȝewe no bet.
- c1500 Little Child.Bk.(2) (Ashm 61)104 : With mete & drynke be-fore þe sette, Hold þe plesyd & aske no bette.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.673 : For bet for wers, for oght for noght, Sche passeth nevere fro my thoght.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3729 : Ther was not on..That wold gon on this ambassyat..nouther for bet nor wors.