'Had better' definitions:

Definition of 'Had better'

From: GCIDE
  • 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]

Definition of 'Had better'

From: GCIDE
  • Had \Had\ (h[a^]d), imp. & p. p. of Have. [OE. had, hafde, hefde, AS. h[ae]fde.] 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]

Words containing 'Had better'