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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. Ff3v 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. Pp7v [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).
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