-er

a person or thing that does something

Forms

-er
-r — Used after some bases ending in e.

Origin

Old English -ere, generally traced through Germanic to Latin -arius.

Note

It can name a tool as readily as a person. The comparison ending in taller has a different history.

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verb

better

BET-er/ˈbetər/

To improve beyond a previous level or performance.

He sands the rough chair to better its finish.

An older man improves a battered wooden chair by sanding its rough seat: the worked area is smooth and clean beside the still-splintered, worn area.

Etymology

betterOld Englishof superior quality

Old English betera expressed superior quality. The verb applies that comparison to improvement—making something better—and to competition, where bettering people means surpassing them.

In context

Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell3:20

… try to better your situation, and your total income is not improving or even a shrinking welfare can create a ceiling that traps people in poverty …

Universal Basic Income Explained – Free Money for Everybody? UBI

More examples

She hopes to better her previous race time.
The new drainage system betters conditions in the fields.
They moved abroad to better their prospects.

Forms

better · betters · bettered · bettering

Similar words

improve: The more usual term for making something better.
surpass: Specifically means exceeding a standard or another achievement.