Better
Old English betera (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to best.
wiktionary
From Middle English better, bettre, betre, from Old English betera(“better”), from Proto-Germanic *batizô(“better”), from Proto-Indo-European*bʰed-rós, from *bʰed-(“good”). Cognate with Sanskrit भद्र(bhadrá, “blessed, fortunate, happy, good”). For Germanic cognates: see Proto-Germanic *batizô. Related to best and battle(“getting better, improving, fruitful, fertile”). Compare also Icelandic batna(“to improve”), bót(“improvement”), German besser. More at batten, boot.
Shortening of had better ( 'd better)
From Middle English beteren, from Old English beterian, betrian, from Proto-Germanic *batizōną. Cognate with West Frisian betterje(“to better”), Dutch beteren(“to better”), German bessern(“to better”), Danish bedre(“to better”), Swedish bättra(“to better”).
Alternate pronunciation of bettor or modern formation from the verb to bet.
etymonline
better (adj., adv.)
Old English bettra, earlier betera "of superior quality or excellence," from Proto-Germanic *batizo-, perhaps from PIE *bhad- "good," but Boutkan finds no good IE etymology. For etymology and evolution, see best. Cognate words also have become the comparative adjective of good in the older Germanic languages (Old Frisian betera, Old Saxon betiro, Old Norse betr, Danish bedre, Old High German bezziro, German besser, Gothic batiza). All are comparatives of a positive (Proto-Germanic *bat) which is not in use.
In Middle English the adverbial form commonly was bet, sometimes also was an adjective; bet was displaced by c. 1600. From late Old English as "improved in health, more healthy" (adv.); from late 12c. as "more useful or desirable." Better half "wife" is first attested 1570s.
better (n.1)
late 12c., "that which is better," from better (adj.). Specific meaning "one's superior" is from early 14c. The better "improvement" (as in for the better) is from 1690s. To get the better of someone "obtain mastery or victory over" is from 1650s, from better in a sense of "superiority, mastery," which is recorded from mid-15c. Related: Betters.
better (v.)
Old English *beterian "improve, amend, make better," from Proto-Germanic *batizojan (source also of Old Frisian beteria, Dutch beteren, Old Norse betra, Old High German baziron, German bessern), from *batizo- (see better (adj.)). Meaning "exceed, surpass, outdo" is from 1540s. Related: Bettered; bettering.
better (n.2)
"one who lays wagers;" see bettor.
