better half en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
Ultimately from such Latin poetic phrases as animae dīmidium meae (“half of my soul”) (Horace writing about Virgil), when it instead referred to a close friend (compare soulmate). First written instance of it meaning “spouse” was in 1580 by Sir Philip Sidney.
Meanings
-
A person's spouse or lover, most commonly a man's wife.
Private life then, just to flesh out David Brent the man. Is there a better half?
2002, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, “Interview”, in The Office, season 2, episode 6 (television production), spoken by Helena (Olivia Colman):But with that Argalus came out of his swoon, […], it seemed a little cheerful blood came up to his cheeks, like a burning coal, almost dead, if some breath a little revive it: and forcing up, the best he could, his feeble voice, “My dear, my better half,” said he, “I find I must now leave thee: and by that sweet hand, and fair eyes of thine I swear that death brings nothing with it to grieve me but that I must leave thee, […]
1580, Philip Sidney, “Book III”, in The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia, page 357:Let me ask my better half and get back to you.
Near-synonyms: other half (neutral valence), ball and chain (negative valence)
Quickly gentlemen, we got about fifteen minutes before Jimmie's better-half comes pulling into the driveway.
1994, Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary, Pulp Fiction, spoken by The Wolf (Harvey Keitel):
- (archaic) A very close friend or companion.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| better halves | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
better half · other half · helpmate · consort · mate · partner · ball and chain · spousy · wedder · other half · helpmeet · spouse
Translations (21)
da bedre halvdel (spouse or lover) · fr meilleure moitié (spouse or lover) · de bessere Hälfte (spouse or lover) · hi पत्नी (spouse or lover) · fi parempi puolisko (spouse or lover) · fr douce moitié (spouse or lover) · cs lepší polovička (spouse or lover) · pl lepsza połowa (spouse or lover) · sv bättre hälft (spouse or lover) · es media naranja (spouse or lover) · th ภรรยา (spouse or lover) · hi अर्धांगिनी (spouse or lover) · nb bedre halvdel (spouse or lover) · ru дража́йшая полови́на (spouse or lover) · fr moitié (spouse or lover) · ur شَرِیکِ سَفْر (spouse or lover) · hu jobbik fél (spouse or lover) · nl betere helft (spouse or lover) · ru полови́на (spouse or lover) · pt cara-metade (spouse or lover) · pt metade (spouse or lover)
wikipedia: Philip Sidney · wikipedia: Virgil · wikipedia: Horace