bet

• enPR: bĕt, IPA^(key): /ˈbɛt/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛt

From 16th-century criminal slang, perhaps from Middle English bet (“something better, advantage, luck”), from Old English bet, bett (“better”, adverb); or, alternatively from abet, from Middle English abet, abette, from Old French abet (“incitement to evil”), from Old French abeter (“to entice”), from a- (“to”) + beter (“hound on, urge, to bait”); ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *baitijan (“to bait, entice”), related to Old English bǣtan (“to bait”). More at abet.

bet (plural bets)

2. A wager, an agreement between two parties that a stake (usually money) will be paid by the loser to the winner (the winner being the one who correctly forecast the outcome of an event).

   Dylan owes Fletcher $30 from an unsuccessful bet.

3. (Philippines, figuratively, informal) A candidate (for elections and pageants) or competitor (in multinational sports).
4. Indicating a degree of certainty, or that something can be relied upon.

   It’s a safe bet that it will rain tomorrow.

   There's a decent bet that we'll be able to reach the top of that hill in an hour.

   It’s an even bet that Jim will come top of the maths test tomorrow.

   There's a good bet that Sally will arrive later.

bet (third-person singular simple present bets, present participle betting, simple past and past participle bet or betted)

1. (transitive, ditransitive) To stake or pledge upon the outcome of an event; to wager.

   I('ll) bet I can run faster than you.

   I bet you dinner at the Ritz that you can't run faster than me.

   I bet(ted) her £5 it wouldn't rain all week.

   • c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

     John a Gaunt loved him well, and betted much money on his head.

   • 1858, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., The Deacon's Masterpiece or The Wonderful One-Hoss Shay:

     I'll bet you two to one I'll make him do it.

2. (transitive) To be sure of something; to be able to count on something.

   Fancy going for a drink after work? / You bet I do!

3. (poker) To place money into the pot in order to require others do the same, usually only used for the first person to place money in the pot on each round.

bet (slang, chiefly Canada, US)

1. Expression of general agreement or acceptance.
   • 1988, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, “If It Ain't Ruff”, in Straight Outta Compton, performed by N.W.A., track 4:

     Let me bust a freestyle then (Alright, bet)

   • 2008 November 5, S.O.U.LMag, number 13, page 66:

     He asked if KRS could come by and meet up with a few of us there on Monday night, as he wanted to show him the church and have me build with him. Aight, bet.

   • 2013 September 16, Insight News, volume 40, number 38, published 12 September 2013, page 6:

     Then I rocked the Kansas show and after Jay said, ‘Look, if you want, you can go on tour with us and open and close the shows, but we can’t pay you, but we’ll make sure you get the exposure.’ So I said bet […]

   • 2017 November 6, The DePaulia, volume 102, number 8, DePaul University, published 4 November 2017, page 20:

     She texted Jimenez and told him it was a nice time, but she wasn’t feeling him and apologized. “Bet,” Jimenez replied, because she kind of pissed him off with that comment.

2. Exclamation indicating acceptance of a challenge or an absurd proposal.
   • 2018 September 4, The Rice Thresher, volume 103, number 3, Rice University, page 9:

     What you may not have stopped to consider is that Big Clit Energy (here referred to as B.C.E.) has been around since... BCE! Eve? She looked sin in the eye and said, “Bet.”

   • 2019 April 30, Key Magazine, Bowling Green State University: BG Falcon Media, page 26:

     “(Drummer Brenden Accettura) texted me that and was like, ‘Should we name our band The Hot Mess Express?’ and I said, ‘Bet.’ So now that’s our name,” Abbie said, getting words out between laughs.

3. Exclamation of joy at good fortune.
   • 2019 May 31, CopyWrite Magazine‎^[3], number 14, page 43:

     I started making jokes about him feeling like tough sh*t after that presentation haha. Everyone at school geeked his head up [inflated his ego]. He probably got two fruit cups from the lunch lady that day and said, “Bet! I’m gonna keep doing this!”

From Hebrew בית (bēt).

bet (plural bets)

1. Alternative form of beth (“Semitic letter”).

Abbreviation.

bet

1. (knitting) between
   • 1998, Kristin Nicholas, Knitting the New Classics, page 63:

     insert right-hand needle bet 2 sts just knitted

• ETB, TBE, BTE, TEB, EBT

From English bait.

bet

1. bait

From English bet.

bet

1. to gamble

bet

1. continued

bet

1. face
2. side, direction
3. page

• yüz, çıray (face)
• saife (page)

• Mirjejev, V. A., Usejinov, S. M. (2002) Ukrajinsʹko-krymsʹkotatarsʹkyj slovnyk [Ukrainian – Crimean Tatar Dictionary]‎^[4], Simferopol: Dolya, →ISBN

• bat

From Middle Dutch bet, bat, from Old Dutch *bat, *bet, from Proto-West Germanic [Term?], from Proto-Germanic *batiz.

• Audio:

  (file)

• Homophone: bed

bet

1. (obsolete) better

   Synonym: beter

From Phoenician [Term?].

• IPA^(key): /ˈbet/, [ˈbe̞t̪]
• Rhymes: -et
• Syllabification^(key): bet
• Hyphenation^(key): bet

bet

1. beth (Phonecian and Hebrew letter)

• IPA^(key): /beːt/
• Homophone: Beet

• Audio:

  (file)

bet

1. singular imperative of beten

The form bete is more common.

From Hebrew בַּיִ״ת (báyiṯ).

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɛt/
• Rhymes: -ɛt
• Hyphenation: bèt

bet f (invariable)

1. beth (Phonecian and Hebrew letter)

• beta

• Tbe.

From Proto-Turkic *bēt.

bet

1. face

• jüz

• N. A. Baskakov, S.M. Šapšala, editor (1973), “bet”, in Karaimsko-Russko-Polʹskij Slovarʹ [Karaim-Russian-Polish Dictionary], Moscow: Moskva, →ISBN

From Proto-Balto-Slavic *bet. Cognates include Latvian bet and Lithuanian bet.

Not related to English but.

• IPA^(key): [ˈbʲæt]
• Hyphenation: bet

bet

1. but

• Nicole Nau (2011) A short grammar of Latgalian, München: LINCOM GmbH, →ISBN

From Proto-Baltic *bet, from Proto-Indo-European *be, *bʰe (“outside, without”) (whence also the Latvian preposition bez), to which an old particle -t was added, visible also in the Latvian particle it and the adverb šeit (“here”). Cognates include Lithuanian bèt, Sudovian bat.^[1]

• IPA^(key): [bɛt]

• Audio:

  (file)

bet

1. adversative conjunction, used to express contrast or opposition; but

   istaba bija maza, bet mājīga ― the room was small but cozy

   komandiera īsais, bet atlētiskais augums veidoja neskaidru siluetu ― the commander's short but athletic body (lit. size) made an unclear, vague silhouette

2. (with tomēr) expressing contrast, opposition with a nuance of concession; yet, but still

   stiprs un izturīgs, bet tomēr tāds kā paviegls, likās, visvairāk tikai aiz lielības Martiņš te skrēja ― strong and enduring, yet somewhat light; it seemed that Martiņš was running there rather because of posturing (= to be able to boast about it)

3. (with gan) expressing strong contrast, opposition; but, but instead

   tur nestāvēja rakstāmgaldi, bet gan parasti virtuves galdi ar vienu atvilktni ― the desks weren't there, but instead simple kitchen tables with (only) one drawer

   Šellija Prometejs neienīst savu mocītāju Jupiteru, bet gan sirsnīgi nožēlo ― Shelley's Prometheus does not hate his tormentor Jupiter, but instead sincerely regrets (what he did)

4. (with ne, nevis) expressing strong contrast, opposition; but not

   atnāca Jānis, bet nevis Pēteris ― Jānis came, but not Pēteris

   etiķim jābūt dzidram, skābam, bet ne asam, kodīgam ― vinegar must be clear, acid, but not sharp, harsh (= ‘biting’)

5. (with a preceding negative clause) (expressing strong contrast, opposition)

   tas, kas neredzams sēž uz soliņa man līdzās, nav Roberts, bet Harijs ― the one sitting invisibly on the bench near me is not Roberts, but Harijs

   vīnu apkārt dodama, viņa nenolaida acu, bet skatījās katram taisni sējā ― (while) giving wine around, she did not lower her eyes, but (instead) looked straight in the face of every one (of them)

   ne atpakaļ, bet uz priekšu iet mūsu dzīves gaita! ― not backward, but forward our life's pace goes!

   automobilis brauca nevis pa lielceļu, bet taisni pa meža ceļu ― the car did not go on the highway, but straight along the forest road

6. (with gan in the preceding sentence) expressing opposition to the preceding event, which did not achieve its goal, was frustrated (indeed) ... but

   Sīmanis gan mantu novēlēja, bet mir nenomira ― Sīmanis did indeed want the property, but die, he didn't (= he did not go as far as dying for it)

   rokas gan pieķēris ratu malai, bet neparko nevarēja attrāpīt ass galu ― (his) hands did (manage to) catch the edge of the wheel, but couldn't reach the end of the axle

7. used to express an inconsistency or contradiction between two clauses, or a frustrated expectation

   lietus beidzot pārgājis, bet saules nav ― the rain has finally passed, but there is no sun

   meitenes bārienu gaida, bet štāba priekšnieks smaida... ― the girls were expecting a scolding, but the chief of staff smiled...

   Jānis Bruzils juta, ka viena acs tam pamazām aiztūkst un apmiglo kā ar sarkanu miglu, bet toties otra kļūst arvien skaidrāka ― Jānis Bruzils felt that one eye was slowly swelling and becoming covered with a red mist, but in contrast the other was becoming clearer and clearer

8. used to connect a sentence to the preceding context, indicating an inconsistency or contradiction, or a frustrated expectation; But...

   Līzei bija bezgala žēl izmocītās jaunās sievas. Bet nu bija jāiet iekšā un jārunājas ar citiem ― Līze was infinitely sorry for the exhausted young woman. But she had to go in and talk to others.

   pēc svētkiem Kārlēns aizgāja un solījās pārnākt atkal rudenī. Bet nepārnāca ne rudenī, ne pavasarī... ― after the festivities Kārlēns went (away), promising to stay there again next fall. But he didn't come neither next fall, nor next spring...

9. used to connect a subordinate clause indicating concession to a main clause; but

   lai kāds dzērājs Vanags, bet ataugu viņš taupīja, ragavām ilksi, pat to viņš neļāva nocirst savā mežā ― that Vanags may be a drunkard, but he conserved the (new) forest growth, sleigh lumber (= wood for making sleighs), he didn't let it be cut in his forest

10. (in combinations like ne vien ..., bet arī, ne tikai ..., bet arī, ne tikvien ..., bet arī) used to coordinate clause elements; not only ..., but also

    riekstu eļļa noder ne vien uzturam, bet arī parfimērijas un laku pagatavošanai ― hazelnut oil is useful not only for consumption, but also for perfume and varnish producers

    Nikolajs Sņegovs bija ļoti aizrāvies ne tikai ar matemātiku, bet arī ar seno laiku vēsturi ― Nikolajs Sņegovs was very fascinated not only by mathematics, but also by ancient history

11. (with tad) used to strengthen emotionally the idea expressed in a sentence as opposed to some expectation but...!, but then...!

    bet tad nosēts linu lauks, bez vienas svītrinas, kā ar palagu noklāts! ― but then the flax field was (fully) strewn, as if covered with a blanket

    bet tad ir gan milzenis akmens! ― but that is a giant stone!

12. (used as a noun) obstacle, hindrance, “but”

    šim pasākumam ir savs “bet” — this undertaking has its own but (= there is an obstacle to it)

    tas jau slikti nebūtu, sieviņ, bet ir viens bet ― that wouldn't be bad, wifey, but there is one “but”...

• Latvian bet is to some extent a "false friend" of English but, since it is used not only in adversative (but) contexts, but also in certain additive (and) contexts, when there is the idea of contrast (while...) between two situations, very much like Russian а (a): es strādāju, bet mana sieva lasa grāmatu “I am working, and (= while) my wife is reading a book” (cf. Russian я работаю, а моя жена читает книгу). A more strongly adversative word, used to stress contrast, contradiction, or inconsistency, is taču, which would correspond to Russian но (no).

• taču
• tomēr

From bè (“without”) + a particle -t of indeterminate origin.^[1] This particle may come from tè (“let, may it be”); compare nèt (“even”) < nete. Cognate with Latvian bet.

• IPA^(key): /bʲɛt/

bèt

1. (adversative) but, yet, though (introduces an idea contrary to or a concession to the previous statement)

   Nóriu, bèt negaliù ― I want to, but I can't.

   Paskuti̇̀nis, bèt nè prasčiáusias ― Last but not least.

bet (unstressed)

1. (in conjunction with interrogative words) any-, -ever (suggesting the complement is not important or irrelevant)

   bet kadà ― whenever, anytime

   Jaučiúosi geriaũ nei̇̃ bet kadà! ― I feel better than ever [any time]!

• IPA^(key): /bet/

From Old Dutch bit.(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Is this bi+met?”)

bet

1. with, together with

   Synonym: met

2. with, by means of, using

   Synonym: met

bet

1. alternative form of bat

From bi +‎ dum +‎ te. Compare Middle High German biz (German bis).

bet

1. (rare) up to

• “bet (I)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• “bet (II)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “bet (I)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page I
• Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “bet (II)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page II

From Old English bet, from Proto-West Germanic *bati, from Proto-Germanic *batiz. In adverbial senses, later supplemented by bettre.

• bett, bette
• bæt (Early Middle English)

• IPA^(key): /bɛt/

bet

1. comparative degree of wel

• English: bet (obsolete)

bet (only in predicates)

1. comparative degree of wel

• English: bet (obsolete)

bet

1. Something or someone which is more wel (i.e. better).

• English: bet (obsolete)

• “bet, adv. & adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 17 February 2019.
• “bet, adv. & adj. as n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 17 February 2019.

bet

1. alternative form of beten (“to beat”)

• beit

bet

1. simple past of bite

From Proto-Germanic *batiz.

• IPA^(key): /bet/

bet

1. better
   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Saint Basilius, Bishop"

     He be-het þæt he wolde and se halga ge-bæd for þæt seoce cyld and him wæs sona bet.

     He promised that he would, and the saint prayed for the sick child, and he was instantly better.

2. rather

From Proto-Germanic *batiz.

bet

1. better
2. rather

Borrowed from German Bett.

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛt
• Syllabification: bet

bet m inan (diminutive becik)

1. baby's sleeping bag
2. (Kuyavia) duvet, eiderdown (quilt filled with feathers)

   Synonym: pierzyna

Borrowed from Hebrew בית (béyt).

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɛt/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛt
• Syllabification: bet

bet m inan (indeclinable)

1. beth (Aramaic and Hebrew letter)

• bet in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• bet in Polish dictionaries at PWN
• Oskar Kolberg (1867) “bet”, in Dzieła wszystkie: Kujawy (in Polish), page 268

Unadapted borrowing from English bet.

bet f (plural bets)

1. (informal) bet (a wager)
2. (informal) a sport betting website or app

bet m or n (feminine singular betă, masculine plural beți, feminine and neuter plural bete)

1. obsolete form of biet

• bet in Academia Română, Micul dicționar academic, ediția a II-a, Bucharest: Univers Enciclopedic, 2010. →ISBN

• IPA^(key): /ˈbet/ [ˈbet̪]
• Rhymes: -et
• Syllabification: bet

bet f (plural bet)

1. beth; the Hebrew letter ב

Borrowed from English bet.

-bet (infinitive kubet)

1. alternative form of -beti (“to bet, gamble”)

Conjugation of -bet
Positive present -nabet Subjunctive -bet Negative -bet Imperative singular bet
Infinitives
Positive kubet Negative kutobet
Imperatives
Singular bet Plural betni
Tensed forms
Habitual hubet Positive past positive subject concord + -libet Negative past negative subject concord + -kubet
Positive present (positive subject concord + -nabet) Singular Plural 1st person ninabet/nabet tunabet 2nd person unabet mnabet 3rd person m-wa(I/II) anabet wanabet other classes positive subject concord + -nabet
Negative present (negative subject concord + -bet) Singular Plural 1st person sibet hatubet 2nd person hubet hambet 3rd person m-wa(I/II) habet hawabet other classes negative subject concord + -bet
Positive future positive subject concord + -tabet Negative future negative subject concord + -tabet
Positive subjunctive (positive subject concord + -bet) Singular Plural 1st person nibet tubet 2nd person ubet mbet 3rd person m-wa(I/II) abet wabet other classes positive subject concord + -bet
Negative subjunctive positive subject concord + -sibet Positive present conditional positive subject concord + -ngebet Negative present conditional positive subject concord + -singebet Positive past conditional positive subject concord + -ngalibet Negative past conditional positive subject concord + -singalibet
Gnomic (positive subject concord + -abet) Singular Plural 1st person nabet twabet 2nd person wabet mwabet 3rd person m-wa(I/II) abet wabet m-mi(III/IV) wabet yabet ji-ma(V/VI) labet yabet ki-vi(VII/VIII) chabet vyabet n(IX/X) yabet zabet u(XI) wabet see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) kwabet pa(XVI) pabet mu(XVIII) mwabet
Perfect positive subject concord + -mebet "Already" positive subject concord + -meshabet "Not yet" negative subject concord + -jabet "If/When" positive subject concord + -kibet "If not" positive subject concord + -sipobet Consecutive kabet / positive subject concord + -kabet Consecutive subjunctive positive subject concord + -kabet
Object concord (indicative positive) Singular Plural 1st person -nibet -tubet 2nd person -kubet -wabet/-kubetni/-wabetni 3rd person m-wa(I/II) -mbet -wabet m-mi(III/IV) -ubet -ibet ji-ma(V/VI) -libet -yabet ki-vi(VII/VIII) -kibet -vibet n(IX/X) -ibet -zibet u(XI) -ubet see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) -kubet pa(XVI) -pabet mu(XVIII) -mubet Reflexive -jibet
Relative forms General positive (positive subject concord + (object concord) + -bet- + relative marker) Singular Plural m-wa(I/II) -betye -beto m-mi(III/IV) -beto -betyo ji-ma(V/VI) -betlo -betyo ki-vi(VII/VIII) -betcho -betvyo n(IX/X) -betyo -betzo u(XI) -beto see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) -betko pa(XVI) -betpo mu(XVIII) -betmo Other forms (subject concord + tense marker + relative marker + (object concord) + -bet) Singular Plural m-wa(I/II) -yebet -obet m-mi(III/IV) -obet -yobet ji-ma(V/VI) -lobet -yobet ki-vi(VII/VIII) -chobet -vyobet n(IX/X) -yobet -zobet u(XI) -obet see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) -kobet pa(XVI) -pobet mu(XVIII) -mobet
Some forms not commonly seen in modern Standard Swahili are absent from the table. See Appendix:Swahili verbs for more information.

Borrowed from French bête (“beast, animal”). Compare "faire la bête" (make the bête) for losing the deal in the old French trick-taking card game of l'Homme / Bête. Attested since 1733.

bet c

1. (card games) a penalty (especially in the game of Vira)
2. (card games, bridge, in some expression) (going) set, (going) down (failing to make a contract)

   gå bet i ett kontrakt

   go set in a contract

   gå 5 bet

   go down 5

• gå bet (“fail”) (derived idiom)

bet

1. past indicative of bita

• bet in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• bet in Svenska Akademiens ordböcker
• bet in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)

Borrowed from English bet (“wager; slang: exclamation of acceptance”).

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈbet/ [ˈbɛt̪̚]
• Rhymes: -et
• Syllabification: bet

bet (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜒᜆ᜔) (gay slang)

1. like; want

   Synonyms: gusto, nais, ibig

   Bet ko yang sinabi mo.

   I liked what you said. / That what you said is something that I like.

   (literally, “My bet is on what you said.”)

From English bed.

bet

1. bed

From English bet.

bet

1. bet

From Proto-Turkic *bēt (“face; page”). Cognate with Bashkir бит (bit, “face; page”), Uyghur بەت (bet, “face; page”), Kazakh бет (bet) etc.

bet

1. (idiomatic) face

   Beti benzi atmak

   look like death warmed up

• Audio:

  (file)

bet n (plural bet)

1. bed

bet (nominative plural bets)

1. flower bed

Zhuang cardinal numbers

<  7	8	9  >
Cardinal : bet

From Proto-Tai *peːtᴰ (“eight”), from Middle Chinese 八 (peat, “eight”). Cognate with Thai แปด (bpɛ̀ɛt), Tai Dam ꪵꪜꪒ, Lao ແປດ (pǣt), Lü ᦶᦔᧆᧈ (ṗaed¹), Shan ပႅတ်ႇ (pèt), Tai Nüa ᥙᥦᥖᥱ (pǎet), Ahom 𑜆𑜢𑜄𑜫 (pit), Bouyei beedt. Doublet of bat.

• (Standard Zhuang) IPA^(key): /peːt˧˥/
• Tone numbers: bet⁷
• Hyphenation: bet

bet (1957–1982 spelling bet)

1. eight

   Synonym: (in compounds) bat

From Proto-Zapotec *kw-eʔtti(k), from Proto-Zapotecan *kw-eʔtti(k).

bet

1. skunk

• Long C., Rebecca, Cruz M., Sofronio (2000) Diccionario zapoteco de San Bartolomé Zoogocho, Oaxaca (Serie de vocabularios y diccionarios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 38)‎^[5] (in Spanish), second electronic edition, Coyoacán, D.F.: Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, A.C., page 12