bet

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: bĕt, IPA^(key): /ˈbɛt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛt

Etymology 1

From 16th-century criminal slang, likely from abet or Old English bætan (“to make better”); or from Old French abeter (“to entice”), from a- (“to”) + beter (“hound on, urge, to bait”); but in either case ultimately from Proto-Germanic. More at abet.

Noun

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, by extension) A candidate (for elections and pageants).
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.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

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

1. To stake or pledge upon the outcome of an event; to wager.
   • 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 Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     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. 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.

Derived terms

Translations

Interjection

bet (slang, chiefly Canada, US)

1. Expression of general agreement or acceptance.
   • 1988, Dr. Dre, MC Ren (lyrics and music), “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 2013 September 12, 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 2017 November 4, 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, 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!”

Etymology 2

From Hebrew בית (bēt).

Noun

bet (plural bets)

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

Etymology 3

Abbreviation.

Preposition

bet

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

     insert right-hand needle bet 2 sts just knitted

Anagrams

• BTE, TEB

Bislama

Etymology 1

From English bait.

Noun

bet

1. bait

Etymology 2

From English bet.

Verb

bet

1. to gamble

Brokskat

Verb

bet

1. continued

Crimean Tatar

Noun

bet

1. face
2. side, direction
3. page

Declension

Synonyms

• yüz, çıray (face)
• saife (page)

References

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

Finnish

Etymology

From Phoenician .

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbet/,
• Rhymes: -et
• Syllabification^(key): bet

Noun

bet

1. beth (second letter of the Hebrew and Phoenician scripts and the Northwest Semitic abjad)

Declension

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /beːt/
• Homophone: Beet

• Audio

  (file)

Verb

bet

1. singular imperative of beten

Usage notes

The form bete is more common.

Italian

Etymology

From Hebrew בַּיִ״ת (báyiṯ).

Pronunciation

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

Noun

bet f (invariable)

1. beth
   1. the name of the Phoenician-script letter 𐤁
   2. the name of the Hebrew script letter ב

Related terms

• beta

Anagrams

• Tbe.

Karaim

Etymology

From Proto-Turkic *bēt.

Noun

bet

1. face

Synonyms

• jüz

References

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

Latgalian

Etymology

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

Not related to English but.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):
• Hyphenation: bet

Conjunction

bet

1. but

References

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

Latvian

Etymology

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.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Conjunction

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”...

Usage notes

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).

Synonyms

• taču
• tomēr

References

Lithuanian

Etymology

Cognate with Latvian bet. From bè (“without”) + particle -t. This particle comes from tè (“let, may it be”), compare nèt (“even”) < nete.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bʲɛt/

Conjunction

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.

   Paskutìnis, bèt nè prasčiáusias - Last but not least

Particle

bet (unstressed)

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

   bet kadà - whenever, anytime

   Jaučiúosi geriaũ neĩ bet kadà! - I feel better than ever!

   bet kurìs - whichever, any

   Bet kuriuõ ãtveju àš darýsiu polìtinę karjèrą - I'll make it in politics, no matter what it takes.

Derived terms

Middle Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bet/

Etymology 1

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?”)

Preposition

bet

1. with, together with

   Synonym: met

2. with, by means of, using

   Synonym: met

Etymology 2

Adverb

bet

1. Alternative form of bat

Etymology 3

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

Preposition

bet

1. (rare) up to

Further reading

• “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

Middle English

Etymology 1

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

Alternative forms

• bett, bette
• bæt (Early Middle English)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɛt/

Adverb

bet

1. comparative degree of wel

Descendants

• English: bet (obsolete)

Adjective

bet (only in predicates)

1. comparative degree of wel

Descendants

• English: bet (obsolete)

Noun

bet

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

Descendants

• English: bet (obsolete)

References

• “bet, adv. & adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-02-17.
• “bet, adv. & adj. as n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-02-17.

Etymology 2

Verb

bet

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

Norwegian Bokmål

Alternative forms

• beit

Verb

bet

1. simple past of bite

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *batiz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bet/

Adverb

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

Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *batiz.

Adverb

bet

1. better
2. rather

Polish

Polish Wikipedia has an article on:

bet

Wikipedia ^pl

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɛt/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛt
• Syllabification: bet

Etymology 1

Borrowed from German Bett, from Middle High German bet, bette, from Old High German betti, from Proto-Germanic *badją, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *bʰedʰh₂-.

Noun

bet m inan (diminutive becik)

1. baby's sleeping bag

Declension

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Hebrew בית (béyt).

Noun

bet m inan (indeclinable)

1. beth (Aramaic and Hebrew letter)

Further reading

• bet in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• bet in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Romanian

Adjective

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

1. Obsolete form of biet.

Declension

References

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

Spanish

Pronunciation

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

Noun

bet f (plural bet)

1. beth; the Hebrew letter ב

Swahili

Etymology

Borrowed from English bet.

Verb

-bet (infinitive kubet)

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

Conjugation

Swedish

English Wikipedia has an article on:

Bête

Wikipedia

Etymology

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.

Noun

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

Declension

Derived terms

• gå bet (“fail”) (derived idiom)

Verb

bet

1. past indicative of bita

References

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

Tok Pisin

Etymology 1

From English bed.

Noun

bet

1. bed

Etymology 2

From English bet.

Noun

bet

1. bet

Turkish

Etymology

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

Noun

bet

1. (idiomatic) face

   Beti benzi atmak

   look like death warmed up

Declension

Vilamovian

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

bet n (plural bet)

1. bed

Volapük

Noun

bet (nominative plural bets)

1. flower bed

Declension

Zhuang

Etymology

From Proto-Tai *peːtᴰ (“eight”), from Middle Chinese 八 (pˠɛt̚, “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.

Pronunciation

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

Numeral

bet (1957–1982 spelling bet)

1. eight

   Synonym: (in compounds) bat

Zoogocho Zapotec

Etymology

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

Noun

bet

1. skunk

References

• 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)‎ (in Spanish), second electronic edition, Coyoacán, D.F.: Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, A.C., page 12