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The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms INTRO ...

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obstacle course get the better <strong>of</strong> you. 9 betters. superiors:<br />

That young imp should learn how to address his elders and<br />

betters!<br />

--v. 10 improve, ameliorate, advance, raise, elevate: It was<br />

impossible in those days for labourers to better their<br />

condition. 11 surpass, excel, outdo, outstrip, beat, improve:<br />

She bettered her record in the 100-metre hurdles by two-tenths<br />

<strong>of</strong> a second.<br />

betterý n. gambler, speculator, wagerer, gamester, Brit punter, US<br />

bettor, Colloq crap-shooter, sport: <strong>The</strong> betters were gathered<br />

round the craps table.<br />

bewail v. lament, mourn, bemoan, moan or mourn over, shed tears or<br />

whimper over, weep or cry or keen over, beat one's breast over:<br />

Instead <strong>of</strong> bewailing his condition, why doesn't he do something<br />

about it?<br />

beware v. take heed, be careful, be wary, be cautious, be on one's<br />

guard, exercise caution, mind, watch out, look out, take care:<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are shoals nearby, so beware. Beware the ides <strong>of</strong> March!<br />

bewilder v. confuse, confound, perplex, puzzle, mystify, befuddle,<br />

baffle, bemuse: I was bewildered by differential calculus.<br />

bewitch v. enchant, entrance, spellbind, charm, fascinate, beguile,<br />

cast a spell over, captivate, enrapture: She easily bewitches<br />

men with her sultry good looks and her husky, low voice.<br />

2.3 bias...<br />

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-<br />

bias n. 1 prejudice, partiality; inclination, leaning, bent,<br />

disposition, propensity, tendency, predilection, predisposition,<br />

proclivity: She shows a marked bias in favour <strong>of</strong> the Irish. 2<br />

angle, slant, diagonal: Cut the fabric on the bias. 3<br />

influence, impulse, weight: If he is under any bias, it is on<br />

the side <strong>of</strong> fairness.<br />

--v. 4 influence, affect unduly or unfairly, sway, incline,<br />

prejudice, colour, taint, predispose: Artists are seldom good

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