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bet
bet / bet/ • v. (bet·ting ; past bet or bet·ted ) 1. [intr.] risk something, usually a sum of money, against someone else's on the basis of the outcome of a future event, such as the result of a race or game: betting on horses I would be prepared to bet that what he really wanted was to settle down [tr.] most people would bet their life savings on this prospect. ∎ [tr.] risk a sum of money against (someone) on the outcome or happening of a future event: I'll bet you $15 you won't find a single scratch. 2. inf. feel sure: I bet this place is really spooky late at night he'll be surprised to see me, I'll bet. • n. an act of risking a sum of money in this way: every Saturday she had a bet on the horses. ∎ a sum of money staked in this way: the bookies are taking bets on his possible successor. ∎ inf. a candidate or course of action to choose; an option: your best bet is to call a professional exterminator. ∎ (one's bet) inf. an opinion, typically one formed quickly or spontaneously: my bet is that the president will veto the bill. PHRASES: all bets are off inf. the outcome of a situation is unpredictable. don't (or I wouldn't) bet on it inf. used to express doubt about an assertion or situation: he may be a suitable companion—but don't bet on it. want to (or wanna) bet? inf. used to express vigorous disagreement with a confident assertion: “You can't be with me every moment.” “Want to bet?” you bet inf. you may be sure; certainly: “Would you like this piece of pie?” “You bet!” |
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Cite this article
"bet." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "bet." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-bet.html "bet." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-bet.html |
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bet
bet (lay) a wager. XVI. The sb. and vb. appear in the last decade of XVI, and it is uncertain which is prior; perh. aphetic of ABET (†sb.) ‘instigation, support (of a cause)’, the vb. being then derived from the sb.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "bet." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "bet." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-bet.html T. F. HOAD. "bet." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-bet.html |
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Bet
Bet ♀ Short form of Elizabeth.
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Cite this article
PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Bet." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Bet." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Bet.html PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Bet." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Bet.html |
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bet
bet
•abet, aiguillette, anisette, Annette, Antoinette, arête, Arlette, ate, baguette, banquette, barbette, barrette, basinet, bassinet, beget, Bernadette, beset, bet, Bette, blanquette, Brett, briquette, brochette, brunette (US brunet), Burnett, cadet, caravanette, cassette, castanet, cigarette (US cigaret), clarinet, Claudette, Colette, coquette, corvette, couchette, courgette, croquette, curette, curvet, Debrett, debt, dinette, diskette, duet, epaulette (US epaulet), flageolet, flannelette, forget, fret, galette, gazette, Georgette, get, godet, grisette, heavyset, Jeanette, jet, kitchenette, La Fayette, landaulet, launderette, layette, lazaret, leatherette, let, Lett, lorgnette, luncheonette, lunette, Lynette, maisonette, majorette, maquette, Marie-Antoinette, marionette, Marquette, marquisette, martinet, met, minaret, minuet, moquette, motet, musette, Nanette, net, noisette, nonet, novelette, nymphet, octet, Odette, on-set, oubliette, Paulette, pet, Phuket, picquet, pillaret, pincette, pipette, piquet, pirouette, planchette, pochette, quartet, quickset, quintet, regret, ret, Rhett, roomette, rosette, roulette, satinette, septet, serviette, sestet, set, sett, sextet, silhouette, soubrette, spinet, spinneret, statuette, stet, stockinet, sublet, suffragette, Suzette, sweat, thickset, threat, Tibet, toilette, tret, underlet, upset, usherette, vedette, vet, vignette, vinaigrette, wagonette, wet, whet, winceyette, yet, Yvette
•quodlibet • alphabet
•ramjet, scramjet
•propjet • turbojet • etiquette • outlet
•triolet • calumet • cermet
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Cite this article
"bet." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "bet." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-bet.html "bet." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-bet.html |
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