English

Proper noun

Bet

1. A diminutive of Elizabeth.

Related terms

• Bets
• Betsy
• Betty
• bouncing Bet

English

Noun

bet ‎(plural bets)

1. 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.

2. A degree of certainty.

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

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

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.
   • Shakespeare

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

   • O. W. Holmes

     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.

   You bet!

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

Etymology 2

From Hebrew בית ‎(béyt)

Noun

bet

1. Alternative form of beth

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

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 966-7980-89-8

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /beːt/
• Homophone: Beet

Verb

bet

1. Imperative singular of beten.

Usage notes

The form bete is more common.

Latvian

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [bɛt]

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

1. ↑ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992), “bet”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, ISBN 9984-700-12-7

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

Lojban

Rafsi

bet

1. rafsi of betri.

Middle Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bet/

Etymology 1

From Old Dutch bit.

Preposition

bet

1. with, together with
2. with, by means of, using

Synonyms

• 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

Norwegian Bokmål

Alternative forms

• beit

Verb

bet

1. simple past of bite

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *batiz.

Adverb

bet

1. better
2. rather

Old Irish

Verb

·bet

1. third-person plural present subjunctive conjunct of at·tá

Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *batiz.

Adverb

bet

1. better
2. rather

Spanish

Noun

bet f ‎(plural bet)

1. beth; the Hebrew letter ב

Swedish

Verb

bet

1. past tense of bita.

Tok Pisin

Etymology

English bed

Noun

bet

1. bed.

Volapük

Noun

bet ‎(plural bets)

1. flower bed

Declension