Betters and Bettors

Betters and Bettors Betters and Bettors Betters and Bettors By Mark Nichol Is there a connection between better, which is sometimes employed as a noun, among other parts of speech, and the noun bettor? This post explains their etymological origins and lists and defines related words. Better is primarily an adjective, from Old English bettra (and, previously, betera), meaning â€Å"superior.† It can also mean â€Å"more advantageous or favorable,† â€Å"improved,† or â€Å"greater than half† (as in â€Å"the better part of an hour†). The adjective better pertains to doing something to a greater degree or with higher quality or can replace more (â€Å"She was doing better than twenty miles per hour†) or preferably (â€Å"It’s better left where it is†). As a verb, better means â€Å"make more acceptable or complete† or â€Å"improve on† (as in â€Å"The runner will try to better his personal record in the event†). It also serves as an auxiliary verb, one that supports another verb, as in â€Å"You had better get going,† sometimes with the first verb elided. The noun better means â€Å"advantage† (â€Å"Don’t let him get the better of you†), â€Å"something superior† (â€Å"We expected better of her†), or â€Å"someone of higher rank or status† (â€Å"I was told to respect my betters†). Better is also a variant of bettor, meaning â€Å"someone who makes bets.† The origin of bet, meaning â€Å"wager† (as a noun) or â€Å"wage† (as a verb), is uncertain, but it could be from abet, meaning â€Å"incite† or â€Å"urge on.† More likely, however, it is from the obsolete English word beet, meaning â€Å"make good† and related to better. Either way, it began as criminal slang; the affirming phrase â€Å"You bet† (even more informally, â€Å"You betcha†) is also slang, though not of unsavory origins. Two additional words based on better are betterment, meaning â€Å"an act of becoming or making better† or referring to an instance of property improvement, and the adjective bettermost, meaning â€Å"superior.† Better, however, generally suffices as a comparative that stands between good (which supplanted the Old English word bot, meaning â€Å"advantage†) and the superlative best. (Bot does survive in the phrase â€Å"to boot,† meaning â€Å"in addition.†) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Masters Degree or Master's Degree?50 Synonyms for â€Å"Idea†5 Tips to Understand Hyphenated Words

Collagen Facts and Functions

Collagen Facts and Functions Collagen is a protein made up of amino acids that are found in the human body. Heres a look at what collagen is and how it is used in the body. Collagen Facts Like all proteins, collagen consists of amino acids, organic molecules made from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Collagen actually is a family of proteins rather than one specific protein, plus it is a complex molecule, so you wont see a simple chemical structure for it. Usually, youll see diagrams showing collagen as a fiber. It is the most common protein in humans and other mammals, making up 25% to 35% of the total protein content of your body. Fibroblasts are the cells that most commonly produce collagen. The word collagen comes from the Greek word kolla, which means glue.80-90% of collagen in the human body consists of types I, II, and IIIÂ  collagen, although at least 16 different forms of the protein are known.Gram for gram, type I collagen is stronger than steel!Collagen used for medical purposes need not be human collagen. The protein may also be obtained from pigs, cattle, and sheep.Collagen may be applied to wounds to serve as a scaffold on which new cells can form, thus improving healing.Because collagen is such a large protein, it is not absorbed through the skin. Topical products that contain collagen cant actually deliver any of it below the skin surface to replenish damaged or aging tissue. However, topical vitamin A and related compounds do promote collagen production. Functions of Collagen Collagen fibers support body tissues, plus collagen is a major component of the extracellular matrix that supports cells. Collagen and keratin give the skin its strength, waterproofing, and elasticity. Loss of collagen is a cause of wrinkles. Collagen production declines with age, plus the protein can be damaged by smoking, sunlight, and other forms of oxidative stress. Connective tissue consists primarily of collagen. Collagen forms fibrils that provide the structure for fibrous tissue, such as ligaments, tendons, and skin. Collagen also is found in cartilage, bone, blood vessels, the cornea of the eye, intervertebral discs, muscles, and the gastrointestinal tract. Other Uses of Collagen Collagen-based animal glues may be made by boiling the skin and sinews of animals. Collagen is one of the proteins that give strength and flexibility to animal hides and leather. Collagen is used in cosmetic treatments and burn surgery. Some sausage casings are made from this protein. Collagen is used to produce gelatin. Gelatin is hydrolyzed collagen. It is used in gelatin desserts (e.g., Jell-O) and marshmallows. More About Collagen In addition to being a key component of the human body, collagen is an ingredient commonly found in food. Gelatin relies on collagen to set. In fact, gelatin can even be made using human collagen. However, certain chemicals can interfere with collagen cross-linking. For example, fresh pineapple can ruin Jell-O. Because collagen is an animal protein, theres some disagreement over whether foods made with collagen, such as marshmallows and gelatin, are considered vegetarian.