bettermost

Yet he lives with his family in but a "bettermost" sort of cabin.

Disturbed Ireland Being the Letters Written During the Winter of 1880-81. Bernard H. Becker

Then comes another visit, to one of our "bettermost" neighbours; this door bears, or ought to bear, the proverbial brass knocker.

To My Younger Brethren Chapters on Pastoral Life and Work 1880

The bettermost people of the village and neighbourhood were in a gallery on one side, and, in a gallery opposite the orchestra.

Contributions to All the Year Round 2004

In a bettermost household, the samovar, the tea-urn, is always going.

Russia As Seen and Described by Famous Writers Various

Moidel, his daughter, could cook for us, for she understood making dishes for bettermost people, having been sent by him to Brixen for a year to learn cooking; for what was a moidel (maiden) good for that could not cook?

Lippincott's Magazine, Volume 11, No. 26, May, 1873 Various

Princes have bestowed knighthood on the worthy and unworthy; thou hast called forth those princes from their ranks, pushing back the arrogant and presumptuous of them like intrusive varlets, and conferring on the bettermost crowns and robes, imperishable and unfading.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 53, No. 327, January, 1843 Various

A Bible was occasionally kept in the bettermost farms in a chest which was locked, to protect the house from harm.

Welsh Folk-Lore a Collection of the Folk-Tales and Legends of North Wales Elias Owen

In March, 1887, the workmen employed in taking down what were at one time buildings belonging to a bettermost kind of residence, opposite Llanfwrog Church, near Ruthin, also discovered one of these wee pipes.

Welsh Folk-Lore a Collection of the Folk-Tales and Legends of North Wales Elias Owen

A crogan's a limpet shell, which you mightn't knaw, Mister Jan. Tregagle, he done that party quick, an 'then he was at the man again; but a passon got the bettermost of en an' tamed en wi '

Lying Prophets Eden Phillpotts 1911

The turnkeys knew her; the prisoners liked her for her good looks and good temper, and because she always dealt fair; and the agent (as they called the governor in those days) had given orders to set aside a table and trestles for her twice a week, close inside the entrance of the market square, on the side where the bettermost French prisoners lived in a building they called the Petty Caution.

Corporal Sam and Other Stories Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1903