better half
Featured
Puzzle #268 · February 24, 2026
The expression originated in the mid-16th century when it meant the ‘larger portion’. The current usage, referring to one’s spouse, came from a 1590 rromance book by Sir Philip Sidney, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia.
Puzzle Appearances
The expression better half has appeared in 3 puzzles:
- Puzzle #103 on September 12, 2025
- Puzzle #219 on January 6, 2026
- Puzzle #268 on February 24, 2026
Rate of Appearance in English Language Print
Google's Ngram project shows how often a pair of words has appeared in print every year since the 1800's.
Data from Google Books Ngram Viewer. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.
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