better the devil you know than the devil you don't

: comparative of good

: greater than half

: improved in health or mental attitude

: to make better (see ¹better): such as

: to make more tolerable or acceptable

: to make more complete or perfect

: comparative of well

: in a more excellent manner

: to greater advantage : preferably

: something better (see ¹better)

: a superior especially in merit or rank

: advantage, victory

: had better (see ³better 1b)

: the personal supreme spirit of evil often represented in Christian belief as the tempter of humankind, the leader of all apostate angels, and the ruler of hell

: an evil spirit : demon

: an extremely wicked person : fiend

: to season highly

: tease, annoy

: the one or ones being addressed — compare thee, thou, ye, your, yours

: one

: to perceive directly : have direct cognition of

: to have understanding of

: to recognize the nature of : discern

: knowledge

: do not

: does not

: a command or entreaty not to do something