respected ideas和for the better part of是什么意思

问题描述

Odd though it sounds, cosmic inflation is a scientifically plausible consequence of some respected ideas in elementary particle physics, and many astrophysicists have been convinced for the better part of a decade that it is true.

句子中 respected ideas 什么意思，for the better part of 是什么意思，如何理解呢?

老师答疑

付老师：

respected ideas是指受人推崇的理念（或理论）。for the better part of是...的大部分或...的大半的意思。