advantage
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Alternative forms [edit]
- advauntage (obsolete)
Etymology [edit]
From Middle English avantage, avauntage, from Old French avantage, from avant (“before”), from Medieval Latin abante. The spelling with d was a mistake, a- being supposed to be from Latin ad (see advance). For sense development, compare foredeal.
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
advantage (plural advantages)
- Any condition, circumstance, opportunity or means, particularly favorable to success, or to any desired end.
- Superiority; mastery; — used with of to specify its nature or with over to specify the other party.
- The enemy had the advantage of a more elevated position.
- Superiority of state, or that which gives it; benefit; gain; profit; as, the advantage of a good constitution.
- (tennis) The score where one player wins a point after deuce but needs the next too to carry the game.
- (soccer) The continuation of the game after a foul against the attacking team, because the attacking team are in a advantageous position.
- November 17 2012, BBC Sport: Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham [1]
- Webb played an advantage that enabled Cazorla to supply a low cross from the left for Giroud to sweep home first time, despite Gallas and Vertonghen being in close attendance.
- November 17 2012, BBC Sport: Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham [1]
Usage notes [edit]
We most commonly say take advantage, but we can also have an advantage.
Synonyms [edit]
Antonyms [edit]
Derived terms [edit]
Related terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
any condition, circumstance, opportunity, or means, particularly favorable to success
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superiority; mastery
superiority of state, or that which gives it
the score where one player wins a point after deuce
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
Verb [edit]
advantage (third-person singular simple present advantages, present participle advantaging, simple past and past participle advantaged)
- (transitive) To provide (someone) with an advantage, to give an edge to. [from 15th c.]
- (reflexive) To do something for one's own benefit; to take advantage of. [from 16th c.]
- 1603, John Florio, trans. Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.7:
- No man of courage vouchsafeth to advantage himselfe [transl. s'avantager] of that which is common unto many.
- 1603, John Florio, trans. Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.7:
Usage notes [edit]
- Some authorities object to the use of advantage as a verb meaning "to provide with an advantage".
Synonyms [edit]
Derived terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
to provide with an edge
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References [edit]
- advantage in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
Middle French [edit]
Etymology [edit]
Old French, see above.
Noun [edit]
advantage m (plural advantages)
- advantage
- 1595, Michel de Montaigne, Essais:
- Et pour commencer a luy oster son plus grand advantage contre nous, prenons voye toute contraire a la commune.
- And to start removing the biggest advantage it has against us, let's the take opposite route the the usual one
- Et pour commencer a luy oster son plus grand advantage contre nous, prenons voye toute contraire a la commune.
- 1595, Michel de Montaigne, Essais:
Related terms [edit]
Descendants [edit]
- French: avantage
