advertisement
(ædˈvɜːtɪzmənt)
Also 5–7 avertise-; 6 advertyse-, advertisse-; 7 advertize-, averti-ment.
[a. Fr. avertissement, in 5–6 advertissement; f. avertiss- lengthened stem of avertir: see advertise and -ment. The ordinary Eng. pronunciation has been as above since Shakespeare at least: (ædvəˈtaɪzmənt) is found early in 6, and is now usual in U.S.]
† 1. The turning of the mind to anything; attention, observation, heed. Obs.
| 1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel 808 Behold and se in your advertysement How these ladys..For your pleasure do there endeuourment. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. (1632) 451 Men should either need much advertisement or long time for the search thereof. 1651 Jer. Taylor Holy Liv. (1727) 140 It helps much to attention and actual advertisement in our prayers. |
† 2. The action of calling the attention of others; admonition, warning, precept, instruction.
Obs.| 1475 Bk. of Noblesse 79 Joachym king of Juda despraised the admonestementis, advertisementis, and the doctrines of God. 1538 Bale God's Promises in Dodsley (1780) I. 14 Doth what hym lust without dyscrete advysement, And wyll in no wyse take myne advertysement. 1581 Marbeck Bk. of Notes 258 By the aduertisement of the Emperour, he graunted it to proceede. a 1652 J. Smith Sel. Disc. ii. 31 Some secret advertisements of their consciences. 1675 T. Brooks Gold. Key Wks. 1867 V. 379 Christ, in his advertisement to Philadelphia, Rev. iii. 7. 1715 Burnet Hist. own Time (1766) II. 108 The advertisements came to him from so many hands, that he was inclined to believe there was somewhat in it. 1827 Hallam Const. Hist. (1876) I. iv. 180 Parker..set forth a book called Advertisements, containing orders and regulations for the discipline of the clergy. |
† 3. The action of informing or notifying; information, notification, notice.
Obs.| 1528 Gardiner in Pocock Rec. Ref. 50 I. 118 As other things occurreth here worthy advertisement, we shall not fail to signify the same. 1581 Savile Tacitus, Agricola (1622) 192 He bedeckt not with lawrell his letters of aduertisement. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turkes (1621) 1189 Hatwan..being so seated..it much hindered both advertisements and victuals to be brought unto Pesth. a 1649 Charles I Wks. 230 He had avertisement that the person of the said Earl of Glamorgan was arrested. 1716 in Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 136 The first advertisement they gave of it was Clanronald's orders to his men to kindle straw. |
4. A (written) statement calling attention to anything; a notification, a ‘notice.’
Obs. or
arch.| c 1460 Fortescue Absol. & Lim. Mon. (1714) 122 Here followen Advertisements, for the gevyng of the Kyngs Offyces. c 1548 Geste Let. to Parker 141, I have sent..your booke againe with such notes & advertisementes that..I could well gather. 1625 Burges Pers. Tithes To Reader, Some Aduertisements. i. Reade All, or reade nothing. 1645 Milton Tetrach. Wks. 1738 I. 265 The Canons and Edicts..with the avertiments of Balsamon and Matthæus Monachus theron. 1728 Pope Dunciad (1736) Advertisement to the first Edition, with note, etc. 1824 Dibdin Libr. Comp. 278 At the end of this volume is an advertisement to the reader. |
5. A public notice or announcement:
formerly by the town-crier;
now, usually, in writing or print, by placards, or in a journal;
spec. a paid announcement in a newspaper or other print. Also
fig.| 1582–8 Hist. James VI (1804) 141 To attend thair quietlie upoun aduertisement of the drum. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado v. i. 32 My griefs cry lowder then aduertisement. 1692 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) II. 566 He has published an advertisement in this days Gazet of it. 1722 De Foe Moll Fl. (1840) 273 An advertisement of the particulars in the common newspapers. 1868 Dickens Lett. (1880) II. 339 A short newspaper advertisement is all we want. 1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. I. App. 719 A general advertisement for the heads of his enemies. 1878 Printing Trades Jrnl. xxv. 27 The publishers are not in the habit of inserting gratuitous advertisements. 1952 A. Wilson Hemlock iii. i. 216 Ours has not perhaps been the ideal advertisement for such a union. |
6. = advertising vbl. n. 2.
| 1902 Encycl. Brit. XXV. 94/2 Advertisement, or advertising, as the process of purchasing publicity is now more commonly called, is [etc.]. 1909 H. G. Wells Tono-Bungay ii. iii. 194 Advertisement has revolutionized trade and industry. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 667 The infinite possibilities hitherto unexploited of the modern art of advertisement. |
7. attrib. and
Comb. (in senses 5 and 6), as
advertisement agent,
advertisement board,
advertisement curtain,
advertisement-manager,
advertisement-sticker.
| 1897 G. B. Shaw Our Theatres in Nineties (1932) III. 27 But there is a clown, who acts extensively as an *advertisement agent. 1933 H. G. Wells Bulpington iii. 81 Mr. Parkinson was an advertisement agent. |
| 1880 Harper's Mag. Dec. 72 The *advertisement boards were freshly covered with clean notices. |
| 1951 Oxf. Compan. Theatre 13/1 *Advertisement curtain, an outer curtain or act-drop used mostly in smaller theatres, covered with advertisements of local shops and manufacturers. |
| 1902 A. Bennett Truth abt. Author x, in The Academy 21 June 634/2, I could play Blucher at the Waterloo of the *advertisement-manager. |
| 1778 S. Foote Capuchin ii. 114 You became *advertisement-sticker to lottery-offices, auctioneers..and mountebank-doctors. |