▪ I. advantage
(ædˈvɑːntɪdʒ, -æ-)
Forms: 4–6 avauntage, avantage (Sc. awawntage, awantage); 6– advantage.
[a. Fr. avantage, f. avant forward + -age; the cognate Romance forms point to the word as already formed in late L. as abantāticum. The occasional MFr. corrupt spelling a(d)vantage, as if from L. ad-, has been permanently adopted in Eng.; see advance v. The original survives in the aphetic form 'vantage, vantage.]
I. Superior position.
1. a. The position, state, or circumstance of being in advance or ahead of another, or having the better of him in any respect; superior or better position; precedence, superiority, esp. in contest or debate.
| 1330 R. Brunne Chron. 314 The auantage set so hie That thou may gyue with right, whan thou wille & how. 1393 Gower Conf. III. 219 And whan they wiste their avauntage, They fell anone unto the chace. 1523 Ld. Berners Froissart I. cxciv. 230 Ther they had a great aduantage. 1642 Rogers Naaman 19 What rescue hath the dry stubble against the advantage of fire. 1692 Ray Disc. iii. (1732) 32 The Advantage or Height of all the dry Land. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 177 ¶3 When the smallest advantage was gained against me in dispute. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. III. 63 The Gauls maintained their advantage. 1810 Coleridge Friend (1865) 20 The advantage given to the opponents of Christianity. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 115 When the war had lasted a year, the advantage was decidedly with the Royalists. |
b. To have, gain, get, give advantage of, advantage over (advantage on obs.): superiority over. Also techn. to have the advantage of (a person): to have a personal knowledge that is not reciprocal.
| 1561 Becon Sick Man's Salve (1844) 146 Let his enemy the devil have none avantage of him. c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. lxiv. 6, I have seen the hungry ocean gain Advantage on the kingdom of the shore. 1603 Greenwey Tacitus xii. viii. (1622) 164 In skilfulnesse of the countrey [Caractacus] hauing the aduantage on vs. 1611 Bible 2 Cor. ii. 11 Lest Satan should get an aduantage of vs. 1700 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) IV. 704 The Swedes have had an advantage against the Muscovites. 1775 Sheridan Rivals v. ii. (1873) 94 You have the advantage of me, I don't remember ever to have had the honour. 1813 Jane Austen Pride & Prej. ii. 4 You may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her. 1869 J. Martineau Ess. II. 115 Unbelief has no advantage over belief. |
† c. To be at, upon, advantage: in a favourable position. Obs.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce xi. 288 We sall be at awantage thar. 1513 Douglas æneis xii. xi. 112 Thou..Walkys at auantage on the wod grene. 1656 in Burton's Diary (1828) I. 89 Some had dined and were upon an advantage. |
† d. With poss. pron. at my, his, etc. advantage: In a position where one has the advantage or superiority. Obs. Cf. above C 2.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce vi. 66 Sua that we Sall ay at our avantage be. c 1386 Chaucer Frankl. T. 44 Loke who that is most pacient in love, He is at his avantage al above. c 1430 Hymns to Virg. (1867) 81 Whanne age haþ us at his auauntage. 1475 Caxton Jason 77 b, That they sholde slee him if they founde him at their auantage. |
2. In Tennis, when the two sides have gained the equal number of points or games known as deuce, the next point or game is reckoned as advantage or vantage (i.e. temporary superiority) to the side winning it. Hence attrib. in advantage game, advantage set. Also fig.
| c 1641 Milton Reform. i. Wks. 1847, 10 For if the Scripture be for reformation, and antiquity to boot, it is but an advantage to the dozen, it is no winning cast. 1875 H. H. Gibbs (Note) In matches, advantage sets are played; and then, when the players are at say ‘5 games all,’ either must win two games running in order to win the set. 1882 Daily Tel. 10 July 2/7 The first was an advantage sett, and in playing off Lawford won by 4 to 2. |
† 3. A place of vantage; esp. a rising ground, an elevation; = vantage-ground. Obs. See III.
| 1386 Chaucer Man of Law's T. 48 Such place as thought hem avauntage For here entent. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. xxxvi. 53 Had he noucht fowndyn in mare hy Ane Awawntage, he had bene dede. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World ii. 412 Shimei..holding himselfe upon the advantage of a mountain-side. 1633 Stafford Pac. Hib. xvi. (1821) 387 A Platforme was made upon a ground of advantage (not farre from the Campe). 1639 Fuller Holy War iii. xxvii. (1840) 166 Egypt is a low level country, except some few advantages which the Egyptians had fortified for themselves. 1663 Blair Autobiog. vii. (1848) 96 Upon this rebuke I drew my horse to an advantage. |
† 4. A time of vantage, a favourable occasion, an opportunity, a ‘chance.’ Obs.
| c 1386 Chaucer Man of Law's T. 118 They cannot seen in that non avantage Ne in non other way, save mariage. c 1400 Destr. Troy xv. 7051 But wirdis, þat is wicked, waitis hir avauntage. 1561 T. N[orton] tr. Calvin's Instit. iv. 137 He was compelled to watch an aduauntage to take his iourney. 1592 Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 129 Make use of time, let not advantage slip. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. iii. 5 [They] lie at catch, and wait advantages one against another. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 258 Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find His wish and best advantage, us asunder. |
5. a. A favouring circumstance; anything which gives one the superiority or tends to improve one's position. (The opposite is disadvantage.)
| 1483 Caxton Cato C ij, Euery man kepeth and loueth better that which he acquireth wyth payn..thenne that whych cometh of auauntage. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, iii. iii. 42 Ile vse th' aduantage of my Power. 1607 Topsell Four-footed Beasts (1673) 550 [He] compareth the wrath of Perseus standing betwixt two advantages unto a Tiger betwixt two preys. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. 121 This petition, though presented with all advantage, found no other entertainment than delays. c 1660 Narr. late Parlt. in Sel. Harl. Misc. (1793) 406 What company of foot, and other advantages, it is not certainly known. 1716–8 Lady M. W. Montague Lett. I. xviii. 57 He needs not the advantage of his rank to appear charming. 1874 Reynolds John Bapt. i. §1. 12 He was himself possessed of all their advantages, while he is placed on a vantage-ground above them. |
b. to take (the obs.) advantage of (by, at obs.), to make one's advantage of, a thing: To use any favourable condition which it yields; to avail oneself of. Often in a bad sense: To seize an accidental or unintended opportunity of profiting, to overreach (a person). Also to take advantage (without const.).
| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 322 He, that by her body wolde Take avauntage. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. iii. iii. 116 To take an ill aduantage of his absence. 1618 Donne Serm. cxliii. V. 851 Laban..made advantages upon him, deluded him. 1620 Sanderson Serm. Ad. Pop ii. v. 155 He doth arripere ansam, take all advantage as it were, and lay hold on every occasion to do that. 1657 Ibid. (1674) Pref. §10 The Papists make a great advantage of these home-differences. 1664 Power Exp. Philos. i. 16 You may see them sometimes, if you happily take the advantage. 1705 Addison Italy 6 Taking the Advantage of a Side-wind. 1817 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. iv. iii. 95 Inclined to make their advantage of his necessities. 1859 Geo. Eliot A. Bede II. xxxii. 331 It's them as take advantage that get advantage i' this world. 1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. III. xii. 251 Here was material enough for the craft of William to take advantage of. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 370 Sad about her lame of course but must be on your guard not to feel too much pity. They take advantage. 1979 B. Bainbridge Another Part of Wood viii. 160 May sensed he was vulnerable. She couldn't help taking advantage. |
c. To take any one at (upon, on obs.) advantage: when the circumstances favour the taker, as by surprise, stratagem, etc.; to surprise. to play upon advantage (obs.): to cheat.
| 1523 Ld. Berners Froissart I. xviii. 24 They wold haue ben slayn, or taken at auauntage. 1592 Warner Albion's Eng. vii. xxxvi. (1612) 174 Howbeit, on aduantage plai'd Gynetta all this while. 1607 Hieron Wks. I. 430 The griping Nimrods of the world reioyce in their taking men vpon aduantages. 1656 Bp. Hall Occas. Medit. (1851) 17 It were woe with any of us all, if God should take us at advantages. 1668 Sedley Mulb. Garden ii. ii. (1766) 63 Your only way is to turn rook and play upon advantage. 1826 Southey in Q. Rev. XXXIV. 330 Once it happened that the enemy took him at advantage. |
II. The result of a superior or better position.
6. a. Benefit; enhancement, improvement; increased well-being or convenience; resulting benefit. to one's advantage: to one's benefit, beneficial to one.
| 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 1012 Þat world was made to our most avantage. 1393 Gower Conf. I. 194 So can I see none avauntage, But all is lost, if she abide. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 143 Wisemen..semblably do auantage to other. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. i. 27 Those blessed feet, Which, fourteen hundred years ago, were nail'd, For our aduantage, on the bitter Crosse. 1667 Milton P.L. xii. 510 Who all the sacred mysteries of Heaven To their own vile advantages shall turn Of lucre and ambition. 1772 Junius Lett. lxviii. 337 You shall have all the advantage of his opinion. 1843 Miall Nonconf. III. 209 Tahiti cannot be colonised with advantage. 1882 Daily News 3 Nov. 1/2 If the Gentleman who travelled from Yeovil Junction..with a violin case, will send his address he will hear of something to his advantage. |
b. to advantage: So as to increase or augment the effect of anything; advantageously, favourably.
| 1709 Pope Ess. Critic. 297 True Wit is Nature to advantage dress'd. 1858 Hawthorne Fr. & It. Jrnls. I. 303 The atmosphere has a quality of showing objects to a better advantage. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. §15. 100 To see the lower portion of this glacier to advantage. Mod. That dress sets off her figure to advantage. |
† 7. Pecuniary profit, gain; interest on money lent. Obs.
| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 46 The seale and therupon thymage Of Thebith for his avauntage He taketh. 1413 Lydg. Pylgr. Sowle iv. xxxiii. (1483) 81 His rentes and revenues and suche other auantages. 1535 Coverdale Ps. lxxiii. 10 There out sucke they no small auauntage. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. i. iii. 71 You neither lend nor borrow Vpon aduantage. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World II. iv. vii. §1. 280 Forcing them to restore the spoyles with aduantage. 1665 Manley Grotius's Low-Countrey-Warrs 181 Another fleet..had fallen upon the Molucca Islands, bringing away great advantage. |
† 8. Greater quantity or number, ‘more-ness’; amount or quantity over, additional amount, over-plus, excess. to advantage, of advantage (Fr. d'avantage, de plus): in addition, more. Obs.
| 1340 Ayenb. 209 Alle þise timliche þinges þou sselt habbe to auontage. Ibid. 210 God deþ him auontage of þe timliche guodes. 1534 Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) Bv. b, I saie further of aduauntage, that dyuers haue written of the tyme of the saide Marke Aureleo. 1570 Kanam in Bury Wills (1850) 156 One blacke stered heckforde of the age of two yeres and the aduantage. 1604 Shakes. Oth. iv. iii. 84 As many to' th' vantage. 1612 Shelton Quix. I. 15, 4 or 5 Sheets of Advantage at the end of the Book. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. i. xi. 29 She being a woman that in all her actions (to be sure to do enough) made always measure with advantage. |
III. Comb. advantage-ground, a position that gives advantage or superiority to a combatant; now usually written vantage-ground.
| 1628 Earle Microcosm. xxxiv. 73 He stands taller on his own bottom, than others on the advantage ground of fortune. 1659 Rushworth Hist. Coll. I. 17 The Bohemians stood upon the advantage-ground betwixt the Imperialists and Prague. a 1674 Clarendon Hist. Rebell. III. Ded. 10 On the advantage-ground of being established by the Laws. |
☛Phrase-key. At my, his a l d, be at a 1 c, gain, get, give a over 1 b, have a of 1 b, make a of 5 b, of a 8, play upon a 5 c, take a of 5 b, take at a 5 c, tennis a 2, to a 6 b, 8, to one's a 6.
▪ II. advantage, v.
(ædˈvɑːntɪdʒ, -æ-)
Also 5–6 avantage, 6 advauntage.
[a. Fr. avantage-r, -ier, to cause advantage. For change from a- to ad- see advance.]
To do, bring, or be of, advantage to.
1. To give an advantage or superiority to, favour.
| 1598 Barret Theor. Warres iv. i. 117 Souldiers of great experience..should be aduantaged in their payes. 1650 Fuller Pisgah Sight i. xii. 38 Judea, advantaged with the friendly City of Jerusalem. 1654 E. Johnson Wonder-working Prov. 192 Although Charles Town do not advantage such o're-topping batteries as Boston doth. 1871 Lowell Study Windows 96 Boston was also advantaged with the neighbourhood of the country's oldest College. |
† b. To place advantageously. Obs.
| 1650 Fuller Pisgah Sight ii. iv. 115 All the cities of refuge on this side Jordan were advantaged on very high foundations. 1662 ― Worthies (1840) III. 116 Advantaged for western voyages by its situation. |
† c. To set off to advantage. Obs.
| 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) V. 303 How dress advantages women! |
2. To further, promote, advance, contribute to the progress of (anything).
| 1586 J. Hooker Giraldus's Hist. Irel. in Holinsh. II. 84/2 Hereby he..aduantaged the flight of his capteine. 1651 Hobbes Gov. & Soc. vi. §4. 113 It would no whit advantage the liberty of the subject. c 1681 Sir T. Browne Tracts 6 Variously interspersed expressions from plants, elegantly advantaging the significancy of the Text. 1692 Washington tr. Milton's Def. Pop. ii. (1851) 62 Nor do you much advantage your cause by telling us Moses was a king. 1858 Bright Sp. (1876) 301 The agriculture of this country has been advantaged by the importation of reaping machines. |
† 3. To add to the amount or value of. Obs.
| 1496–7 Plumpton Corr. 129, I have done good ther and avantaged much wood and tymber. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, iv. iv. 323 Aduantaging their Loue [? loan] with interest Of ten-times double gain of happiness. 1640 Fuller Abel Rediv., Foxe (1867) II. 81 Friendship..advantaged with the sympathy of their natures. 1673 Ray Journ. Low Countries Pref., To advantage the Catalogue I have added thereto a brief narrative. |
4. To put in a better position, prove beneficial to, benefit, profit.
| 1530 Palsgr. 440 This can nothyng avauntage you. 1647 Fuller Holy War ii. xxix. 81 Some think their coming advantaged King Baldwine. 1660 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 91/1 [I] have advantaged all that conversed with me. 1686 W. de Britaine Hum. Prud. §22. 108 Winds, which if they do not throw down, do advantage Trees. a 1754 Fielding Wife at Home iii. vi. Wks. 1784 II. 40 If you are not advantaged by the stratagem, you will be disadvantaged by the discovery. 1848 Ruskin Mod. Paint. II. iii. ii. iv. §9. 191 How far it would be possible to advantage a statue by the addition of colour, I venture not to affirm. |
† b. impers. To profit, benefit. Obs.
| 1526 Tindale Luke ix. 25 What shall itt avauntage a man? 1549 Coverdale Erasm. Paraphr. 1 Cor. x. 5 Nothyng aduauntaged them to escape out of Egipte, if they caried furthe Egipte with them. 1611 Bible 1 Cor. xv. 32 What aduantageth it me, if the dead rise not? |
† c. absol. Obs.
| 1610 Shakes. Temp. i. i. 34 Make the rope of his destiny our cable, for our own doth little aduantage. 1668 Child Disc. Trade (1694) 57 To leave them money without skill to use it, would advantage little. |
† 5. refl. To benefit oneself. to advantage oneself of, with: to take advantage of. Obs.
| 1598 Yong Diana 187 Yet will I not aduantage me with any such remedy. 1603 Florio Montaigne ii. viii. (1632) 212 No man of courage vouchsafeth to advantage himselfe of that which is common unto many. 1615 T. Adams Lycanthropy 31 They will be sure to advantage themselves of the wind. 1693 Mem. Count Teckely ii. 149 The Christians sought for nothing but advantaging themselves at the expence of the Turks. |
† 6. To gain, profit. Obs.
| 1557 N. T. (Genev.) Luke xix. 15 To wyt what euery man had auantaged. |