▪ 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 inEng.; 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.1330R. BrunneChron.314The auantage set so hie That thou may gyue with right, whan thou wille & how.1393GowerConf.III. 219And whan they wiste their avauntage, They fell anone unto the chace.1523Ld.Berners Froissart I. cxciv. 230Ther they had a great aduantage.1642RogersNaaman 19What rescue hath the dry stubble against the advantage of fire.1692RayDisc.iii. (1732) 32The Advantage or Height of all the dry Land.1751JohnsonRamblerNo.177 ⁋3When the smallest advantage was gained against me in dispute.1781GibbonDecl. & F. III. 63The Gauls maintained their advantage.1810ColeridgeFriend (1865) 20The advantage given to the opponents of Christianity.1849MacaulayHist.Eng.I. 115When the war had lasted a year, the advantage was decidedly with the Royalists.b.To have, gain, get, give advantage of, advantage over (advantage onobs.): superiority over. Alsotechn.to have the advantage of (a person): to have a personal knowledge that is not reciprocal.1561BeconSick Man's Salve (1844) 146Let his enemy the devil have none avantage of him.c1600Shakes.Sonn.lxiv. 6,I have seen the hungry ocean gain Advantage on the kingdom of the shore.1603GreenweyTacitus xii. viii. (1622) 164In skilfulnesse of the countrey[Caractacus]hauing the aduantage on vs.1611Bible2Cor.ii. 11Lest Satan should get an aduantage of vs.1700LuttrellBriefRel.(1857) IV. 704The Swedes have had an advantage against the Muscovites.1775SheridanRivals v. ii. (1873) 94You have the advantage of me, I don't remember ever to have had the honour.1813Jane AustenPride & Prej. ii. 4You may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her.1869J. MartineauEss.II. 115Unbelief has no advantage over belief.†c.To be at, upon, advantage: in a favourable position. Obs.1375BarbourBruce xi. 288We sall be at awantage thar.1513Douglasæneis xii. xi. 112Thou..Walkys at auantage on the wod grene.1656inBurton's Diary (1828) I. 89Some had dined and were upon an advantage.†d.Withposs.pron.at my, his, etc. advantage: In a position where one has the advantage or superiority. Obs.Cf.above C 2.1375BarbourBruce vi. 66Sua that we Sall ay at our avantage be.c1386ChaucerFrankl. T. 44Loke who that is most pacient in love, He is at his avantage al above.c1430Hymns toVirg.(1867) 81Whanne age haþ us at his auauntage.1475CaxtonJason 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.c1641MiltonReform. i.Wks.1847, 10For if the Scripture be for reformation, and antiquity to boot, it is but an advantage to the dozen, it is no winning cast.1875H. 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.1882DailyTel.10 July 2/7The 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.1386ChaucerMan of Law's T. 48Such place as thought hem avauntage For here entent.c1425WyntounCron. viii. xxxvi. 53Had he noucht fowndyn in mare hy Ane Awawntage, he had bene dede.1614RaleighHist.World ii. 412Shimei..holding himselfe upon the advantage of a mountain-side.1633StaffordPac. Hib. xvi. (1821) 387A Platforme was made upon a ground of advantage (not farre from the Campe).1639FullerHoly War iii. xxvii. (1840) 166Egypt is a low level country, except some few advantages which the Egyptians had fortified for themselves.1663BlairAutobiog.vii. (1848) 96Upon this rebuke I drew my horse to an advantage.†4.A time of vantage, a favourable occasion, an opportunity, a ‘chance.’ Obs.c1386ChaucerMan of Law's T. 118They cannot seen in that non avantage Ne in non other way, save mariage.c1400Destr. Troy xv. 7051But wirdis, þat is wicked, waitis hir avauntage.1561T. N[orton]tr.Calvin's Instit. iv. 137He was compelled to watch an aduauntage to take his iourney.1592Shakes.Ven. & Ad. 129Make use of time, let not advantage slip.1655FullerCh.Hist.iii. 5[They]lie at catch, and wait advantages one against another.1667MiltonP.L. ix. 258Watches, 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.)1483CaxtonCato C ij,Euery man kepeth and loueth better that which he acquireth wyth payn..thenne that whych cometh of auauntage.1593Shakes.Rich.II, iii. iii. 42Ile vse th' aduantage of my Power.1607TopsellFour-footed Beasts (1673) 550[He]compareth the wrath of Perseus standing betwixt two advantages unto a Tiger betwixt two preys.1655FullerCh.Hist.ix. 121This petition, though presented with all advantage, found no other entertainment than delays.c1660Narr.late Parlt. in Sel.Harl.Misc.(1793) 406What company of foot, and other advantages, it is not certainly known.1716–8Lady M. W. MontagueLett.I. xviii. 57He needs not the advantage of his rank to appear charming.1874ReynoldsJohn Bapt. i. §1. 12He was himself possessed of all their advantages, while he is placed on a vantage-ground above them.b.to take (theobs.) 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 (withoutconst.).1393GowerConf.III. 322He, that by her body wolde Take avauntage.1598Shakes.Merry W. iii. iii. 116To take an ill aduantage of his absence.1618DonneSerm.cxliii. V. 851Laban..made advantages upon him, deluded him.1620SandersonSerm.Ad. Pop ii. v. 155He doth arripere ansam, take all advantage as it were, and lay hold on every occasion to do that.1657Ibid.(1674)Pref.§10The Papists make a great advantage of these home-differences.1664PowerExp.Philos.i. 16You may see them sometimes, if you happily take the advantage.1705AddisonItaly 6Taking the Advantage of a Side-wind.1817Jas.Mill Brit.India II. iv. iii. 95Inclined to make their advantage of his necessities.1859Geo.Eliot A. Bede II. xxxii. 331It's them as take advantage that get advantage i' this world.1876FreemanNorm.Conq. III. xii. 251Here was material enough for the craft of William to take advantage of.1922JoyceUlysses 370Sad about her lame of course but must be on your guard not to feel too much pity. They take advantage.1979B. BainbridgeAnother Part of Wood viii. 160May 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.1523Ld.Berners Froissart I. xviii. 24They wold haue ben slayn, or taken at auauntage.1592WarnerAlbion'sEng.vii. xxxvi. (1612) 174Howbeit, on aduantage plai'd Gynetta all this while.1607HieronWks.I. 430The griping Nimrods of the world reioyce in their taking men vpon aduantages.1656Bp.Hall Occas.Medit.(1851) 17It were woe with any of us all, if God should take us at advantages.1668SedleyMulb. Garden ii. ii. (1766) 63Your only way is to turn rook and play upon advantage.1826Southey inQ.Rev.XXXIV. 330Once 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.1340HampolePr.Consc.1012Þat world was made to our most avantage.1393GowerConf.I. 194So can I see none avauntage, But all is lost, if she abide.1477Earl Rivers (Caxton)Dictes 143Wisemen..semblably do auantage to other.1596Shakes.1Hen.IV, i. i. 27Those blessed feet, Which, fourteen hundred years ago, were nail'd, For our aduantage, on the bitter Crosse.1667MiltonP.L. xii. 510Who all the sacred mysteries of Heaven To their own vile advantages shall turn Of lucre and ambition.1772JuniusLett.lxviii. 337You shall have all the advantage of his opinion.1843MiallNonconf.III. 209Tahiti cannot be colonised with advantage.1882Daily News 3 Nov. 1/2If 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.1709PopeEss.Critic. 297True Wit is Nature to advantage dress'd.1858HawthorneFr.&It.Jrnls.I. 303The atmosphere has a quality of showing objects to a better advantage.1860TyndallGlac.i. §15. 100To 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.1393GowerConf.III. 46The seale and therupon thymage Of Thebith for his avauntage He taketh.1413Lydg.Pylgr. Sowle iv. xxxiii. (1483) 81His rentes and revenues and suche other auantages.1535CoverdalePs.lxxiii. 10There out sucke they no small auauntage.1596Shakes.Merch.V. i. iii. 71You neither lend nor borrow Vpon aduantage.1614RaleighHist.World II. iv. vii. §1. 280Forcing them to restore the spoyles with aduantage.1665ManleyGrotius's Low-Countrey-Warrs 181Another 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.1340Ayenb. 209Alle þise timliche þinges þou sselt habbe to auontage.Ibid.210God deþ him auontage of þe timliche guodes.1534Ld.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.1570Kanam inBury Wills (1850) 156One blacke stered heckforde of the age of two yeres and the aduantage.1604Shakes.Oth.iv. iii. 84As many to' th' vantage.1612SheltonQuix.I. 15,4 or 5 Sheets of Advantage at the end of the Book.1642FullerHoly & Prof.St.i. xi. 29She 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.1628EarleMicrocosm. xxxiv. 73He stands taller on his own bottom, than others on the advantage ground of fortune.1659RushworthHist.Coll.I. 17The Bohemians stood upon the advantage-ground betwixt the Imperialists and Prague.a1674ClarendonHist.Rebell.III.Ded.10On 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.1598BarretTheor. Warres iv. i. 117Souldiers of great experience..should be aduantaged in their payes.1650FullerPisgah Sight i. xii. 38Judea, advantaged with the friendly City of Jerusalem.1654E. JohnsonWonder-workingProv.192Although Charles Town do not advantage such o're-topping batteries as Boston doth.1871LowellStudy Windows 96Boston was also advantaged with the neighbourhood of the country's oldest College.†b.To place advantageously. Obs.1650FullerPisgah Sight ii. iv. 115All the cities of refuge on this side Jordan were advantaged on very high foundations.1662―Worthies (1840) III. 116Advantaged for western voyages by its situation.†c.To set off to advantage. Obs.1748RichardsonClarissa (1811) V. 303How dress advantages women!2.To further, promote, advance, contribute to the progress of (anything).1586J. HookerGiraldus'sHist.Irel.in Holinsh. II. 84/2Hereby he..aduantaged the flight of his capteine.1651HobbesGov.&Soc.vi. §4. 113It would no whit advantage the liberty of the subject.c1681Sir T. BrowneTracts 6Variously interspersed expressions from plants, elegantly advantaging the significancy of the Text.1692Washingtontr.Milton'sDef.Pop.ii. (1851) 62Nor do you much advantage your cause by telling us Moses was a king.1858BrightSp.(1876) 301The agriculture of this country has been advantaged by the importation of reaping machines.†3.To add to the amount or value of. Obs.1496–7PlumptonCorr.129,I have done good ther and avantaged much wood and tymber.1594Shakes.Rich.III, iv. iv. 323Aduantaging their Loue[? loan]with interest Of ten-times double gain of happiness.1640FullerAbel Rediv., Foxe (1867) II. 81Friendship..advantaged with the sympathy of their natures.1673RayJourn. Low CountriesPref.,To advantage the Catalogue I have added thereto a brief narrative.4.To put in a better position, prove beneficial to, benefit, profit.1530Palsgr.440This can nothyng avauntage you.1647FullerHoly War ii. xxix. 81Some think their coming advantaged King Baldwine.1660T. StanleyHist.Philos.(1701) 91/1[I]have advantaged all that conversed with me.1686W. de BritaineHum. Prud. §22. 108Winds, which if they do not throw down, do advantage Trees.a1754FieldingWife at Home iii. vi.Wks.1784 II. 40If you are not advantaged by the stratagem, you will be disadvantaged by the discovery.1848RuskinMod.Paint. II. iii. ii. iv. §9. 191How 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.1526TindaleLuke ix. 25What shall itt avauntage a man?1549CoverdaleErasm.Paraphr.1Cor.x. 5Nothyng aduauntaged them to escape out of Egipte, if they caried furthe Egipte with them.1611Bible1Cor.xv. 32What aduantageth it me, if the dead rise not?†c.absol.Obs.1610Shakes.Temp.i. i. 34Make the rope of his destiny our cable, for our own doth little aduantage.1668ChildDisc.Trade (1694) 57To 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.1598YongDiana 187Yet will I not aduantage me with any such remedy.1603FlorioMontaigne ii. viii. (1632) 212No man of courage vouchsafeth to advantage himselfe of that which is common unto many.1615T. AdamsLycanthropy 31They will be sure to advantage themselves of the wind.1693Mem.Count Teckely ii. 149The Christians sought for nothing but advantaging themselves at the expence of the Turks.†6.To gain, profit. Obs.1557N. T. (Genev.) Luke xix. 15To wyt what euery man had auantaged.