avantage

Forms

avantage m (plural avantages)^[1] Old French and Anglo-Norman avantage, avauntage.^[2]

Etymology

It is formed from French avant + -age, literally “what is placed in front”,^[3][1][4][5] the adverb being from Late Latin abante (“before”), a 2nd-century form competing with classical ante.^[3][6][7]

Littré posited Vulgar Latin *abantaticum, which he took the Catalan ⟨tj⟩ and the Italian ⟨gg⟩ to confirm.^[8] Meyer-Lübke, however, treats Italian vantaggio, Spanish ventaja and Portuguese ventagem as borrowings from the French word.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Grand Robert dates it to 1160, and the Anglo-Norman Dictionary has it from 1160–1174 for an advantage or benefit.^[5][2] Jean Bodel uses it about 1190 for something placed in front, a projection.^[9][10]

Semantic evolution

From the concrete sense “projection”, still found in the 14th century for jutting parts of buildings,^[8][10] the word passed to “profit” (1196) and in the 13th century to “that which makes one superior”.^[10] In the 14th century it could also mean a tip given to workmen.^[8]

It was used of an advantage gained in combat, and later in sport (1855); in tennis it names the point scored after deuce (1898).^[10] In law it is a benefit that breaks equality in someone's favour.^[10]

The phrase d'avantage gave the adverb davantage in the 14th century.^[3][4] English advantage, first avantage in the early 14th century, comes from the Old French word.^[11]

Timeline

• 1160 – First record.^[5]
• c. 1190 – Jean Bodel uses it for something placed in front.^[9][10]
• 1196 – First recorded sense “profit”.^[10]
• 13th century – The sense “superiority” appears.^[10]
• 13th century – The derivatives avantager and désavantage are formed.^[3]
• 14th century – D'avantage gives davantage.^[3]
• 1855 – Used in sport.^[10]
• 1898 – The tennis sense is recorded.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. What is useful or profitable, a benefit (as opposed to inconvénient): cette méthode a l'avantage d'être rapide.^[10][9]
2. Avantages en nature: benefits in kind, paid as housing, food and the like rather than in money.^[9]
3. That by which one is superior, superiority: il a l'avantage de l'âge.^[10][8]
4. Tirer avantage de: to take advantage of, to profit from.^[10][9]
5. Être à son avantage: to look one's best.^[10]
6. The upper hand in a fight or contest: prendre l'avantage.^[10]
7. (tennis) advantage, the point scored after deuce.^[10][1]
8. (law) A benefit that breaks equality in someone's favour, such as a gift.^[10]

Word family

• avantager
• avantageux
• désavantage
• davantage

Related words

• avant
• avancer
• English advantage

Usage notes

Regional French à l'avantage is a polite formula for taking leave (à l'avantage de vous revoir).^[12]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
3. ^ a b c d e Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ a b Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Meyer-Lübke, Wilhelm (1935), Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., Heidelberg: Winter
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 24, 5a
8. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
12. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF