advantage English · revision 2956

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la ante}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ədˈvɑːn.tɪdʒ/, US /ədˈvæn.tɪdʒ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|avauntage]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|avantage|t=advantage, profit, superiority]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|fro|avant|t=before]] and the suffix [[m|fro|-age]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) probably through an unrecorded [[la-lat|*abantāticum]],^(Etymonline) from [[la-lat|abante|t=from before]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[m|la|ab|t=from]] and [[m|la|ante|t=before]].^(Etymonline) The ''-d-'' was added in the 16th century, as if the word began with Latin ad-.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[advance]], and [[vantage]] is a shortening of it.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The position of being ahead of another, superiority: about 1300 in Barnhart^(Barnhart 1988) and the early 14th century in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) the OED's first example is from 1330.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A favourable place, especially high ground, is from 1386,^(OED 1989) and a favourable occasion or opportunity from about 1386; both are obsolete.^(OED 1989) ''Take advantage of'', “to avail oneself of” and also “to impose upon”, is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) A circumstance favourable to success is from the late 15th century,^(Etymonline) or 1483 in the OED.^(OED 1989) ''Have the advantage of'', “to be superior to”, is from the 1560s.^(Etymonline) The tennis score after deuce is from the 1640s, in Milton.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The spelling ''advantage'' was settled in the late 1500s.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb is from the 15th century,^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) and ''advantageous'' from 1598.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – superiority, being ahead.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1386 – a vantage point.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – ''take advantage of''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1483 – a favourable circumstance.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 16th century – the spelling with ''d''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1598 – ''advantageous''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1640s – in tennis.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A circumstance or condition that puts one in a favourable position.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Benefit or [[profit]]: ''to one's advantage''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(tennis)'' The first point won after [[deuce]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To be of benefit to; to give an advantage to.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[advantageous]]

+ * [[mechanical advantage]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[advance]]

+ * [[vantage]]

+ * [[avant-garde]]

+ * [[ante-]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}