advance English · revision 4158

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1230|origins=la abante}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ədˈvɑːns/, US /ədˈvæns/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|avauncen]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) [[bor|fro|avancier|t=to move forward, go forward, set forward]] (modern French avancer),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la-vul|*abantiāre]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000)^(Hoad 1986) the source also of Italian avanzare and Spanish avanzar,^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) from Late Latin [[m|la-lat|abante|t=from before, in front]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|ab|t=from]] and [[m|la|ante|t=before]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the latter from [[ine-pro|*h₂ent-|alt=*ant-|t=front, forehead]].^(Etymonline) The -d- was inserted in the 16th and 17th centuries, when the initial a- was mistaken for the Latin prefix ad-,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) the same error that gave [[advantage]].^(Barnhart 1988) The noun is from the verb and partly from French avance.^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) French avant “before”, as in [[avant-garde]], is from the same Latin word.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Before 1200 in the Ancrene Riwle, “to move forward”, according to Barnhart;^(Barnhart 1988) the mid-13th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) about 1230 in the OED, “to further, promote”.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “To promote, raise to a higher rank” is from about 1300,^(Etymonline) the intransitive “to move forward” by the mid-14th century,^(Etymonline) and the transitive “to move something forward” from about 1500.^(Etymonline) “To give money before it is due” is from the 1670s.^(Etymonline) The noun first meant boasting, about 1300, a sense now archaic,^(Etymonline) and promotion in rank or wealth from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) A move forward is from the 1670s,^(Etymonline) progress in a process from 1668,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) money paid beforehand from the 1680s,^(Etymonline) and a personal approach from the 1670s,^(Etymonline) hence ''advances'', amorous overtures, from 1706.^(Etymonline) The adjective, as in ''advance warning'', is from 1843 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) 1701 in Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1230 – to further, promote.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – to raise in rank.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-14th century – to move forward.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1668 – noun, progress.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1670s – to pay beforehand.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1706 – ''advances'', overtures.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1843 – adjective.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To move or cause to move forward.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To put forward; to [[propose]]: ''advance a theory''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To help the progress of; to [[promote]] or raise in rank.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To make progress; to improve.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To cause to happen sooner.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To pay money or lend it before it is due.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of moving forward; a forward movement.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Progress or improvement: ''advances in medicine''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A rise in price or value.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Approaches made to win friendship, favour or love; overtures.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Money paid or lent beforehand.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Made or given ahead of time: ''advance notice''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Going in front: ''an advance party''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[advancer]]

+ * [[advancingly]]

+ * [[advancement]]

+ * [[unadvancing]]

+ * [[advance directive]]

+ * [[advance guard]]

+ * [[advance man]]

+ * [[advance person]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[advantage]]

+ * [[avant-garde]]

+ * [[ante-]]

+ * [[advanced]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage distinguishes the noun advance, forward movement or progress, from advancement, which is used mainly figuratively and often implies an outside agent: the advance of science is its progress, the advancement of science is progress brought about by someone.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}