| 释义 |
advantagen. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French avauntage. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman avauntage, avauntaige, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French avantage, Middle French advantage (French avantage ) a thing which makes a difference between two persons or things (a1174), benefit, convenience (c1175), superiority, the upper hand (c1200), a condition, circumstance, or ability that puts a person in a favourable or superior position (c1200), financial profit (c1285 or earlier) < avant forward (see avant- comb. form) + -age -age suffix. Compare post-classical Latin avantagium (also aventagium , adventagium ) extra inheritance share, gratuity added to the purchase price, gratuity added to a labourer's hire, profit, gain (frequently from 13th cent. in British and continental sources; < French), Old Occitan avantage (1499; only in d'avantage ‘above the market price’), Catalan avantatge (13th cent.), Spanish †avantaja (a1250; also †aventaja ), Portuguese †avantagem (14th cent.), Italian (now rare) avvantaggio (a1321). Compare vantage n.; in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, the parallels of vantage n. superseded those of advantage n.In sense 5 after French avantage (a1457 in Middle French in this sense, originally in real tennis; 1898 in lawn tennis contexts, where the French word shows a calque on the English; already c1400 in Middle French in sense ‘situation of a player who will have won the game after the next move’, in a chess context). With the β. forms, compare discussion at advance v. the world > action or operation > advantage > [noun] c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) l. 19 in C. Horstmann (1887) 107 Gret auantage, for-soþe, it was þat he miȝte so gon. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) ii. l. 1026 (MED) So can I se non avantage, Bot al is lost, if sche abide. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 325 By his deth ye shall have none advauntage. 1477 Earl Rivers tr. (Caxton) (1877) lf. 72 Wysemen..semblably do auantage to other. 1523 King Henry VIII in J. Strype (1721) I. 45 Whereby..shall ensue grete advantage and ferdele to the common affairs of the Kings grace. 1528–30 tr. T. Littleton (new ed.) f. xli A man shal haue none aduauntage by suche release that shall be agaynst his owne propre acceptaunce. 1604 E. Grimeston in tr. J. de Acosta Ded. sig. A3 The advantage I have gleaned from idle hours..is commended to your Honors Patronage. 1667 J. Milton xii. 510 Who all the sacred mysteries of Heav'n To thir own vile advantages shall turne Of lucre and ambition. View more context for this quotation 1713 G. Berkeley in 14 May 2/1 If a Christian foregoes some present Advantage for the sake of his Conscience, he acts accountably. 1772 ‘Junius’ II. lxviii. 314 You shall have all the advantage of his opinion. 1808 (Royal Soc.) 98 125 The advantages to be expected from the use of the gas lights under favourable circumstances. 1843 E. Miall in 3 209 Tahiti cannot be colonised with advantage. 1901 at Victoria Both the material and moral advantages that England derived from her intervention were long questioned. 1951 W. Lewis vii. 240 All the rest of these honourable gentlemen could with advantage follow suit. 1991 Apr. 26/2 You also get some advantage from falling rates without refinancing. 2. Opposed to disadvantage. the world > action or operation > advantage > [noun] > an advantage, benefit, or favourable circumstance the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > [noun] > advantage over another > an advantage c1330 (?a1300) (Auch.) (1973) l. 17 Auauntages þai hauen þare Freynsch and Latin eueraywhare. a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville (Vitell.) l. 106 (MED) For, save hys grace, we ha noon avauntage. ?1483 W. Caxton tr. ii. sig. eij Euery man kepeth and loueth better that Whyche he acquyreth wyth payne..thenne that whyche cometh of auauntage. a1500 Twelve Profits of Tribulation (Rawl.) in C. Horstmann (1896) II. 391 (MED) Here sueth a prologe vpone þe..auauntegis of tribulacion. 1597 W. Shakespeare iii. iii. 41 Ile vse the aduantage of my power. View more context for this quotation 1655 T. Fuller ix. 121 This petition, though presented with all advantage, found no other entertainment than delays. 1658 14/2 What companies of foot, and other advantages, is not certainly known. 1716 Lady M. W. Montagu 25 Nov. (1965) I. 286 He needs not the advantage of his rank to appear charming. 1749 J. Cleland II. 192 Now the man-machine, strongly work'd upon by the sensual passion, felt so manfully his advantages and superiority. 1806 16 Oct. 1/3 He has had the advantage of a Public School Education, and flatters himself he is capable of giving his Pupils the same upon the Eton plan. 1874 H. R. Reynolds i. §1. 12 He was himself possessed of all their advantages, while he is placed on a vantage-ground above them. 1916 F. W. Jones xxviii. 197 These arboreal Metatherians have had all the educational advantages of a thoroughly arboreal life. 1964 19 June 6/6 (advt.) Familiarity with Monte Carlo methods and computer programming would be an advantage. 1995 G. Sonnert & G. Holton iii. 83 Florence does not think she made the most of her advantages and opportunities. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 118 They speken of Magyk and Abusioun But..They kan nat seen in that noon Auauntage Ne in noon oother wey saue mariage. 1616 J. Bingham in tr. Ælian ii. 25 The fire-weapons haue theire advantages. 1726 123 Rock-fishing has a double Advantage, which Angling cannot pretend to. 1734 (Royal Soc.) 38 196 This Camera has several Advantages beyond the common one; for in this, Objects as big as the Life may be taken. 1814 31 Dec. 280/2 The committee appointed to enquire into the nature and advantages of Chambers' repeating guns. 1862 p. lxv Electrically, india-rubber possesses high advantages. 1939 J. Dearden vii. 101 Duplex processes..are designed to combine the advantages of the Bessemer and open-hearth processes, while avoiding their disadvantages. 1960 G. Lewis 66 Machine embroidery is decorative, exciting and creative, and has the added advantage that it is relatively quick to do. 1997 Jan. 99/1 One advantage of this design is that fitting additional memory is a doddle. the world > space > relative position > high position > [noun] > quality of being raised or elevated > raised or elevated part > vantage ground c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 48 A compaignye Of chapmen..Han shapen hem to Rome..And in swich place as thoughte hem auauntage For hir entente, they take hir herbergage. a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun (Royal) viii. 5379 Had he noucht fowndyn in mare hy Ane awawntage, he had bene dede. 1614 W. Raleigh i. ii. xvii. §7. 486 Shimei..holding himselfe vpon the aduantage of a mountaine side. 1639 T. Fuller iii. xxvii. 157 Egypt is a low level countrey, except some few advantages which the Egyptians had fortified for themselves. a1666 R. Blair (1848) (modernized text) vii. 96 Upon this rebuke I drew my horse to an advantage. the world > action or operation > advantage > an opportunity > [noun] 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) vi. 21 He had nocht..Sa smertly seyn his avantage [1489 Adv. awantage]. c1540 (?a1400) 7051 But wirdis þat is wicked waitis hir avauntage, With ffortune so felle þat is of fer cast. 1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin iv. f. 137 He was compelled to watch an aduauntage to take his iourney. 1593 W. Shakespeare sig. Biijv Make vse of time, let not aduantage slip. View more context for this quotation 1655 T. Fuller iii. 5 [They] lie at catch, and wait advantages one against another. 1667 J. Milton ix. 258 Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find His wish and best advantage, us asunder. View more context for this quotation 1754 July 47/1 That [accomplishment] of commanding his warmth 'till a proper advantage presented itself, whereby he might secure the safety of himself. 1813 R. Glover 106 From the instant they began to depart from ingenuous and public principles, he never missed his advantage, nor failed of making..himself their master. 1826 J. F. Cooper I. viii. 162 Part of the body of the savage came into view. Swift as thought, Hawk-eye seized the advantage, and discharged his fatal weapon into the top of the oak. a1904 I. E. Avery (1905) xiii. 216 Pietro Ghisleri..played a made-in-Germany air that was all beer and skittles, while the Rentfrows, quick to see an advantage, came back with a Cuban love song. 2000 A. Haughton xi. 163 Johnston was correct in his strategy to hold to the defensive and wait for an advantage to present itself. †3. the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] > condition of being more than another > (a) greater amount 1340 (1866) 209 (MED) Alle þise timliche þinges þou sselt habbe to auontage. 1340 (1866) 210 (MED) God deþ him auontage of þe timliche guodes. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) ii. l. 3158 (MED) If that ye wolde in avantage Therof sette a recoverir, It were to me a gret desir. a1500 (?a1425) tr. (Lamb.) 63 (MED) Do some auantage of good to hem þat profytabely studys. 1570 R. Kanam in S. Tymms (1850) 156 One blacke stered heckforde of the age of two yeres and the aduantage. 1588 ‘M. Marprelate’ 37 I will owe you a better turne, & pay it you with aduauntage, at the least thirteene to the dozen. 1641 J. Milton 40 For if the Scripture be for Reformation, and Antiquity to boot, 'tis but an advantage to the dozen, 'tis no winning cast. 1642 T. Fuller i. xi. 29 She being a woman that in all her actions (to be sure to do enough) made alwayes measure with advantage. 1656 Duchess of Newcastle (title) Also, there are some Morals, and some Dialogues; but they are as the Advantage Loaves of Bread to a Bakers dozen; and a true Story at the latter end, wherein there is no Feignings. society > trade and finance > management of money > income, revenue, or profit > profit > [noun] > profit as motive > low society > trade and finance > financial dealings > moneylending > [noun] > moneylending at interest > interest society > trade and finance > management of money > income, revenue, or profit > profit > [noun] > return from capital or investment > interest a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng (Harl.) l. 2396 (MED) Okur hyt ys..To take þy catel and haue auauntage. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Ellesmere) (1877) §851 A Marchant deliteth hym moost in chaffare that he hath moost auantage of. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer (Hunterian) (1891) l. 5808 And loue is thralled in seruage Whanne it is sold for avauntage. 1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville (Caxton) iv. xxxiii. f. lxxxj His rentes and his reuenues..and suche other auauntages. 1535 Psalms lxxiii. 10 There out sucke they no small auauntage. 1600 W. Shakespeare i. iii. 69 You neither lend nor borrow Vpon aduantage . View more context for this quotation 1614 W. Raleigh i. iv. vii. §1. 296 Forcing them to restore the spoiles with aduantage. 1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius 181 Another fleet..had fallen upon the Molucca Islands, bringing away great advantage. 1803 40 354 The amount of this profit was quite unexpected, and holds forth a source of advantage in this breed, that has not probably hitherto been calculated upon. 4. The fact or state of being in a better position with respect to another; superiority, esp. in a confrontation or contest; the upper hand; an instance of this. the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being better or superior > [noun] the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > [noun] a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vii. l. 3780 (MED) And whan thei wiste here avantage, Thei felle anon unto the chace. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) ii. 314 Þe auantage set so hie, þat þou may gyue with right, whan þou wille & how. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer (Hunterian) (1891) l. 3212 God hym silf..yaff hir sith sich avauntage That she hath myght and seignurie To kepe men from all folye. c1450 King Ponthus (Digby) in (1897) 12 74 (MED) Be they [sc. the ladies] all comon to you, or be ther any that has avauntege before any othre? 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. cxciv. 230 Ther they had a great aduantage. 1562 J. Shute tr. A. Cambini in i. f. 14 The battayle was so doubtefull [printed doublefull], that of neyther syde was there seene any aduantage. 1642 D. Rogers 19 What rescue hath the dry stubble against the advantage of fire. 1692 J. Ray v. 163 The advantage or height of all the dry Land. 1703 II. vii. 224 Here Sr William Waller, out of pure gayety, departed from an advantage he could not again recover. 1781 E. Gibbon III. 63 The Gauls maintained their advantage. 1809 S. T. Coleridge 10 Aug. 35 The advantage given to the opponents of Christianity. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. 115 When the war had lasted a year, the advantage was decidedly with the Royalists. 1909 Suppl. Barrier, the starting apparatus used in races: designed to keep the horses behind a certain line until the word is given, and thus prevent unfair advantage in starting. 1950 R. Graves viii. 132 The wicked women saw that Psyche's defences were down, and her heart laid open to their attacks. They pressed their advantage savagely. 1991 14 Oct. 44/2 A TD that gave the Wolfpack an apparently comfortable 20–7 advantage. the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > [noun] > advantage over another c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Ellesmere) (1868) l. 2591 Ther was noon..þat koude seye That any hadde of oother auauntage Of worthynesse, ne of estaat ne age. c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) v. l. 2236 (MED) Þer was noon so manly nor so sage Þat koude on hir geten avauntage. c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) iii. l. 2532 (MED) Cruel Dyomede..Hadde þat tyme of Troilus avauntage. 1548 f. ccxviij Thei had fought from mornyng almoste to noone, without any part gettyng auauntage of other. 1561 T. Becon (new ed.) 287 Let his enemy the deuill haue none auantage of him. 1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus xii. viii. 164 In..skilfulnes of the countrey, [Caractacus] hauing the aduantage on vs. 1609 W. Shakespeare lxiv. sig. E2 I haue seene the hungry Ocean gaine Aduantage on the Kingdome of the shoare. View more context for this quotation 1651 Ld. Orrery I. i. i. 28 Nor my weaknesse, nor my tongue..shall ever confesse you have any advantage over mee. 1671 J. Dryden iii. 44 We of the Uncircumcised, in a civil way, as Lovers, have somewhat the advantage of your Musullman. 1751 S. Johnson No. 177. ⁋3 When the smallest advantage was gained against me in dispute. 1775 R. B. Sheridan v. ii. 88 Sir, you have the advantage of me: I don't remember ever to have had the honour. 1813 J. Austen I. ii. 10 You may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her . View more context for this quotation 1869 J. Martineau 2nd Ser. 115 Unbelief has no advantage over belief. 1919 2 Aug. 10/2 Those who are at this time establishing themselves in the Russian market are getting an advantage over their competitors. 1969 T. J. M. Boyd & J. J. Sanderson v. 107 Plasma propulsion..has important potential advantages over conventional propellants. 1981 L. D. Estleman xviii. 145 He went for one of his pistols, but he was sitting down and I had the advantage on him. 2009 27 Apr. 43/2 If you have a very nationalist viewpoint, why wouldn't you want our country to have the advantage over other countries? society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > racket games > real tennis > [noun] > score 1775 203 In that case, instead of calling it forty all, it is called deuce; after which, as soon as any stroke is got, it is called advantage. 1837 D. Walker ii. 266 Unless, indeed, the players get three strokes each, when, instead of calling it forty all, it is called ‘deuce’, after which, as soon as any stroke is got, it is called ‘advantage’. 1878 20 July 12/6 Mr. Hadow finally won advantage and game. 1917 P. A. Vaile (ed. 2) 276 The Scoring Sheet shows that in..the second game: ‘Love—15, 15 all, 15—30, 30 all, 40—30, deuce, advantage (C.D.), deuce, advantage (A.B.), deuce, advantage (C.D.), game (C.D.)’. 1951 4 Feb. 13/4 Instead of the austere announcers, who say things like, ‘Advantage, Mr. Larsen’, tennis should hire some real sportscasters for the job. 1983 28 Mar. b1/1 Navratilova had started the match by taking the first game easily, then she and Evert traded games with Evert winning the fourth of that set after getting three advantages. 1997 11 Jan. (The Week section) 12/2 The Australian became a home-town hero in knocking out Pete Sampras in the Open last year, but now it appears to be advantage Henman. 1965 21 Apr. 14/3 When one of their handling movements broke down, the referee played the advantage well and the three counties' forwards took the ball through. 1976 8 Mar. 3/4 There might have been another [chance], after a knock-on by Bennett, and a promising hack through by Romeu, but the referee did not play advantage. 1981 12 Oct. 19/7 Referee David Letts..having sensibly applied advantage after Roffey had done his illegal best to stop Callaghan. 2006 J. Hickey ix. 46/1 The umpires..will stop the game if a player offends repeatedly or if the decision to play advantage would be unfair to the non-offending side. Phrases P1. a. to advantage. 1340 (1866) 209 Verst ocseþ [=ask] godes riche..and alle þise timliche þinges þou sselt habbe to auontage. c1450 (c1400) (Huntington) (1942) 232 (MED) Secheþ first þe kyngdom of heuene and his riȝtwisnesse, and alle þe oþere þinges..we schulle haue to auauntage..God doþ þe goodes of þis world þer-to in auauntage. 1588 A. Munday tr. ii. xxi. sig. G3v Sir Palmerin, so well is your prowesse and haughtie deedes of Armes knowne to euery one, as my prayse cannot extoll them to aduauntage. the world > action or operation > advantage > [adverb] > to (one's) advantage 1604 A. Willet xi. 127 The vnprofitable seruant is reproued, because he hid his talent in the earth, and put it not forth to aduantage. 1686 E. Waller (ed. 5) 235 Like Jewels to advantage set, Her Beauty by the shade does get. 1711 A. Pope 19 True Wit is Nature to Advantage drest. 1794 T. Davis 112 The lowest size of a Wiltshire down farm, that can be managed to advantage, is a good six horse business. 1858 N. Hawthorne I. 303 The atmosphere has a quality of showing objects to a better advantage. 1895 27 July The young woman with two redundant ‘curves’ and an over-supply of pulchritudinous charm, may not affect the ‘sweater’ to advantage. 1935 23 May 13/1 A spacious lawn is enclosed by yew hedges, against which the bloom of Scotch laburnum shows up to advantage. 1974 R. L. Hill xvii. 175 She was pretty and her figure had been shown to advantage in the swimsuit. 1996 L. Al-Hafidh et al. (ed. 3) ii. xxvi. 1139 The exterior is best appreciated from outside the city, where the hundred-metre spire and the weighty buttressing can be seen to advantage. a1425 (a1400) (Galba & Harl.) (1863) l. 1012 (MED) Þat world was made to our most avantage. c1565 R. Lindsay (1728) 6 If it shall chance us to continue any further in this fead it shall redound to his advantage. 1598 W. Shakespeare i. i. 27 Those blessed feet, Which 1400. yeares ago were naild, For our aduantage on the bitter crosse. View more context for this quotation 1639 T. Heywood v. sig. Bv They boorded her without any great resistance; a sudden feare in the one, and a predicated resolution in the other, being greatly to their advantage. 1683 109 A rich Opportunity I have in serving you in a bargain of such Commodities as I am sensible you deal in, which may tend to your advantage. 1705 J. Dennis iv. i. 46 Help'd by the Obscurity of the Night, and a lusty dose of Brandy,..I will turn Diego's Stratagem to your Advantage, and to his own Confusion. 1778 F. Burney III. xviii. 208 For as I found our consultation likely to redound to his advantage, I persuaded Sir John to send for him. 1808 W. Scott in J. G. Lockhart (1837) I. i. 35 My time with him, though short, was spent greatly to my advantage. 1882 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. 1948 ‘J. Tey’ xviii. 216 It would be enormously to our advantage if we could come by a specimen without provocateur methods. 1971 N. Brown iv. 25 Mrs. Williscroft..had contrived to adjust the situation to her advantage by creating a landlady-tenant relationship with the young men. 2003 K. Slater & J. Borte (2004) iii. 49 In football, I used my vertically challenged status to my advantage. P2. to take (the) advantage: to take an opportunity provided by favourable circumstances; to avail oneself of a person or thing. Frequently in negative sense: to seize an opportunity of unfairly profiting by a person or thing, esp. sexually. the world > action or operation > advantage > be advantageous or beneficial to [verb (transitive)] > take advantage of the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > act fraudulently, cheat [verb (intransitive)] the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > misuse > [verb (transitive)] > exploit or take advantage of a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) v. l. 4425 (MED) Men se poverte..Fulofte make a gret chevance And take of love his avantage. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) viii. l. 1417 This bordeller..that be hire body wolde Take avantage. 1539 R. Morison tr. Frontinus i. viii. sig. Civ Agesilaus of Lacedemon..fayned to conducte his armye into Caria, there to take the aduantage of the hylles ayenst his enemies. 1596 M. Drayton sig. D He himselfe, and Edmond Earle of Kent, Vpon the hill in sight of Burton lay. Watching to take aduantage of the day. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. iii. 102 To take an ill aduantage of his absence. View more context for this quotation 1673 W. Temple iv. 136 They..take advantage of other men's Ignorance..Are great Exacters, where the Law is in their own hands. 1705 J. Addison 6 Taking the Advantage of a Side-wind. 1782 F. Burney III. vi. i. 222 Do you suppose a young lady of her fortune would want to take advantage of a person in trade? 1812 P. B. Shelley 3 There are always bad men who take advantage of hard times. 1876 E. A. Freeman III. xii. 251 Here was material enough for the craft of William to take advantage of. 1913 103 He knew when he received that certificate that the vote in the township of Climax..was not correct, and yet he took the advantage of it. 1935 A. J. Cronin i. xvii. 154 When she was..just a girl, a well-to-do commercial traveller,..a beast of a man, had taken advantage of her. 1975 2 455 A few animals..were able to survive by taking advantage of the winter shelter provided by farm buildings. 1991 Nov. 33/3 (advt.) Take advantage of a world-class reference database. the world > action or operation > advantage > be advantageous or beneficial [verb (intransitive)] > take advantage a1591 H. Smith (1593) v. sig. L2 Neither ought I to alledge the Councel of Nice, nor thou the Councel of Arrimine, to take aduantage thereby. 1627 R. Sanderson 329 He doth arripere ansam, take all aduantages as it were, and lay hold on euery occasion to do that. 1664 H. Power i. 16 You may see them sometimes, if you happily take the advantage. 1718 W. Taverner iii. 36 It's not enough to justify our Conduct to our selves, it ought to be regulated by the World's Eye, to act so as not to leave room for Malice or Detraction, to take Advantage. 1760 C. Johnstone I. i. xiii. 96 He is a man of honour, and will be above taking advantage, though I did oppose his election. 1831 W. Scott 4th Ser. III. vi. 188 A French esquire took the advantage, as he was rising, and thrust a rapier through his eye into his forehead. 1859 ‘G. Eliot’ II. iv. xxxii. 331 It's them as take advantage that get advantage i' this world. 1922 J. Joyce ii. 359 Sad about her lame of course but must be on your guard not to feel too much pity. They take advantage. 1979 B. Bainbridge viii. 160 May sensed he was vulnerable. She couldn't help taking advantage. 1994 C. Barker (1999) vii. 664 He knew he wouldn't think much of himself in the morning if he took advantage. She was seventeen, for God's sake. P3. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 64 Looke who þt moost is pacient in loue He is at his auantage al aboue. c1450 in F. J. Furnivall (1867) 81 (MED) Age haþ us at his auauntage. 1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre (1913) 103 That they sholde slee him if they founde him at their auauntage. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) vi. 66 Sua that we Sall ay at our avantage [1489 Adv. awantage] be. c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece xv. iv. f. 222/1 Alexander..answerd yat ye dayis wer nocht out run of trewis, and desyrit the kyng othir to keip his faith, or ellis to deliuer his pledgis that he mycht be at his auantage. 1588 Ld. Gairlies Let. 23 May in R. V. Agnew (1887) II. 419 Ye wilbe at your avantage. a1630 D. Hume (1644) 42 Our two Commanders assembled to the number 20000. all horse men..and entred into England with resolution not to fight but at their advantage and pleasure. 1694 tr. E. Benoist I. i. 20 The K. of Navar was..easy to be govern'd by any that knew how to take him at their advantage, and bore a greater Figure than sway at Court. 1831 xiv. 151 Crusoe could easily have attacked them; but his design was to take them at his advantage, in order that as few as possible might be killed. 1867 15 Jan. 135/2 You might kick a man down stairs in the presence of the ladies, and then you certainly have him at your advantage. 2009 Feb. 13 All of a sudden you are up on the auction block and the client has you at their advantage. the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > [phrase] > having advantage c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) iv. l. 2921 (MED) Kyng Menoun was at avauntage Of Achilles..In poynt tabrouȝt hym to confusioun. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) xi. 288 We sall be at avantage [1489 Adv. awantage] thair. 1553 G. Douglas tr. Virgil xii. xi. 112 Thou..Walkys at auantage, on the wod grene. 1656 T. Burton (1828) I. 89 Some had dined and were upon an advantage. 1679 R. Fleming ii. 24 The war is begun that will never cease here, betwixt the flesh and the Spirit Gal. 5: 17. and as the regenerat part is at an advantage, the more vigorous is its opposition then against the flesh. 1850 May 637 The Philosopher walks in a more etherial region. Compared to the Legislator, he is at advantage. But he has his own difficulties. He must think Feelings! 1899 P. H. Brown I. ii. i. 62 Her biography, written by her confessor Turgot, has put her at advantage over every other character in early Scottish history. 1913 D. Dewar viii. 43 In the area of eternal snow the white forms are at an advantage in the struggle for existence, as their whiteness tends to render them difficult to see. 1973 20 Sept. 714/3 (advt.) Applicants with some experience of immunology and/or radioisotopes and/or electron microscopy will be at advantage. 1999 Oct. 40/1 Having the mound higher puts the pitcher at an advantage because the ball naturally wants to go down. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 844 Now I have the at avauntayge..but hyt shall never be seyde..that sir Trystram shall sle ony knyght that ys wepynles. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. f. cxliiiiv/2 We shal haue hym at aduauntage and so we shall discomfyte hym. 1584 J. Rainolds & J. Hart viii. 458 If you thinke that you haue mee at an aduantage..I shal haue you at the same. a1680 D. Holles (1699) 122 Never was such a violence and scorn put upon a single person, or any society of Men..except by that Italian, who to be reveng'd on his Enemy, got him at advantage. 1744 65 They had the Court at an Advantage, they had the Public at their Devotion. 1791 C. Reeve III. 154 I had wished a thousand times to have her at an advantage. 1842 H. M. G. Smythies III. lxvi. 212 I was taken by surprise... She got me at advantage. 1895 Jan. 55/2 When one can't sleep, and lies tumbling about all night, the Devil has one at advantage. 1916 Mar. 11/2 In the sea she felt at home, where nobody could get her at an advantage. 2004 M. E. Robins vi. 94 Mademoiselle, you have me at an advantage, for you have guessed that I am Camille Touvois, and I do not know you. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > surprise, astonish [verb (transitive)] > take by surprise the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > be cunning or act cunningly [verb (intransitive)] > overreach the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > cheat, swindle [phrase] 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. xviii. 24 They wold haue ben slayn, or taken at auauntage. 1574 B. Rich sig. F viiv Hee might take at aduantage 4000. Galleys which should be sent to get pray & pillage. 1607 S. Hieron Remedie for Securitie in (1620) I. 430 The griping Nimrods of the world reioyce in their taking men vpon aduantages. 1630 Bp. J. Hall §xii It were woe with any of us all, if God should take us at advantages. a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy (1647) i. ii. 39 But when he knew the small company of his enemies, his generousnesse would not suffer him to take them at advantage. 1748 S. Richardson IV. liv. 338 His making you pass to the people of it, as his wife; tho' restrictively so, yet with hope, no doubt (vilest of villains as he is!), to take you at advantage. 1789 H. Brooke Montezuma v. v, in IV. 336 Breathe, Spaniard—I would not take thee at advantage. 1826 R. Southey in 34 330 Once it happened that the enemy took him at advantage. 1872 R. M. Rylatt (1991) 85 Of a sudden he was set upon by a bear, and having no arms save his light axe, his bearship took him at advantage. 1906 C. M. Doughty I. ii. 100 Being taken thus, at advantage, and unawares. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara (1546) sig. B.vv I saie further of aduauntage, that dyuers haue written of the tyme of the saide Marke Aureleo. 1612 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes 15 4 or 5 Sheets of Advantage at the end of the Book. 1567 T. Harding xv. f. 238 Which kind of Argumentes they must needes vse..who by opening the truth of any question by due distinctions, see their false doctrine confuted, and therfore make their apparent aduantage of confusion. 1596 T. Bell iii. xii. 497 To make aduantage of the indifferencie of the word. a1631 J. Donne (1953) I. 268 Laban..made advantages upon him, deluded him. 1657 R. Sanderson Pref. sig. B4v The Papists make a great advantage..of these home-differences. 1707 tr. P. Le Lorrain de Vallemont 25 We ought..to make our own Advantage of that Knowledge, and not to envy it to others. 1746 D. Hume 4 Oct. (1932) I. 95 The Ministry, who were willing to make some Advantage of so considerable a sea and land Armament, sent us to seek Adventures on the Coast of France. a1797 H. Walpole (1847) III. vii. 174 All made advantage of English easiness and dissipation. 1817 J. Mill II. iv. iii. 95 Inclined to make their advantage of his necessities. 1844 W. M. Thackeray Barry Lyndon i. vii, in Apr. 403/2 These little hints he carried to his uncle, the minister of police, who, no doubt, made his advantage of them. 1885 Oct. 90/2 It is true that you might make advantage of the position. 1922 May 217 We would be derelict if we did not try to make advantage of the opportunity. 1971 7 Jan. 7/3 The Stanford workers..can make advantage of this situation to cancel out the perturbing effects of the Earth's ionosphere. 1990 J. Fjeldså & N. Krabbe 37/1 By focusing on the ecosystem rather than on its species we make advantage of the self-regulating property of the ecosystem. 1575 T. Churchyard f. 50 (margin) St[r]ife onelye is sowed by foysting fellowes that followes fortune and playes on aduauntage. 1592 W. Warner (rev. ed.) vii. xxxvi. 156 Howbeit, on aduantage play'd Gynetta all this while. 1668 C. Sedley ii. ii. 31 Your only way is To turn Rook and play upon advantage. 1672 T. Shadwell i. i. 3 Cheat? we do play a little upon advantage I confess, (as many people of Quality and most Gentlemen that are Gamesters do.). 1839 F. Marryat II. 235 The gamblers on the Mississippi use a very refined phrase for ‘cheating’—‘playing the advantages over him.’ Compounds 1940 10 Sept. 29/1 Riggs had turned his back to the advantage court and did not know of the change in the decision until Umpire Benjamin Dwight called ‘advantage, McNeill’. 1971 2 Aug. 6/7 Lloyd served well with his second ball to the advantage court, often drawing Warboys wide on the backhand. 2008 P. Sampras & P. Bodo ii. 44 McEnroe, who had that vicious southpaw slice that curves away from a righty in the advantage court. 1699 ix. 56 Come, Sir, you had the misfortune to be on the wrong side last time, tho' 'twas a very hard Match, and no body could tell who had the best of it, till the very Advantage-game. 1743 21 Dec. At 2 s. for a six-game Set, with Advantage Game, or at 1 s. or 8 d. for four-game Sets. 1898 25 Aug. 214/1 Budlong's lobbing was more successful, and he brought the score up to 5-all. Paret was very tired, but managed to win out the advantage games. 1915 M. E. McLoughlin xv. 332 It was the first time in that long, gruelling set that I had the advantage game with service. 2005 (Nexis) 3 Sept. 58 Advantage games will be eliminated, sets reduced to first to five games instead of six and tiebreaks will kick in at four-all. the world > space > relative position > high position > [noun] > quality of being raised or elevated > raised or elevated part > vantage ground 1629 J. Earle (ed. 5) xxxiv. sig. G4v Hee stands taller on his owne bottome, then others on the aduantage ground of fortune. 1659 J. Rushworth 17 The Bohemians stood upon the advantage-ground betwixt the Imperialists and Prague. 1704 III. Ded. sig. Civ On the advantage-ground of being established by the Laws. 1827 R. Emmons III. xxviii. 233 At length, they stood upon advantage ground, And Harvey wheeling, pour'd the battling sound. 1903 Dec. 950 We should lose our advantage ground, and would have to commence negotiations with the different Powers under the disadvantage of being subject to the highest range of duties. 1990 J. Mushkat iv. 57 Without anyone of Shepard's comparable ability as a viable challenger, Wood held the advantage ground as Tammany's titular leader. 1913 13 Next to the advantage law I class the ‘offside rules’ and the tackle laws as most important. 1949 (‘Know the Game’ Series) 46 A great deal depends upon the referee... His intelligent application of the Advantage Law can materially improve the continuity of play. 1996 4 Oct. (Sport96 section) 4/2 This year's ‘delayed’ advantage law came from a paper I submitted to the FA following discussions with other Premier League referees. 2010 (Nexis) 11 Apr. 92 Referees..baffle us with their interpretations of the advantage law. 1927 W. W. Wakefield & H. P. Marshall ii. i. 229 The fundamental principle of the advantage line..remains, and that is why speed off the mark and quick heeling and passing from the scrum are essential to carry the attack over that line. 1950 B. H. Travers ii. 43 Whenever any player gets the ball he must make every effort to run with the ball and to cross the advantage line. 2006 (Nexis) 14 Apr. (Sport section) 48 He regularly sniped away from the scrumbase, attacked the advantage line, and made ground. 1923 W. J. A. Davies xiv. 206 The suggested alterations..put an end to loose-head tactics, and they endeavour to carry the ‘advantage rule’ to its logical conclusion. 1931 E. H. D. Sewell vii. 87 In this game the advantage-rule, in particular, was observed with due regard to timing. 2007 J. Hickey v. 26/1 You should also be confident to play the advantage rule. 1775 216 A Set of Tennis consists of six Games, but if what is called an Advantage Set is played, two successive Games above five Games must be won to decide; or, in Case it should be six Games all, two Games must still be won on one Side to conclude the Set. 1799 13 85/2 The odds of an advantage set, when the first game is won, are—5 to 4. 1887 H. Hall iv. 116 Advantage sets are optional, as the players may decide. Advantage sets have been recorded running up to nearly thirty games. 1906 1 Aug. 249/2 The third, which Miss Pinckney finally won, was also an advantage set. 2002 (Nexis) 13 Feb. 19 Nelson's comprehensive win did not entirely do justice to some spirited Marlborough resistance, with six of the matches involving tiebreak or advantage sets. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022). advantagev. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: French avauntager ; advantage n. Etymology: Partly < Anglo-Norman avauntager, Middle French avantager, avantagier, avantaiger, advantager, advantagier (French avantager ) to profit, benefit, favour, cause an advantage to (a person or thing) (first half of the 14th cent. (in Anglo-Norman) with reference to a person, a1471 with reference to an undertaking; 13th cent. in Old French in sense ‘to have the upper hand, prevail (in combat, over an opponent)’; < avantage advantage n.), and partly < advantage n. Compare Spanish avantajar (early 14th cent. as aventajar ), Italian avvantaggiare (a1321, earliest used reflexively in sense ‘to be privileged’). Compare vantage v., and also earlier advance v.With the β. forms compare discussion at advantage n. and advance v. 1. the world > action or operation > advantage > be advantageous or beneficial to [verb (transitive)] the world > action or operation > continuing > progress, advance, or further continuance > furtherance > further [verb (transitive)] ?1459 Will of John Fastolf in (2004) I. 89 It was the very wille..of þe said Sir John þat the said John Paston shulde be thus avauntaged and in no wise hurte of his propir goodes. 1472–3 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1472 1st Roll §21. m. 26 Provided alwey that no persone or persones atteynted..be beneficed or avauntaged by this acte. 1530 J. Palsgrave 440 This can nothyng avauntage you. 1577 R. Stanyhurst Hist. Irelande iii. 80/2 in R. Holinshed I Hereby he..aduantaged the flight of his Captaine. 1639 T. Fuller ii. xxix. 81 Some think their coming advantaged King Baldwine. 1686 W. de Britaine (ed. 3) xxii. 108 Winds, which if they do not throw down, do advantage Trees. 1692 J. Washington tr. J. Milton ii. 45 Nor do you much advantage your Cause by telling us that Moses was a King. 1731 H. Fielding iii. vi. 41 If you are not advantaged by the Stratagem, you will be disadvantaged by the Discovery. 1796 C. Marshall 43 The North wall is advantaged, by having more sun. 1846 J. Ruskin II. 193 How far it would be possible to advantage a statue by the addition of colour, I venture not to affirm. 1859 J. Bright 30 The agriculture of this country has been greatly advantaged by the importation of reaping machines. 1907 Feb. 75/2 Every medical library which is founded and conducted in a right, broad-minded spirit of diffusion of knowledge, advantages us to some degree. 1975 B. Reardon vii. 149 Nor was he tactful with those who..could have advantaged him. 2000 E. Marston (2003) 255 The lady Emma was horrified to learn that the man had been involved in the slave trade, but her husband immediately saw how it advantaged him. 1526 Luke ix. f. xc What shall itt avauntage a man? 1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus II. 1 Cor. x. f. xxviii Nothyng aduauntaged them to escape out of Egipte, if they caried furthe Egipte with them. 1611 1 Cor. xv. 32 What aduantageth it me, if the dead rise not? View more context for this quotation 1691 tr. i. 13 How will it advantage me..to take it out of the hands of the Catholick King, if I must afterwards restore it to you. 1830 30 Jan. 70/2 How has it advantaged me to know that the moon is merely a satellite of our planet? 1898 19 Feb. 198/1 He fought for Moor against Christian, or Christian against Moor, just as it advantaged him in money or interest. 1909 Sept. 683/1 Ye see I 'm a-livin' right here in the Settlement, and so far I 've found it advantages us to trade at the man's store. 1992 J. Gorman i. 12 Those who wish to bend the present to suit their own concerns would be able to create and change what is accepted as history as it advantaged them to do so. the world > action or operation > advantage > [verb (reflexive)] > take advantage 1570 T. Wilson tr. Demosthenes 99 So that euery one of them by profiting and aduantaging himselfe in a verie small matter. 1598 B. Yong tr. A. Pérez 2nd Pt. Diana in tr. J. de Montemayor 187 Yet will I not aduantage me with any such remedy. 1615 T. Adams Lycanthropy 31 in They will be sure to aduantage themselues of the winde. 1693 tr. J. Le Clerc ii. 149 The Christians sought for nothing but advantaging themselves at the expence of the Turks. 1714 D. Manley 75 Cleander..agreed to these Proposals..but he bid her remember it was only to please her, not thro' any great Prospect he had of advantaging himself. 1750 S. Richardson (ed. 4) cxlvii. 207 If a young Widow, indeed, advantages herself, and worsts not her Children (if she has any), in her second Adventure, let her proceed. 1820 W. Scott III. viii. 215 The castle is a kind of hell..while he is in his mood, studying how he may best advantage himself. 1899 P. L. Ford xxxix. 302 ‘Oh, prithee, Lord Clowes,’ begged Janice, despairingly, ‘you cannot seek to advantage yourself of my desperate plight.’ 1914 Nov. 383/2 Now was her chance to slip down-stairs and, undetected, away. But..she proved of two minds about advantaging herself of the opportunity. 1922 12 Feb. 11/1 Since our feeds are made to insure the success of stock- and poultry-raising, every merchant should carry them, thus contributing to he prosperity of the community as well as advantaging himself. 2006 J. L. Baughman (ed. 3) v. 104 Those affected by a potential rule advantaged themselves of every right to slow things to a halt. the world > action or operation > advantage > be advantageous or beneficial [verb (intransitive)] a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. i. 28 Make the rope of his destiny our cable, for our owne doth little aduantage . View more context for this quotation 1690 J. Child i. 24 To leave them Money without skill to use it, would advantage little. 1888 92 What does it advantage to give an education to your child that shall cover all the principles of this life? society > trade and finance > management of money > income, revenue, or profit > getting or making money > get or make money [verb (transitive)] > be profitable to > make in profit 1557 Luke xix. 15 To wyt what euery man had auantaged. 3. ?1572 T. Paynell tr. viii. 163 Niquea princesse of Thebes,..whome the Gods haue aduantaged in such perfect beautie, that no lady nor damsell of this time is to be compared vnto hir. 1598 R. Barret iv. 117 Souldiers of great experience..should be aduantaged in their payes. 1650 T. Fuller i. xii. 38 Iudea, advantaged with the friendly City of Ierusalem. 1654 E. Johnson 192 Although Charles Town do not advantage such o're-topping batteries as Boston doth. 1709 J. Spelman & T. Hearne ii. 151 Their Height, that so much advantaged them in Fight, would as much disadvantage them in speedy Rowing. 1796 R. Southey vii. 235 He his keen javelin..Hurl'd forceful: harmless in his shield it fix'd, Advantaging the foe. 1871 J. R. Lowell 96 Boston was also advantaged with the neighbourhood of the country's oldest College. 1902 J. M. Barrie xxiii. 304 For years I had been fighting Mary for David, and had not wholly failed though she was advantaged by the accident of relationship. 1979 22 Dec. 23/2 Local firms..asked why some mainly foreign companies should be thus advantaged over them. 2006 J. Kirshner xi. 329 Marketization..advantages the values of ‘the West’ at the expense of authoritarian states. 2010 B. W. Ansell v. 176 Rich citizens..may increasingly prefer a privatized system of higher education that would continue to advantage them. the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > place or put in a position [verb (transitive)] > situate > favourably 1650 T. Fuller ii. iv. 115 All the cities of refuge on this side Jordan were advantaged on very high foundations. a1661 T. Fuller (1662) Bristol 34 Advantaged for Western Voyages by its situation. 1921 F. F. Ellsworth xxvi. 253 The great dome of the Capitol was bathed in a dazzling flood-light from squads of giant arcs advantaged on House and Senate wings. the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautify [verb (transitive)] > be becoming to or set off 1748 S. Richardson V. xxiv. 208 How dress advantages women! society > trade and finance > monetary value > be valued at [verb (transitive)] > increase value of c1613 ( in T. Stapleton (1839) 129 I have done good ther and avantaged much wood and tymber. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. iv. 273 + 36 Aduantaging their Loue, with interest Often-times double gaine of happinesse. 1651 T. Fuller 378 Friendship..advantaged with the simpathy of their natures. 1673 J. Ray Pref. To advantage the Catalogue I have added thereto a brief narrative. the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > threat or threatening > threaten (evil, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > restrain or force by threatening > bully 1921 28 Nov. 3/2 If you come to advantage me and I have my bill I will chop you. 1958 J. Carew ii. 28 You can't tell everything you know, Master Hector, or people does advantage you. 1994 9 Dec. 10 c/2 When I was a boy I went to school, strangers take me in. Them advantage me. I work at cane fields and rode donkey fe get water. 2002 K.-A. Waterman in P. Mohammed xxiii. 431 When Michael started attending a junior secondary school, he saw boys being bullied by bigger, tougher students. ‘I tell myself nobody going to advantage me.’ This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021). <  n.c1300 v.?1459 |
