advancive

[ADVANCE.] Tending to advance or promote. ad-va'nt-age (age-ig), s. [In Fr. avan tage, from avant before Ital. vantaggio.] [ADVANCE.] I. E ential meaning: That which is fitted to move one forward; any natural gift, any acquisition made, any state, circumstance, or combination of circumstances calculated to give one superiority in any respect over an antagonist, or over people in general. Specially : 1. Profit or gain of any kind. (a) In a general sense: "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?"- Rom . iii. 1. "It was not impo ible, indeed, that a hat a persecutor might be convinced by argument and by experience of the advantages of toleration."-Macaulay: Hist. Eng., ch. vii. (b) In a more limited sense: ( Lit. ) The interest of money; ( fig .) overplus, increase. "Methought you said, you neither lend, nor borrow, Upon advantage ."-Shakesp. Merch. Venior, 1. 8. "We owe thee much; within this wall of flesh There is a soul counts thee her creditor, And, with advantage , means to pay thy love." IMG:content-0203.png:[blocks in formation] 3. Personal qualities, natural gifts, acquired knowledge or experience, good habits, . "If it be an advantage to man to have his hands and arms free, of which there can be no doubt."Darwin: Descent of Man pt. i., ch. iv. "In the practical prudence of managing such gifts. the laity may have some advantage over the clergy; whose experience is, and ought to be, le of this world than the other."- Sprat . In this sense it is similarly used of the inferior animals. "When these birds are fishing, the advantage of the long primary feathers of their wings, in keeping them dry, is very evident."-Darwin Voyage round the World , ch. vii. 4. A consideration superadded to one going before, and giving it increased force in argument. "Much more should the consideration of this pattern arm us with patience against ordinary calamities; especially if we consider his example with this advantage , that though his sufferings were wholly undeserved, and not for himself, but for us, yet he bore them patiently."- Til lots on . II. The victory or succe of whatever kind actually resulting from such aids. and because in other struggles between the dictatorial and tribunician authority, the dictator had always the advantage."-Lewis: Early Roman Hist ., ch. xiii. "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us."2 Cor. ii. 11. In this and in some other senses it may be used of the inferior animals or of things inanimate. "When I have seen the hungry ocean gain Advantage on the kingdom of the shore, And the firm soil win of the watery main." Shakesp. Sonnets, 64. Formerly used occasionally with on ; now of, over , or a clause of a sentence introduced by that is used instead. (See various examples given above.) "Upon these two arches the superincumbent weight of man is solidly and sufficiently maintained, as upon a low dome, with the further advantage that the different joints, cartilages, coverings, and synovial membranes give a certain elasticity to the doine, so that in leaping, running, or dropping from a height, the far is diffused and broken before it can be transmitted to affect the enormous brain-expanded cranium."- Owen Cla if. of Mammal i a , p. 94. To set out to advantage, to set to advantage: To arrange or place in such a manner that its value may be seen; to place in the most favourable light. "Like jewels to advantage set, Her beauty by the shade does get." Waller. To take advantage of; to take advantage on: To avail one's self of an opportunity of gaining the superiority over one in some matter. Usually in a bad sense, to outwit, to overreach. but the Roman consuls, who had led out an army to meet them, take no advantage of their weakne ."-Lewis: Early Rom. tom . Hist ., ch. xii. "To take advantage on presented Joy: Though I were dumb, yet his proceedings teach thee." Shakesp. Venus and Adonis. Advantage-ground. [VANTAGE-GROUND.] "This excellent man, who stood not upon the advantage- ground before from the time of his promotion to the archbishop rick ."- Clarendon . +ad-va'nt-age (age = ig), v.t. & i. A. Transitive : 1. To benefit one, to profit one. (a) Personally. "For what is a man advantaged , if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?" Luke ix. 25. "The liquid drops of tears that you have shed, Shall come again, transform'd to orient pearl; A drant aging their loan, with interest Of ten times double gain of happine ." Shakesp. King Richard III ., iv. 4. (b) Half impersonally. "If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die."-1 Cor . xv. 32. 2. To promote the interests of. "To ennoble it with the spirit that inspires the Royal Society, were to advantage it in one of the best capacities in which it is improve able."-Glanville: Scepsis Scientific a . B. Intransitive: To be advantageous, to be fitted to confer superiority. "Not flying, but forecasting in what place To set upon them, what advantaged best." Milton: Samson Agonistes. ad-van-tage-a-ble (age = ig), a. [ADVANTAGE.] Able to be turned to advantage; advantageous, profitable. "Shall see advantageable for our dignity, Anything in, or out of, our demands, Shakesp. King Henry V., v. 2. ad-van-taged, pa . par . & a. [ADVANTAGE.] As pa. par.: In the same sense as the verb. * As adjective: Excellent. "In the most advantaged tempers this disposition is but comparative."-Glanville.