Advance | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Ad-vănce', v. t.

verbtransitive

(6), v. t. [imp. & p. p. ADVANCED; p. pr. & vb. n. ADVANCING.] [O. Fr. advancer, N. Fr. avancer, Pr. & Sp. avanzar, It. avanzare, from Fr. avant, Pr. avant, abans, It. avanti, far, forward, before, Lat. ab ante, lit. from before, which is found on a Roman inscription; O. Fr. avance, N. Fr. avance.]

Sense 1. To bring forward; to move farther in front.

Advance your standards, draw your willing swords. Shak.

Sense 2. Hence, to promote, or to raise to a higher rank.

Ahasuerus ... advanced him above all the princes. Esther iii. 1.

Sense 3. To accelerate the growth or progress of; to further; to forward; to help on; to aid; as, to advance the ripening of fruit, to advance one's true interests.

Sense 4. To offer or propose; to bring to view or notice; as, to advance an opinion or an argument.

Some ne'er advance a judgment of their own. Pope.

Sense 5. To supply beforehand; to furnish on credit, or before goods are delivered, or work is done; or to furnish as a part of a stock or fund; as, to advance money on loan or contract, or toward a purchase or establishment.

Sense 6. To furnish for others; to supply or pay for others, in expectation of re-imbursement.

They advanced the money out of their own funds. Kent.

Sense 7. To raise to a higher point; to enhance; as, to advance the price of goods. [Obs.]

Sense 8. To extol; to laud; to commend.

Greatly advancing his gay chevalry. Spenser.

Synonyms— To bring forward; allege; adduce; assign; raise; promote; elevate; exalt; aggrandize; improve; heighten; accelerate.

Ad-vănçe', v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. 1. To move or go forward; to proceed.

The youth advanced — in open sight. Parnell.

Sense 2. To increase or make progress in any respect; as, to advance in knowledge, in stature, in wisdom, or in years.

Sense 3. To rise in rank, office, or consequence; to be preferred or promoted. “Advanced to a level with ancient peers.” Prescott.

Ad-vănçe', n.

noun

(6), n. 1. The act of advancing or moving forward; progress; approach. “The indecent advances she made.” Pope.

Improvement or progression, physically, mentally, morally, or socially; as, an advance in health, knowledge, or religion; an advance in rank or office.
(Com.) Additional price or profit; as, an advance on the prime cost of goods.
A giving beforehand; a tender; an offer; a gift;—specifically, a furnishing of something before an equivalent is received (as money or goods), toward a capital or stock, or on loan; hence, the money or goods thus furnished; as, A made large advances to B.

I shall, with pleasure, make the necessary advances. Jay. The account was made up with intent to show what advances had been made. Kent. In advance, in front; before; also, beforehand; before an equivalent is received, or when one partner in trade has furnished more than his proportion; as, A is in advance to B a thousand dollars or pounds.—Annular advance (Steam Engines), the angle which the eccentric forms with its position at half-stroke, when the piston is at the commencement of its stroke.—Linear advance, the amount by which the valve has traveled.

Ad-văn'çe, a.

adjective

a. Before in place, or beforehand in time;—used for advanced; as, an advance-guard, or that before the main guard or body of an army; advance-payment, or that made before it is due.