advance

Etymology

From Middle English avauncen, avancen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman avauncier, from Vulgar Latin *abanteāre, from Late Latin ab ante, from Latin ab + ante (“before”). ⟨d⟩ added in analogy to Latin ad- (cf. Middle French advancer). Compare avaunt.

verb

1. To promote or advantage.
   1. To help the progress of (something); to further.
      Some see it as in effect the end of the Syrian uprising that began with peaceful protests against Assad’s police state in 2011, with opposition fighters working to advance Turkey’s interests at the expense of the revolution’s goals. 26 January 2018, Kareem Shaheen, The Guardian
   2. To raise (someone) in rank or office; to prefer, to promote.
2. To move forward in space or time.
   1. To move or push (something) forwards, especially forcefully.
   2. To make (something) happen at an earlier time or date; to bring forward, to hasten.
   3. (intransitive) To move forwards; to approach.
      I advanced towards him step by step, stopping sometimes for fear of waking him. 1829, Marchioness of Lemington, Rosina, or the Virtuous Country Maid, Ninth ed.
      This army recaptured Wu-chʻang, on the right bank of the Yangtze, in 1854, reached Chen-chiang four years later, advanced to Chiu-chiang and threatened Nanking. 2003, C.J. Shane, editor, China (The History of Nations), Greenhaven Press, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 67
   4. To provide (money or other value) before it is due, or in expectation of some work; to lend.
      “I had intended to ask you to advance me a hundred pounds,” said Phineas. 1869, Anthony Trollope, Phineas Finn
      On the urgent representations of several parties of the first importance in the City of London, the bank advanced 120,000l. to the Governor and Company of the Copper Miners […]. 1871, James William Gilbart, The Principles and Practice of Banking
   5. To put forward (an idea, argument etc.); to propose.
   6. (intransitive) To make progress; to do well, to succeed.
      Earlier the caller said men were more likely to be in senior positions. Clegg says that's partly because the current maternity leave arrangements make it difficult for women to advance in the workplace. 24 April 2014, Andrew Sparrow, The Guardian
   7. (intransitive) To move forward in time; to progress towards completion.
      I can promise you that you will feel even less humorous as the evening advances. 1927, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes
3. To raise, be raised.
   1. (transitive, now archaic) To raise; to lift or elevate.
   2. To raise or increase (a price, rate).
      In February last […] bakers advanced the price of bread sold over the counter in London from 8d. to 8½d. per quartern loaf. 16 July 1924, The Times
   3. To increase (a number or amount).
   4. (intransitive) To make a higher bid at an auction.

noun

1. A forward move; improvement or progression.
   an advance in health or knowledge
   an advance in rank or office
2. An amount of money or credit, especially given as a loan, or paid before it is due; an advancement.
   I shall, with pleasure, make the necessary advances. 1780, John Jay, letter dated November 21
3. An addition to the price; rise in price or value.
   an advance on the prime cost of goods
4. (in the plural) An opening approach or overture, now especially of an unwelcome or sexual nature.
   For, if it were of any use to recall matters of fact, what is more notorious, than that prince's applying himself first to the church of England? and upon their refusal to fall in with his measures, making the like advances to the dissenters of all kinds, who readily and almost universally complied with him 1708, Jonathan Swift, The Sentiments of a Church of England Man with Respect to Religion and Government
   I felt vaguely he was a sneak, and remained quite unmollified by advances on his side, which, in a boy's barbarous fashion, unless it suited me to be magnanimous, I haughtily ignored. 1923, Walter de la Mare, Seaton's Aunt
   [A]nd Rosamund though quite a genteelly brought up young lady had responded to his advances by slapping his face. 1945, Tom Ronan, Strangers on the Ophir, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 59

adj

1. Completed before necessary or a milestone event.
   He made an advance payment on the prior shipment to show good faith.
2. Preceding.
   The advance man came a month before the candidate.
3. Forward.
   The scouts found a site for an advance base.