Hypertext Webster Gateway: "advance"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

2. To raise; to elevate. [Archaic]

They . . . advanced their eyelids. --Shak.

3. To raise to a higher rank; to promote.

Ahasueres . . . advanced him, and set his seat above
all the princes. --Esther iii.
1.

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

5. To bring to view or notice; to offer or propose; to show;
as, to advance an argument.

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

6. To make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten.

7. To furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes
due, or in aid of an enterprise; to supply beforehand; as,
a merchant advances money on a contract or on goods
consigned to him.

8. To raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate;
as, to advance the price of goods.

9. To extol; to laud. [Obs.]

Greatly advancing his gay chivalry. --Spenser.

Syn: To raise; elevate; exalt; aggrandize; improve; heighten;
accelerate; allege; adduce; assign.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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

3. To rise in rank, office, or consequence; to be preferred
or promoted.

Advanced to a level with ancient peers. --Prescott.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

2. Improvement or progression, physically, mentally, morally,
or socially; as, an advance in health, knowledge, or
religion; an advance in rank or office.

3. An addition to the price; rise in price or value; as, an
advance on the prime cost of goods.

4. The first step towards the attainment of a result;
approach made to gain favor, to form an acquaintance, to
adjust a difference, etc.; an overture; a tender; an
offer; -- usually in the plural.

[He] made the like advances to the dissenters.
--Swift.

5. A furnishing of something before an equivalent is received
(as money or goods), towards a capital or stock, or on
loan; payment beforehand; the money or goods thus
furnished; money or value supplied beforehand.

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}
(a) In front; before.
(b) Beforehand; before an equivalent is received.
(c) In the state of having advanced money on account; as,
A is in advance to B a thousand dollars or pounds.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

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