[partly a. Fr. avance, n. of action, f. avancer, partly subst. use of Eng. vb.; see prec.]
I. A going forward, onward or upward.
1. The action of going forward or onward; forward motion; progression (in space). Also ellipt. The order (bugle-call) to move forward.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., II. II. 725 (1807), (J.). A resolution to quit or defend that town, according to the manner of the enemy’s advance towards it.
1815. Scott, Lord of Isles, V. xx. When, in retreat or in advance, The serried warriors move at once.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls. (1872), I. 4. This my first advance into French territory.
1868. Queen’s Regul. & Ord. Army, § 1131. When the train is ready to proceed the Advance will be sounded.
2. fig. Onward movement in any process or course of action; progress.
1668. Pepys, Diary (1877), V. 323. Thence to Cooper’s, and saw his advance on my wife’s picture.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 147, ¶ 3. I made very quick advances in different kinds of learning.
1855. Tennyson, Maud, I. I. vii. These are the days of advance, the works of the men of mind.
1859. Buckle, in Fraser’s Mag., May, 509. Who, among our living writers, had done most for the advance of knowledge.
b. A step forward, a degree of progress actually accomplished.
1860. Dickens, Lett. (1880), II. 110. It is a very great advance on all your former writing.
3. A personal approach; a movement towards closer acquaintance or understanding; an overture.
1678. Dryden, All for Love, IV. (R.). Th’ advance of kindness which I made, was feign’d.
1692. Lond. Gaz., mmdccxxx/1. The Pope’s Ministers think there have already been Advances enough made on their side.
1802. Wellesley, Desp., 218. The Resident has prudently rejected every advance of this nature.
1842. Macaulay, Fredk. Gt., in Ess. (1877), 690. Frederic had some time before made advances towards a reconciliation with Voltaire.
4. A rise in amount, value or price.
1677. Yarranton, Eng. Improv., 153. There would be ten thousand pound per annum advance in the Kings Customs yearly.
1866. Crump, Banking, vii. 155. An advance in the Bank of England rate of discount.
1882. Daily News, 23 Aug., 7/1. Austrian Gold Rente showing an advance of 1/4 per cent.
† 5. An elevation; a rise (in space). Obs. rare.
1654. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 137. The Communion Table … placed at the East end, upon a graduated advance of ground.
II. A putting forward.
† 6. The action of forwarding; furtherance; ADVANCEMENT. Obs.
1528–1696. in Sel. fr. Harl. Misc. (1793), 412. The end for which they at first were chosen, viz. The advance of their protector’s interest.
† 7. The putting forward of statements; the statement put forward; assertion, allegation. Obs.
1699. Bentley, Phalaris, 235. Mr. B.’s advances upon this Topic.
8. Payment beforehand or in anticipation; payment on security of future re-imbursement. Hence, a sum of money so furnished, a loan.
1681. Neville, Plato Rediv., 81. Who may Imploy their Advance to better profit elsewhere.
1727. Arbuthnot, John Bull, 104. We have something by way of advance.
1727. Swift, Wks., 1755. III. I. 153. A week’s wages advance.
1786. Burke, Agst. W. Hastings, Wks. 1842, II. 188. The advance to the company’s use of a sum of money, amounting to fifty thousand pounds.
1866. Crump, Banking, iii. 84. Life assurance policies are almost invariably objected to as security for advances.
III. A being forward.
9. The state or position of being before, to the front, or above; precedence, anticipation. Usually in adv. phr. In advance: a. Of place, In front, ahead; b. Of time, Beforehand; c. In the position of having advanced money on account. Also prep. phr. In advance of: Before, in front of, ahead of, beyond.
1668. Child, Disc. Trade (ed. 4), 11. Much in advance of the rates of goods.
1742. Young, Night Th., VII. 89. Men perish in advance, as if the sun Should set ere noon.
1761. Smollett, Gil Blas, X. vii. (1802), III. 142. I paid the first year’s annuity per advance.
1786. T. Jefferson, Writings (1859), II. 2. Without this supply, Mr. Grand would have been in advance for the United States.
1851. Ruskin, Mod. Painters (1856), IV. V. v. § 22. 82. Which I could not refer to in advance without anticipating all my other illustrations.
1860. Tyndall, Glaciers, I. § 1. 1. As wood opens in advance of a wedge driven into it.
1869. Huxley, in Sci. Opin., 21 April, 464/1. Hutton was in advance of the geological speculation of his time.
IV. † 10. One who has been advanced to office. (Prob. for Fr. avancé.) Obs. rare.
1496. Dives & Pauper (W. de Worde), IV. xxiv. 191/2. Patrons fynde full ofte ther auaunces full unkynde to them & full proude.
V. Comb. and Attrib. advance(d)-guard, a guard before or in front of the main body of an army; advance-money, -payment = ADVANCE sb. 9; advance-proofs, -sheets, parts of a forthcoming work supplied previously to its publication; advance-account, -freight, etc.
1677. Lond. Gaz., mccxliv. 4. Troops of the two Armies, who had the Advanced-guards. Ibid. (1701), mmmdccxi. 1. The 50000 Pistoles which the French were to pay him by way of Advance-money.
1870. Power, Handy-book ab. Books, 91. Advance sheets … supplied elsewhere previous to publication, generally for simultaneous reproduction.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U.S., III. x. 435. Virginia volunteers formed the advance-guard.
1880. Paper & Print. Trades Jrnl., No. 32, 27. The plates, advance-proofs of which we have seen.
