Forms: 3–6 avaunce-; 4–6 avance-; 6 avaunse-, advaunce-; 6– advancement. [a. Fr. avancement, f. avancer: see ADVANCE and -MENT.] The action or fact of advancing.
1. The raising of any one to a higher rank or position; promotion, preferment.
1297. R. Glouc., 312. He ȝef hym such auauncement as he wolde.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 103. On oþer wise he salle haf auancement.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, IV. xxxiii. (1483), 82. They coueyte nought to be neyhe the kyng for no corrupte cause ne hope of auauncement.
1599. Thynne, Animadv. (1865), 24. You seme to attribute the advancemente of the Pooles to William de la poole.
1602. Shaks., Haml., III. ii. 62. Nay, do not thinke I flatter: For what aduancement may I hope from thee?
1660. Milton, Free Commw., Wks. 1851, V. 449. The Civil Rights and Advancements of every Person according to his Merit.
1700. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), IV. 661. Mr. Ryley’s advancement to the excise.
1853. Thackeray, Eng. Hum., 3. His hopes of advancement in England failing, Swift returned to Ireland.
2. Law. The promotion of children in life, especially by the application beforehand of property or money to which they are prospectively entitled under a settlement or will; also the property so applied.
1411. Sir T. Langeforde, in E. E. Wills (1883), 17. Þe Silver þere-of spendyd to þe avauncement of lucie, my dowter.
1574. trans. Littleton, Tenures, 55 b. Shee shall have nothing in the remenaunt for that … she is sufficientlye advaunced to whiche advauncement shee agreeth.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 204 (J.). The Ioynture or Aduancement of the Lady, was the third part of the Principality of Wales, [etc.].
1768. Blackstone, Comm., II. 517. But if the estates so given them, by way of advancement, are not quite equivalent to the other shares, the children so advanced shall now have so much as will make them equal.
† 3. Extolment, lauding; vaunting. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 196. What tyme or whan I mad auancement with þe alone to fight.
1564. Becon, Gen. Pref. to Wks. (1843), 16. To seek the glory of God, the avancement of his blessed name.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 213. Thus is it also esteemed no small advancement unto this number [7] that the Genealogy of our Saviour is summed up by 14. that is, this number doubled.
4. The helping forward of anything in process toward completion or perfection; furtherance, promotion; improvement.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, 13. For the auauncement and commoditie of the publique wealth.
1589. Fletewood, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 229, III. 31. As touching the avaunsement of Religion.
1605. Bacon (title), Twoo Bookes of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning.
1658. Bramhall, Consecr. Bps., xi. 234. Ceremonies are advancements of Order, decency, modesty.
1810. Horsley, Sermons, I. x. (R.). The joint advancement of the virtue and the happiness of the people.
† 5. A going forward. lit. and fig. Obs. See ADVANCE 1, 2.
1731–8. Swift, Pol. Conversat., Wks. 1768, IX. 68 (J.). This refinement … makes daily advancements, and, I hope, in time will raise our language to the utmost perfection.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. iv. 450. They retired upon the brisk advancement of the grenadiers.
1825. McCulloch, Pol. Econ. I. 10. The advancement of nations in civilization.
6. Advancing or advanced condition.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone Lightho., § 271. [I] gave an account of the advancement of our works.
1868. Hawthorne, Amer. Note-Bks. (1879), II. 139. We have water-melons in good advancement.
† 7. The advancing or putting forward of a statement or assertion. Obs.
1532. Thynne, Ded. Chaucer, in Animadv. (1865), App. 25. Very remysse in the settyng forthe or avancement … of the histories therof.
† 8. The advancing or paying beforehand of money, payment in advance. Obs. See ADVANCE sb. 9.
1649. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), III. 47. The Common Council require double security … of this last advancement.
