entry
advance
/ədˈvæns/move forward; promote; send early
From Latin ab (from) + Latin ante (before).
from Vulgar Latin *abanteare (source of Italian avanzare , Spanish avanzar ). This is
from Vulgar Latin *abanteare (source of Italian avanzare , Spanish avanzar ). This is
from Vulgar Latin *abanteare (source of Italian avanzare , Spanish avanzar ). This is
from Vulgar Latin *abanteare (source of Italian avanzare , Spanish avanzar ). This is
from Old French avancir , avancier "move forward, go forward, set forward" (12c., Modern French avancer )
Word Ancestry
from Vulgar Latin *abanteare (source of Italian avanzare , Spanish avanzar ). This is
from Vulgar Latin *abanteare (source of Italian avanzare , Spanish avanzar ). This is
from Vulgar Latin *abanteare (source of Italian avanzare , Spanish avanzar ). This is
from Vulgar Latin *abanteare (source of Italian avanzare , Spanish avanzar ). This is
from Old French avancir , avancier "move forward, go forward, set forward" (12c., Modern French avancer )
This word is a little historical prank. It wandered in from Old French as avauncen, but English speakers later sneaked in a d, as if the word ought to belong with the whole ad- family of Latin borrowings. Underneath that spelling makeover sits a very old idea: abante, literally something like “from before,” with ante giving us cousin words such as antecedent, anticipation, and antediluvian. That same before-ness shows up in advantage too, which once meant being in the better forward position on a battlefield or playing field. So when you say someone advanced, you’re really saying they moved into the front line — and English, ever self-conscious, dressed the word up with a fake Latin d just to make it look more respectable.
The Story
This word is a little historical prank. It wandered in from Old French as avauncen, but English speakers later sneaked in a d, as if the word ought to belong with the whole ad- family of Latin borrowings. Underneath that spelling makeover sits a very old idea: abante, literally something like “from before,” with ante giving us cousin words such as antecedent, anticipation, and antediluvian. That same before-ness shows up in advantage too, which once meant being in the better forward position on a battlefield or playing field. So when you say someone advanced, you’re really saying they moved into the front line — and English, ever self-conscious, dressed the word up with a fake Latin d just to make it look more respectable.
Kin & Kindred
From 'ab'·from, away from
Derived Terms
English words from this root
From 'ante'·before, in front of
Derived Terms
English words from this root