n. & v.
n. 1 a beneficial feature; a favourable circumstance. 2 benefit, profit (is not to your advantage). 3 (often foll. by over) a better position; superiority in a particular respect. 4 (in lawn tennis) the next point won after deuce.
v.tr. 1 be beneficial or favourable to. 2 further, promote. have the advantage of be in a better position in some respect than. take advantage of 1 make good use of (a favourable circumstance). 2 exploit or outwit (a person), esp. unfairly. 3 euphem. seduce. to advantage in a way which exhibits the merits (was seen to advantage). turn to advantage benefit from. advantageous adj. advantageously adv.
[ ME f. OF avantage, avantager f. avant in front f. LL abante: see ADVANCE ]