advance

/ədˈvɑːns/·verb·13th century·Established

Origin

Advance derives from Old French avancier ('to move forward'), from Late Latin abante ('from before')‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍, with the d inserted later by false analogy with the Latin prefix ad-.

Definition

To move forward in position, progress, or development; to put forward a proposal or idea; or to supp‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍ly money before it is due.

Did you know?

The d in 'advance' is a spelling error that stuck. The original Old French was avancier, with no d. English speakers assumed the a- was the Latin prefix ad- ('towards') and inserted a d to make it look more Latinate. The same false correction never reached French, which still spells it avancer.

Etymology

Latin13th centurywell-attested

From Old French avancier ('to move forward'), from Vulgar Latin *abantiare, derived from Late Latin abante ('from before'), which combines ab ('from') and ante ('before'). The initial a- was later reinterpreted as the Latin prefix ad- ('towards'), producing the d in the modern spelling — a piece of folk etymology baked into the word itself. The financial sense ('an advance of money') appeared by the fifteenth century, drawing on the idea of something given ahead of time. The noun form developed alongside the verb, covering both physical forward movement and figurative progress. Key roots: ab (Latin: "from"), ante (Latin: "before").

Ancient Roots

ab (Latin: “from”)ante (Latin: “before”)

This Word in Other Languages

avancer(French)avanzar(Spanish)avanzare(Italian)

Advance traces back to Latin ab, meaning "from", with related forms in Latin ante ("before"). Across languages it shares form or sense with French avancer, Spanish avanzar and Italian avanzare, evidence of a shared etymological family.

Background

The Etymology of Advance

The d in 'advance' is a lie — but a very old one.‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍ The word entered English in the thirteenth century from Old French avancier, meaning 'to move forward', which descended from Vulgar Latin *abantiare and ultimately Late Latin abante ('from before'), combining ab ('from') and ante ('before'). There was no d anywhere in the chain. But English speakers, familiar with Latin prefixes, assumed the initial a- must be ad- ('towards') and helpfully inserted a d. The French never made this correction, which is why they still write avancer. Despite its accidental spelling, the word's meaning has been remarkably stable: physical forward movement, figurative progress, and — from the fifteenth century — money given ahead of time. The same Latin root ante also produced 'advantage' (originally avantage) and, via Italian, 'avant-garde' — the guard that goes before.

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