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A faint sketch; an outline; an imperfect portrayal or representation of a thing. Elegant adumbrations of sacred truth. Bp. Horsley.

The front edge (in direction of motion) of a supporting surface; -- contr. with following edge, which is the rear edge.

Any condition, circumstance, opportunity, or means, particularly favorable to success, or to any desired end; benefit; as, the enemy had the advantage of a more elevated position. Give me advantage of some brief discourse. Shak. The advantages of a close alliance. Macaulay.

Coming; any important arrival; approach. Death's dreadful advent. Young. Expecting still his advent home. Tennyson.

The act of pleading for or supporting; work of advocating; intercession.

To plead in favor of; to defend by argument, before a tribunal or the public; to support, vindicate, or recommend publicly. To advocate the cause of thy client. Bp. Sanderson (1624). This is the only thing distinct and sensible, that has been advocated. Burke. Eminent orators were engaged to advocate his cause. Mitford…

To hire, as a ship, for the transportation of goods or freight.

According to the direction and influence of; in proportion to; befitting. [Archaic] He takes greatness of kingdoms according to bulk and currency, and not after their intrinsic value. Bacon. After all, when everything has been considered; upon the whole. -- After (with the same noun preceding and following), as, wave…

begins hostility or a quarrel; an assailant. The insolence of the aggressor is usually proportioned to the tameness of the sufferer. Ames.

professes ignorance, or denies that we have any knowledge, save of phenomena; one who supports agnosticism, neither affirming nor denying the existence of a personal Deity, a future life, etc.

adverbially for agreeably; as, agreeable to the order of the day, the House took up the report.

A inferior brandy of Spain and Portugal.

To support, either by furnishing strength or means in coöperation to effect a purpose, or to prevent or to remove evil; to help; to assist. You speedy helpers . . . Appear and aid me in this enterprise. Shak.

Carriage; attitude; action; movement; as, the head of that portrait has a good air. Fairholt.

, separated from the middle part, called the nave, by a row of columns or piers, which support the roof or an upper wall containing windows, called the clearstory wall.

calculated to excite, alarm; causing apprehension of danger; as, an alarming crisis or report. -- A*larm"ing*ly, adv.

A commander of a castle or fortress among the Spaniards, Portuguese, and Moors.

The process or method of ascertaining the proportion of pure alcohol which spirituous liquors contain.

A recessed portion of a room, or a small room opening into a larger one; especially, a recess to contain a bed; a lateral recess in a library.

rument for viewing pictures by means of a lens, so as to present them in their natural proportions and relations.