Search the Dictionary

The first step towards the attainment of a result; approach made to gain favor, to form an acquaintance, to adjust a difference, etc.; an overture; a tender; an offer; -- usually in the plural. [He] made the like advances to the dissenters. Swift.

Superiority of state, or that which gives it; benefit; gain; profit; as, the advantage of a good constitution.

Being of advantage; conferring advantage; gainful; profitable; useful; beneficial; as, an advantageous position; trade is advantageous to a nation. Advabtageous comparison with any other country. Prescott. You see . . . of what use a good reputation is, and how swift and advantageous a harbinger it is, wherever one goe…

A female adventurer; a woman who tries to gain position by equivocal means.

One who is turned against another or others with a design to oppose

Acting against, or in a contrary direction; opposed; contrary; opposite; conflicting; as, adverse winds; an adverse party; a spirit adverse to distinctions of caste.

n; to refer; to take heed or notice; -- with to; as, he adverted to what was said. I may again advert to the distinction. Owen.

A cannon capable of being trained at very high angles for use against aircraft.

A divine impartation of knowledge; supernatural impulse; inspiration. A poet writing against his genius will be like a prophet without his afflatus. Spence.

The act of rubbing against. [Obs.]

In collision; entangled. Totten. To run afoul of, to run against or come into collision with, especially so as to become entangled or to cause injury.

Anew; again; once more; newly. They crucify . . . the Son of God afresh. Heb. vi. 6.

cedes a clause. Formerly that was interposed between it and the clause. After I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Matt. xxvi. 32.

See Again. [Obs.]

A charge or rate against lands; as, an agistment of sea banks, i. e., charge for banks or dikes.

a used for ague. -- Ague fit, a fit of the ague. Shak. -- Ague spell, a spell or charm against ague. Gay. -- Ague tree, the sassafras, -- sometimes so called from the use of its root formerly, in cases of ague. [Obs.]

To be guilty of; to offend; to sin against; to wrong. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Aid. [R.] Aidance 'gainst the enemy. Shak.

To direct the indention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor; -- followed by at, or by an infinitive; as, to aim at distinction; to aim to do well. Aim'st thou at princes Pope.

A stove for heating a current of air which is directed against its surface by means of pipes, and then distributed through a building.