advantage

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
advantage/ədˈvɑːntɪʤ/

▶noun

• 1 a condition or circumstance that puts one in a favourable position.

  ■ benefit; profit.

• 2 Tennis a score marking a point interim between deuce and winning the game.

▶verb be of benefit to.

■ (as adj. advantaged) in a favourable social or economic position.

– phrases
take advantage of

• 1 make unfair use of for one's own benefit.

• 2 dated seduce.

• 3 make good use of the opportunities offered by.

to advantage in a way which displays or uses the best aspects.

– derivatives
advantageous /adv(ə)nˈteɪdʒəs/ adjective,
advantageously adverb.

– origin ME: from OFr. avantage, from avant ‘in front’, from late L. abante (see advance).