ad·vance / ədˈvans/ • v. 1. [intr.] move forward, typically in a purposeful way: the troops advanced on the capital she advanced toward him. ∎  make progress: our knowledge is advancing all the time. ∎  [tr.] cause (an event) to occur at an earlier date than planned: I advanced the date of the meeting by several weeks. ∎  [tr.] promote or help the progress of (a person, cause, or plan). ∎  [tr.] put forward (a theory or suggestion): the hypothesis I wish to advance in this article. ∎  (esp. of shares of stock) increase in price.2. lend (money) to (someone): the bank advanced them a loan. ∎  pay (money) to (someone) before it is due: he advanced me a month's salary.• n. 1. a forward movement: the rebels' advance on Madrid was well under way | fig. the advance of civilization. ∎  a development or improvement: genuine advances in engineering techniques | decades of great scientific advance. ∎  an increase or rise in amount, value, or price.2. an amount of money paid before it is due or for work only partly completed: the author was paid a $250,000 advance. ∎  a loan.3. (usu. advances) an approach made to someone, typically with the aim of initiating a sexual encounter: women accused him of making improper advances.• adj. done, sent, or supplied beforehand: advance notice.PHRASES: in advance ahead in time: you need to book weeks in advance.in advance of before: we went on in advance of the main group.DERIVATIVES: ad·vanc·er n.

advance XIII (first in the sense ‘promote, forward’). ME. ava(u)ncen — OF. avancier (mod. -cer), f. Rom. *abantiāre, f. late L. abante (whence F. avant), f. L. ab OFF, away + ante before (see ANTE-).
Hence advance sb. XVII. So advancement XIII.

ADVANCE

To pay money or give something of value before the date designated to do so; to provide capital to help a planned enterprise, expecting a return from it; to give someone an item before payment has been made for it.