Vantage

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈvɑːntɪd͡ʒ/

Definitions

1. A place or situation that provides a superior view or benefit
2. A location or circumstance that allows for improved insight or benefit
3. A position that offers an advantageous perspective or insight on a particular situation

Etymology: The word "vantage" is a shortened form of "advantage," which had been borrowed into English from Anglo-Norman "avantage," itself built from the Old French "avant," meaning "before" or "forward," and so originally pointed to a place out in front. Over time the opening syllable simply dropped away, a process linguists call apheresis, leaving the shorter form behind. The two words were once interchangeable, and the shorter one kept its physical sense of a favourable place to stand. Its survival as a noun meaning a commanding viewpoint means the word still carries the older idea of advantage as a matter of position: a spot from which a scene is seen better than from anywhere else. The phrase "vantage point" preserves that original spatial sense.

Synonyms: advantage, benefit, edge, position, perspective

Antonyms: disadvantage, drawback, hindrance, limitation, obstacle