foredeal · noun — an advantage; benefit; profit. It carries an Arena rating of 1639, earned across 12 head-to-head judged battles.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, foredeal ranks #1,057 of 17,151 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #2,439 of 17,187 for Most Malleable Words, #5,303 of 17,177 for Most Whimsical Words, #5,994 of 17,163 for Most Beautiful Words.
foredeal is pronounced /ˈfɔː(ɹ)diːl/.
Why “foredeal” is a great word
An initial advantage or superior portion gained by precedence, or the act of reserving something. From Middle English *foredel*, *foredele*, equivalent to the prefix *fore-* (meaning 'before, in front') + *deal* (from Old English *dǣl*, meaning 'part, portion'). Unlike *afterdeal*, which names the part that follows, or *disadvantage*, a broad condition of loss, a foredeal is the quiet claim staked in advance. It is the choicest cut taken first from the platter, the dry tinder stored beneath the overhang before the storm, the head start granted by a benevolent chance—a small, tactile bulwark against the coming claims of the world, where time itself is the ultimate currency.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
From earlier fordele, from Middle English foredel, foredele. Equivalent to fore- + deal. Compare Saterland Frisian Foardeel (“advantage, gain, benefit, profit”), Dutch voordeel, Low German fortel, German Vorteil (“advantage”), Danish fordel, Swedish fördel. More at fore-, deal.
noun
- An advantage; benefit; profit.
- The first place; lead; precedence; preference.
- Progress; advancement.
verb
- To store; lay past; keep in reserve; hoard.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.