Handicap
['hændɪkæp] or ['hændɪ'kæp]
Definition
(noun.) advantage given to a competitor to equalize chances of winning.
(verb.) put at a disadvantage; 'The brace I have to wear is hindering my movements'.
(verb.) attempt to forecast the winner (especially in a horse race) and assign odds for or against a contestant.
Checker: Stella--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race to the competitor possessing inferior advantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing superior advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success; as, the handicap was five seconds, or ten pounds, and the like.
(n.) A race, for horses or men, or any contest of agility, strength, or skill, in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors.
(n.) An old game at cards.
(v. t.) To encumber with a handicap in any contest; hence, in general, to place at disadvantage; as, the candidate was heavily handicapped.
Typist: Vance
Definition
v.t. to impose special disadvantages or impediments upon in order to offset advantages and make a better contest—in a horse-race the superior horse carries a heavier weight while foot-runners are placed at different distances or start at different times: (fig.) to place at a disadvantage by some burden or disability.—n. any contest so adjusted or the condition imposed.—n. Hand′icapper one who handicaps.
Editor: Winthrop
Examples
- Such is the condition of our laws and practice that the patentee in seeking to enforce his rights labors under a terrible handicap. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- He played a lovely game of billiards and with the handicap I was only four ahead at fifty. Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- Count Greffi made his one hundredth point and with the handicap I was only at ninety-four. Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- What handicap will you give me? Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- You start me on my investigation with a very serious handicap. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- The record in the second case would appear astounding, as no less a handicap occurred than the burning down of the station itself. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- The best thing you can do for her is to do the job well and fast and get out, and thinking of her will only handicap you in this. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- To increase this smoothness of travel he added a system of spring carriage to his engine, and saved it from the jolting that had handicapped his first model. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- Inventors have found, however, that high speed is handicapped with certain limitations. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- He was handicapped by his short stature. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- The air-nitrogen industry in the United States is said to be considerably handicapped because the large quantities of electricity required are not available at a low enough price. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- If it is not, then when the time and place come for it to be used as a means or instrumentality, it will be in just that much handicapped. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- The fact that we were compelled to maintain utter secrecy has handicapped us terribly. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
Checker: Lucy