Foredeal

Alternative forms

• fordele, fordeal, fordeale
• forthdeal erroneous
• fordell, fordel Scotland

Origin

From earlier fordele, from Middle English foredel, foredele, equivalent to - + deal. Compare Dutch voordeel, Low German fortel, German Vorteil ("advantage"), Danish fordel, Swedish fördel. More at fore-, deal.

Full definition of foredeal

Noun

1. An advantage; benefit; profit.
• 1965, Brewer, Brodie, Gairdner, Letters and papers, foreign and domestic, of the reign of Henry VIII:... and at a great foredeal already; as for such foredeal that they despair not of the...a deal, but that through the help of God, Grace and other good ministers, these personages which be now sent shall undoubtedly conclude ...
• 1889, Sir thomas Mallory, La morte d'Arthure: The history of King Arthur and of the KnightsAnd thus the battaile was great, and oftentimes that one partie was at a foredele and anon at an afterdele, which endured long.
• 1846, Miles Coverdale, Remains of Miles Coverdale (Hope of the Faithful):And though this be a great foredeal, and an excellent jewel, yet the great and unspeakable glory, that in time to come shall be declared in us, hath not yet appeared.
2. (UK dialectal, Scotland) The first place; lead; precedence; preference.
3. (UK dialectal, Scotland) Progress; advancement.

Verb

1. (UK dialectal, Scotland) To store; lay past; keep in reserve; hoard.

Antonyms

• afterdeal (also afterdele)