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Handicap

//ˈhændikæp// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders. countable, uncountable

    "Age is often a handicap."

  2. 2
    advantage given to a competitor to equalize chances of winning wordnet
  3. 3
    An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race (or other contest of skill) to the competitor possessing disadvantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success. countable, uncountable

    "The older boy won, even though his opponent had been granted a handicap of five meters."

  4. 4
    something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress wordnet
  5. 5
    The disadvantage itself, in particular physical or mental disadvantages of people. countable, uncountable
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  1. 6
    the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness wordnet
  2. 7
    A race or similar contest in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors. countable, uncountable
  3. 8
    An old card game, similar to lanterloo. obsolete, uncountable

    "Here some of us fell to handicap, a sport that I never knew before, which was very good."

  4. 9
    Synonym of hand-in-cap (“old English trading game”). obsolete, uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To encumber with a handicap in any contest. transitive
  2. 2
    injure permanently wordnet
  3. 3
    To place at disadvantage. broadly, figuratively, transitive

    "The candidate was handicapped by her lack of experience."

  4. 4
    put at a disadvantage wordnet
  5. 5
    To estimate betting odds.

    "Grandpa Andy would buy the racing form the day ahead of time so he could handicap the race before he even arrived at the track."

Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    attempt to forecast the winner (especially in a horse race) and assign odds for or against a contestant wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From hand-in-cap, in reference to holding the game stakes in a cap.

Etymology 2

From hand-in-cap, in reference to holding the game stakes in a cap.

See also for "handicap"

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