handicap

[Hand·i*cap]

A mental or physical disadvantage, such as blindness or a missing leg, is a handicap: something that disables you in some way. Handicaps can also be imposed artificially to even out the odds in sporting events.

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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.

Noun
advantage given to a competitor to equalize chances of winning

Noun
something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress

Noun
the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness; "reading disability"; "hearing impairment"

Verb
injure permanently; "He was disabled in a car accident"

Verb
put at a disadvantage; "The brace I have to wear is hindering my movements"

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Verb
attempt to forecast the winner (especially in a horse race) and assign odds for or against a contestant

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.

Handicap

Hand"i*cap , n. [From hand in cap; -- perh. in reference to an old mode of setting a bargain by taking pieces of money from a cap.] 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. An old game at cards. [Obs.] Pepys.

Handicap

Hand"i*cap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Handicapped ; p. pr. & vb. n. Handicapping.] To encumber with a handicap in any contest; hence, in general, to place at disadvantage; as, the candidate was heavily handicapped.

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.

To encumber with a handicap in any contest; hence, in general, to place at disadvantage; as, the candidate was heavily handicapped.

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Usage Examples

It is good taste, and good taste alone, that possesses the power to sterilize and is always the first handicap to any creative functioning.

I have the handicap of being born with a special language to which I alone have the key.

There are so many opportunities in life, that the loss of two or three capabilities is not necessarily debilitating. A handicap can give you the opportunity to focus more on art, writing, or music.

Misspelled Form

handicap, ghandicap, yhandicap, uhandicap, jhandicap, nhandicap, gandicap, yandicap, uandicap, jandicap, nandicap, hgandicap, hyandicap, huandicap, hjandicap, hnandicap, hqandicap, hwandicap, hsandicap, hzandicap, hqndicap, hwndicap, hsndicap, hzndicap, haqndicap, hawndicap, hasndicap, hazndicap, habndicap, hahndicap, hajndicap, hamndicap, ha ndicap, habdicap, hahdicap, hajdicap, hamdicap, ha dicap, hanbdicap, hanhdicap, hanjdicap, hanmdicap, han dicap, hansdicap, hanedicap, hanfdicap, hanxdicap, hancdicap, hansicap, haneicap, hanficap, hanxicap, hancicap, handsicap, handeicap, handficap, handxicap, handcicap, handuicap, hand8icap, hand9icap, handoicap, handjicap, handkicap, handucap, hand8cap, hand9cap, handocap, handjcap, handkcap, handiucap, handi8cap, handi9cap, handiocap, handijcap, handikcap, handixcap, handidcap, handifcap, handivcap, handi cap, handixap, handidap, handifap, handivap, handi ap, handicxap, handicdap, handicfap, handicvap, handic ap, handicqap, handicwap, handicsap, handiczap, handicqp, handicwp, handicsp, handiczp, handicaqp, handicawp, handicasp, handicazp, handicaop, handica0p, handicalp, handicao, handica0, handical, handicapo, handicap0, handicapl.

Other Usage Examples

People think that if you look fairly reasonable, you can't possibly act, and as I only care about acting, I think beauty can be a great handicap.

As another has well said, to handicap a student by teaching him that his black face is a curse and that his struggle to change his condition is hopeless is the worst sort of lynching.

I've been writing a lot, I've a few projects I'm trying to finance, I do some acting, I do some directing... Apart from that, if I could get lower that a ten handicap on my golf game I'd be thrilled.

In politics stupidity is not a handicap.