handicap

Plural: handicaps

Noun

• the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness
• advantage given to a competitor to equalize chances of winning
• something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
• Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders.
• 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.
• The disadvantage itself, in particular physical or mental disadvantages of people.
• 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.
• An old card game, similar to lanterloo.
• Synonym of hand-in-cap (“old English trading game”).

Verb

Verb Forms: handicapped, handicapping, handicaps

• To place at a disadvantage; to hinder or impede.
• injure permanently
• attempt to forecast the winner (especially in a horse race) and assign odds for or against a contestant
• put at a disadvantage
• To encumber with a handicap in any contest.
• To place at disadvantage.
• To estimate betting odds.

Examples

• A handicap in chess often involves removal of the queen's rook.
• Age is often a handicap.
• An early bad draw can HANDICAP a Scrabble player for the entire game.
• 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.
• The candidate was handicapped by her lack of experience.
• The older boy won, even though his opponent had been granted a handicap of five meters.

Synonyms

balk, baulk, check, deterrent, disability, disable, disablement, hamper, hinder, hinderance, hindrance, impairment, impediment, incapacitate, invalid, hand-in-cap

Anagrams of handicap