Also 5 furtherar, 6 ford-, fortherer. See also FARTHERER. [f. FURTHER v. + -ER1.] One who or that which furthers or helps forward; a helper, promoter, supporter; an aid or encouragement.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 111. The brighte sonne … furtherer of the daies light.
c. 1465. Eng. Chron. (Camden, 1856), 23. He was our furtherar and promoter.
1555. Abp. Parker, Ps., E iij. The Psalme … is a furtherer to them which go forwarde to vertue.
1594. Blundevil, Exerc., III. I. i. (ed. 7), 278. Leauing to speake of the first inuentors, or of the furtherers of these sciences, I will speake of the shape, capacitie, and vnitie of the world.
1630. Lord, Banians, 32. Making the profits that came by his inuentions, but the furtherers of ryot and excesse.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., I. 297. From his [Thomas Sackvile] puerile years to his last, he was a continual favourer and furtherer of learning.
1828. Landor, Imag. Conv., Wks. 1846, I. 315/1. Ploughs and oxen are not instruments and furtherers of disobedience.
1867. The Saturday Review, XXIV. 26 Oct. 535/1. It is far harder to account for the fate which seems to turn men, even wise and good men, into furtherers of a cause which they know to be evil while they further it.
