Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Advertise \Ad`ver*tise"\ (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   {Advertised}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Advertising}.] [F. avertir,
   formerly also spelt advertir, to warn, give notice to, L.
   advertere to turn to. The ending was probably influenced by
   the noun advertisement. See {Advert}.]
   To give notice to; to inform or apprise; to notify; to make
   known; hence, to warn; -- often followed by of before the
   subject of information; as, to advertise a man of his loss.
   [Archaic]

         I will advertise thee what this people shall do. --Num.
                                                  xxiv. 14.

   4. To give public notice of; to announce publicly, esp. by a
      printed notice; as, to advertise goods for sale, a lost
      article, the sailing day of a vessel, a political meeting.

   Syn: To apprise; inform; make known; notify; announce;
        proclaim; promulgate; publish.

Source : WordNet®

advertising
     n 1: a public promotion of some product or service [syn: {ad}, {advertisement},
           {advertizement}, {advertizing}, {advert}]
     2: the business of drawing public attention to goods and
        services [syn: {publicizing}]