affiance

English

Alternative forms

• affiaunce (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle French afiance < afier (< Medieval Latin affīdāre < *fīdāre < Latin fīdere) + -ance.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aɪəns

Verb

affiance (third-person singular simple present affiances, present participle affiancing, simple past and past participle affianced)

1. (transitive) To be betrothed to; to promise to marry.

Translations

to be betrothed to

• Bulgarian: вричам се, сгодявам се

• Russian: обручаться (ru) (obručátʹsja)  impf., обручиться (ru) (obručítʹsja)  pf.

Noun

affiance (plural affiances)

1. Faith, trust.
   • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.12:

     All other outward shewes and exterior apparences are common to all religions: As hope, affiance [transl. confiance], events, ceremonies, penitence and martyrdome.

2. (archaic) A solemn engagement, especially a pledge of marriage.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.iv:

     I that Ladie to my spouse had wonne; / Accord of friends, consent of parents sought, / Affiance made, my happinesse begonne [...].