Affiance

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aɪəns

Alternative forms

• affiaunce obsolete

Origin

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

Full definition of affiance

Verb

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

Noun

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 , events, ceremonies, penitence and martyrdome.
• Sir J. StephenSuch feelings promptly yielded to his habitual affiance in the divine love.
• TennysonLancelot, my Lancelot, thou in whom I have
  Most joy and most affiance.
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 ....