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affiance

 [uh-fahy-uhns]   Origin

af·fi·ance

   [uh-fahy-uhns] verb, af·fi·anced, af·fi·anc·ing, noun
verb (used with object)
1.
to pledge by promise of marriage; betroth.
noun Archaic.
2.
a pledging of faith, as a marriage contract.
3.
trust; confidence; reliance.

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Origin:
1300–50; Middle English < Middle French afiance, equivalent to afi(er) to pledge faith, declare on oath, betroth (< Medieval Latin affīdāre, equivalent to ad- ad- + *fīdāre, for Latin fīdere to trust; see confide) + -ance -ance
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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World English Dictionary
affiance (əˈfaɪəns)
 
—vb
1.  (tr) to bind (a person or oneself) in a promise of marriage; betroth
 
—n
2.  archaic a solemn pledge, esp a marriage contract
 
[C14: via Old French from Medieval Latin affīdāre to trust (oneself) to, from fīdāre to trust, from fīdus faithful]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

affiance
1520s, "to promise," from O.Fr. afiancer, from afier "to trust," from L.L. affidare, from ad- "to" + fidare "to trust," from fidus (see affidavit).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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