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affiance

 - 2 dictionary results

af⋅fi⋅ance

  [uh-fahy-uhns] verb, -anced, -anc⋅ing, noun
Use affiance in a Sentence
–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.
Origin:
1300–50; ME < MF afiance, equiv. to afi(er) to pledge faith, declare on oath, betroth (< ML affīdāre, equiv. to ad- ad- + *fīdāre, for L fīdere to trust; see confide ) + -ance -ance
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To affiance
af·fi·ance   (ə-fī'əns)   
tr.v.   af·fi·anced, af·fi·anc·ing, af·fi·anc·es
To bind in a pledge of marriage; betroth.

[From Middle English affiaunce, assurance, from Old French, from affier, to trust to, from Medieval Latin affīdāre : Latin ad-, ad- + Latin fīdus, faithful; see bheidh- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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