Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

affiance

/əˈfaɪ.əns/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.25 in modern English

Syllables: af-fi-ance
IPA: /əˈfaɪ.əns/

16

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To be betrothed to; to promise to marry.

Literary; Transitive verb

noun

noun

A solemn engagement, especially a pledge of marriage.

Archaic

Example Sentences

"[S]he had expected the worst ever since Drusilla had deliberately tried to unsex herself by refusing to feel any natural grief at the death in battle not only of her affianced husband but of her own father [...]"
"She left our former teacher at the altar. Oh well, it's no secret that Prissy was affianced to our former teacher, but justifiably fled the wedding."
"[…] in syr Launcelot & you I moost had my Ioye / & myn affyaunce / & now haue I lost my Ioye of you bothe […] […] "in Sir Launcelot and you I most had my joy, and mine affiance, and now have I lost my joy of you both" […]"
"All other outward shewes and exterior apparences are common to all religions: As hope, affiance [translating confiance], events, ceremonies, penitence and martyrdome."
"Such feelings promptly yielded to his habitual affiance in the divine love."
"Lancelot, my Lancelot, thou in whom I have / Most joy and most affiance, […]"

Etymology

From Middle French affiance, from affier (from Medieval Latin affīdāre, from *fīdāre, from Latin fīdere) + -ance.

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Root: affiance, affīdāre, fīdere

Usage

Inflected Forms

affiances (present, singular) affiancing (participle, present) affianced (participle, past) affianced (past) affiaunce (alternative) affiances (plural)

Derived Forms

affiancer

Frequently Paired Words

fiance

Synonyms

betroth engage plight

Rhymes With

science alliance compliance reliance defiance appliance noncompliance faience flamboyance overreliance

Questions

How do you pronounce affiance?: The recorded pronunciation is /əˈfaɪ.əns/.
What does affiance mean?: To be betrothed to; to promise to marry.
Where does affiance come from?: It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce affiance

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