affiance Meaning, Definition & Usage

Af*fi"ance noun

Etymology

OE. afiaunce trust, confidence, OF. afiance, fr. afier to trust, fr. LL. affidare to trust; ad + fidare to trust, fr. L. fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Affidavit, Affy, Confidence.

Definitions

1. Plighted faith; marriage contract or promise.
2. Trust; reliance; faith; confidence.

   Such feelings promptly yielded to his habitual affiance in the divine love. Sir J. Stephen.

   Lancelot, my Lancelot, thou in whom I have Most joy and most affiance. Tennyson.

Af*fi"ance transitive verb

Etymology

Cf. OF. afiancier, fr. afiance.

Wordforms

imperfect past participle Affianced present participle & verbal noun Affiancing

Definitions

1. To betroth; to pledge one's faith to for marriage, or solemnly promise (one's self or another) in marriage.

   To me, sad maid, he was affianced. Spenser.

2. To assure by promise. Obs. Pope.