affiance

[ uh-fahy-uh ns ]
/ əˈfaɪ əns /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR affiance ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), af·fi·anced, af·fi·anc·ing.

to pledge by promise of marriage; betroth.

noun Archaic.

a pledging of faith, as a marriage contract.
trust; confidence; reliance.

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Origin of affiance

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

Words nearby affiance

afferent glomerular arteriole, afferent nerve, afferent vessel, afferent-loop syndrome, affettuoso, affiance, affianced, affiant, affiche, afficionado, affidavit
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to affiance

pact, word, pledge, commitment, agreement, vow, obligation, assurance, guarantee, oath, assertion, affirm, agree, assure, ensure, commit, declare, catch, undertake, warranty

Example sentences from the Web for affiance

British Dictionary definitions for affiance

affiance
/ (əˈfaɪəns) /

verb

(tr) to bind (a person or oneself) in a promise of marriage; betroth

noun

archaic a solemn pledge, esp a marriage contract

Word Origin for affiance

C14: via Old French from Medieval Latin affīdāre to trust (oneself) to, from fīdāre to trust, from fīdus faithful
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012