affiance
[uh-fahy-uh ns]
- to pledge by promise of marriage; betroth.
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- a pledging of faith, as a marriage contract.
- trust; confidence; reliance.
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Origin of affiance
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for affiance
Historical Examples
In the words of the old church-service, "Her soul must ever have affiance in God."
Thus he pledged his faith, and the Duke accepted his affiance.
French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays of Marie de FranceMarie de France
Their notion of the real meaning of the period of affiance commended itself entirely to his lofty sentiments.
Kophetua the ThirteenthJulian Corbett
The young Duke of Hamilton was, however, the successful one; and the pledge of affiance passed mutually.
The Memorials of the Hamlet of KnightsbridgeHenry George Davis
Jealousy and distrust are the bane of friendship, whose essence is esteem and affiance.
Letters on the Improvement of the MindHester Chapone
affiance
- (tr) to bind (a person or oneself) in a promise of marriage; betroth
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- archaic a solemn pledge, esp a marriage contract
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for affiance
v.
1520s, "to promise," from Old French afiancier "to pledge, promise, give one's word," from afiance (n.) "confidence, trust," from afier "to trust," from Late Latin affidare, from ad- "to" (see ad-) + fidare "to trust," from fidus (see affidavit). From mid-16c. especially "to promise in marriage." Related: Affianced; affiancing.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper