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affianced

[uh-fahy-uh nst]
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adjective
  1. betrothed; engaged.
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Origin of affianced

First recorded in 1570–80; affiance + -ed2

affiance

[uh-fahy-uh ns]
verb (used with object), af·fi·anced, af·fi·anc·ing.
  1. to pledge by promise of marriage; betroth.
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noun Archaic.
  1. a pledging of faith, as a marriage contract.
  2. 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for affianced

Historical Examples

  • It is his right to know the truth, and—what can Ned say while I'm affianced?

    The Bacillus of Beauty

    Harriet Stark

  • It is strange,—the repugnance with which she regarded the suit of her affianced!

  • Will it please you to remember that M. d'Ombreval is my affianced husband?

  • She is the only daughter of my comrade and she is my affianced bride.

    Giants on the Earth

    Sterner St. Paul Meek

  • Long time ago they were affianced, but she has been down in the wilderness.

    The Wedding Ring

    T. De Witt Talmage

British Dictionary definitions for affianced

affiance

verb
  1. (tr) to bind (a person or oneself) in a promise of marriage; betroth
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noun
  1. 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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for affianced

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