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spence

1 American  
[spens] / spɛns /

noun

British Dialect.
  1. a pantry.


Spence 2 American  
[spens] / spɛns /

noun

  1. a male given name, form of Spencer.


spence 1 British  
/ spɛns /

noun

  1. dialect

    1. a larder or pantry

    2. any monetary allowance

    3. a parlour, esp in a cottage

"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

Spence 2 British  
/ spɛns /

noun

  1. Sir Basil ( Unwin ). 1907–76, Scottish architect, born in India; designed Coventry Cathedral (1951)

"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

Etymology

Origin of spence

1350–1400; Middle English spense, spence < Middle French despense pantry < Medieval Latin dīspēnsa, noun use of feminine of dīspēnsus, past participle of dīspendere to weigh out; see dispense

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The thresher's weary flingin-tree, The lee-lang day had tired me; And when the day had clos'd his e'e, Far i' the west, Ben i' the spence, right pensivelie, I gaed to rest.

From Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Burns, Robert

Our bardie, lanely, keeps the spence parlor Sin' Mailie's dead.

From Robert Burns How To Know Him by Neilson, William Allan

Edward," said the Sub-Prior, "you will supply the English Knight here in this spence with suitable food and accommodation for the night, treating him with as much kindness as if nothing had happened between you.

From The Monastery by Scott, Walter, Sir

The thresher’s weary flingin’-tree The lee-lang day had tired me; And when the day had closed his e’e Far i’ the west, Ben i’ the spence, right pensivelie, I gaed to rest.

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Burns, Robert

Will straik on her mittens sae dainty, And crack wi' Mess John i' the spence.

From Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 3 by Mabie, Hamilton Wright