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• spence
  spence

  noun

  a pantry.
• Spence
  Spence

  noun

  a male given name, form of Spencer.

spence

¹ American  

[spens] / spɛns /

noun

British Dialect.

1. a pantry.

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Spence ² American  

[spens] / spɛns /

noun

1. a male given name, form of Spencer.

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spence ¹ British  

/ spɛns /

noun

1. dialect

   1. a larder or pantry

   2. any monetary allowance

   3. a parlour, esp in a cottage

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Spence ² British  

/ spɛns /

noun

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

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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

See Examples For:

spence Spence

Now, they had not been gone but a few minutes, and I was in the spence, putting away the dishes, when I heard a whistle in the street, and anon another. 

From A Monk of Fife by Lang, Andrew

But, all at once, the two boys came open-mouthed into the hall, to tell that there was an armed man in the spence.

From The Monastery by Scott, Walter, Sir

So saying, he escaped from her and went into the spence, where such preparations as haste permitted were making for the noon collation of the Abbot and the English knight.

From The Monastery by Scott, Walter, Sir

"Is that you blethering away in there, John?" cried a high female voice from the spence.

From Gilian The Dreamer His Fancy, His Love and Adventure by Munro, Neil

Well," said Claverhouse, "we shall have to give Anne the justiciar power and send her lord to the spence and the store chamber.

From The Men of the Moss-Hags Being a history of adventure taken from the papers of William Gordon of Earlstoun in Galloway by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)

Doubts remain over the futures of midfielder Lucas Bergvall and England full-back Djed Spence.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

De Zerbi says he sees Spence as an important part of his plans despite increased competition in his role after a summer of significant spending.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

Spence started in 23 of his 30 Premier League appearances last year as Spurs finished 17th for the second season in a row.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

Italian giants Juventus and Serie A champions Inter are interested in Stones - the latter also admire Spence - while Leeds United want to keep the Yorkshire-born defender in the Premier League.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

We walked 9.7 miles to Spence Field Shelter, a modest distance even for us, but we were wet through and chilled, and anyway it was too far to hike to the next one.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson