Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
-ance
-ance
.[F.
-ance
, fr. L. -antia
and also fr. -entia
.] A suffix signifying action; also, quality or state;
as, assist
. See ance
, resistance
, appearance
, elegance
-ancy
. ☞ All recently adopted words of this class take either -ance or -ence, according to the Latin spelling.
Definition 2024
-ance
-ance
English
Alternative forms
Suffix
-ance
- Added to the stem of a verb to form a noun indicating a state or condition, such as result or capacity, associated with the verb.
- A process or action.
Usage notes
- Many words ending in "-ance" were formed in French or by alteration of a noun or adjective ending in "-ant".
Related terms
Derived terms
<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:English_words_suffixed_with_-ance'>English words suffixed with -ance</a>
Translations
a state
French
Etymology
From Old French -ance, from Latin -antia and -entia. Compare Spanish -anza, -enza, Italian -anza, -enza, Portuguese -ança, -ença, Romanian -ință. Cognate to French -ence.
Suffix
-ance
- -ance (suffix used to form nouns)
Derived terms
<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:French_words_suffixed_with_-ance'>French words suffixed with -ance</a>
Related terms
Middle French
Suffix
-ance
- -ance (suffixed used to form nouns)
Descendants
- French: -ance
Derived terms
<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:Middle_French_words_suffixed_with_-ance'>Middle French words suffixed with -ance</a>
Old French
Alternative forms
- -anche
- -aunce
Etymology
Inherited from Latin -antia(m), -entia(m).
Suffix
-ance
- -ance (suffixed used to form nouns)
Related terms
Descendants
- French: -ance
Derived terms
<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:Old_French_words_suffixed_with_-ance'>Old French words suffixed with -ance</a>