affiance

WordNet

(v) affiance
give to in marriage

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Affiance
Plighted faith; marriage contract or promise.
affiance
To assure by promise.
affiance
To betroth; to pledge one's faith to for marriage, or solemnly promise (one's self or another) in marriage. "To me, sad maid, he was affianced ."

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

(n) affiance
Trust; confidence; reliance.
(n) affiance
The pledging of faith, as in contracting marriage; a solemn engagement; a marriage contract.
(n) affiance
Affinity; intimate relation; connection.
affiance
To betroth; bind by promise of marriage: as, to affiance a daughter; to affiance one's self.
affiance
To assure by pledge or promise.

Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary

(n) Affiance
af-fī′ans faith pledged to: marriage contract: trust: affinity (in, on)
(v.t) Affiance
to pledge faith: to betroth
(adj) Affiance
and n. Affī′anced, betrothed

Etymology

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary OE. afiaunce, trust, confidence, OF. afiance, fr. afier, to trust, fr. LL. affidare, to trust; ad, + fidare, to trust, fr. L. fides, faith. See Faith, and cf. Affidavit Affy Confidence

Usage in the news

Movers & shakers: Erin Werde, Affiance Coaching. startribune.com

Usage in literature

To leave an affianced bride in the lurch in this heartless manner was a most ungentlemanly proceeding. "The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol" by William J. Locke

The affianced of Nika presenting the picture of Saronia to the Temple, and Chios to paint it. "Saronia" by Richard Short

Julietta grew up as William's sister to become finally his affianced wife. "The Corsair King" by Mór Jókai

How can this be your affianced lady? "The Dodge Club" by James De Mille

I slew her affianced, I sent home to her his head; the wound made by his weapon she graciously healed. "The Wagnerian Romances" by Gertrude Hall

Go to Aldersgate Street now that she is my affianced bride! "The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson" by Anthony Trollope

We were both happy, and my sister was affianced to a man she adored. "An Eagle Flight" by José Rizal

Are you not ashamed, I insist, to accept all this and then to treat your affianced husband with such indignity? "Romance of Roman Villas" by Elizabeth W. (Elizbeth Williams) Champney

Anak was in the crowd with her father, the old chief, and her affianced, Noa. "Tales of the Malayan Coast" by Rounsevelle Wildman

The smart of seeing one's affianced bride in the arms of another man hurts grievously sore. "The Rough Road" by William John Locke

Usage in poetry

With despair's mute self-reliance,
She accepted death's affiance;
She, who hath no home or rest,
Shrank not from the river's breast.

"Lita of the Nile" by Richard Doddridge Blackmore

So much my faith's affiance seems
Its life from fading joys to bring,
That when I loose the dying streams,
I cannot trust the living spring.

"The Believer's Principles : Chap. IV." by Ralph Erskine

Nor let me curious ask if dark or fair
My future hours; but in the hand divine,
With full affiance, leave my every care;
Be humble hope and resignation mine.

"Desiring a Cheerful Resignation to the Divine Will" by Ann Steele

Do not, O God! my trusting heart deceive;
For I, in thee, and thee alone, believe:
Bring me salvation from thy holy hill,
For I, on thee, place my affiance still.

"A Prayer, Against The Oppression Of One's Foe. " by Rees Prichard

Then, though your bleeding heart its loss deplore;
O yet be each repining thought supprest,
That sovereign hand, which cannot err, adore,
Here, may your heart with full affiance rest.

"To Amira on the Death of Her Son" by Ann Steele

With all a mother’s doting love a mother yearned for him,
And watching for his quick return, a sister’s eye grew dim,
And, dearer still, a gentle girl, his fair affianced bride,—
And yet, with all these loving ones, unfriended, had he died.

"The Soldier’s Death" by Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon