-ance

• -ence
• ⠨⠑ (Braille)

From Middle English -aunce, -ance, from Anglo-Norman -aunce and continental Old French -ance, from Latin -antia, -entia.

• IPA^(key): /-əns/

-ance

1. Added to an adjective or verb to form a noun indicating a state or condition, such as result or capacity, associated with the verb.

   ‎ally + ‎-ance → ‎alliance

   ‎perform + ‎-ance → ‎performance

   ‎reluct + ‎-ance → ‎reluctance

2. Added to a verb to form a noun indicating a process or action.

   ‎appear + ‎-ance → ‎appearance

   ‎resist + ‎-ance → ‎resistance

• Many words ending in "-ance" were formed in French or by alteration of a noun or adjective ending in "-ant".

• -ency

• Caen, CanE, Cane, Cena, Nace, acne, cane

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.

• IPA^(key): /ɑ̃s/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Homophone: -ence

-ance f (plural -ances)

1. -ance; forms abstract nouns

• -ant
• -ence

-ance

1. alternative form of -aunce

-ance

1. -ance (suffixed used to form nouns)

• French: -ance

• -anche, -aunce

Inherited from Latin -antia(m), -entia(m).

• IPA^(key): /ˈãn.t͡sə/

-ance

1. -ance (suffixed used to form nouns)

• -ant

• Middle French: -ance
  • French: -ance
• → Middle English: -aunce, -ance, -ans, -anse, -auns
  • English: -ance (-ence)
  • Scots: -ance (-ence)

• -ence

From Middle English -aunce, from Anglo-Norman -aunce and continental Old French -ance, from Latin -antia, -entia.

• IPA^(key): /əns/

-ance

1. Forms nouns indicating states or processes, usually from verbs or other nouns;

-ance n (Cyrillic spelling -анце, noun-forming suffix)

1. suffix appended to words to create a neuter noun, usually to form a diminutive or as an expression of endearment, or to denote an object

• -ce
• -ence