[f. CONVEY v.1 + -ANCE.] I. The action or process of conveying.
† 1. Convoying, escorting, or conducting; conduct. Obs.
1503–4. Act 19 Hen. VII., c. 27. Preamb., For sure conveyaunce of the Marchaundises to the seid Staple at Cales.
1604. Shaks., Oth., I. iii. 286. To his conueyance I assigne my wife.
2. The action of carrying or transporting; the carriage of persons or goods from one place to another. (Formerly used more widely.)
c. 1520. Mem. Ripon (Surtees), III. 206. Pro vjll fawdom long lyne for the convaans of the schryne.
1538. Starkey, England, I. iii. 93. For ther ys convehauns of many thyngys necessary to the use of our pepul.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 302. For the conveyaunce and bringing over of the French king, and his other Prisoners into England.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic. (1779), IV. cv. 350. Peregrine was forcibly separated from his charmer during the conveyance.
1791. Cowper, Odyss., VIII. 190. Desirous only of conveyance home.
1870. in Anderson, Missions Amer. Bd., IV. xlv. 462. Postal arrangements for the conveyance of money, as well as letters.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 673. In sailing or any other mode of conveyance which is not fatiguing.
† b. with subjective genitive. Obs.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, cxx. 427. When … Huon was in his bedde he lay and studyed of the conuayaunce of the Gryffon [i.e., the griffin’s carrying of men].
† c. The carrying of a communication. Obs.
1608. Bp. Hall, Char. Virtues & V., II. 117. Even in absence hee extolleth his patron, where hee may presume of safe conveiance to his eares. Ibid. (1614), Epist., I. ix. Recoll. Treat., 413. Gods strange conveyance of this offer to mee.
† 3. Carrying away, removal, riddance. Obs.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 90. The best riddance or conueiaunce that they haue of such discommodities.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. iv. 283. Thou … Mad’st quicke conveyance with her good Aunt Anne.
1665. Sir T. Roe’s Voy. E. India, 394. A very cleanly conveyance for Parents to be rid of their unruly Children. [With word-play on sense 11 b.]
4. Furtive or light-fingered carrying off; stealing. (Sometimes associated with sleight of hand or jugglery: see sense 11 b.)
1526. Skelton, Magnyf., 500. Cr. Con. What, Counterfet Countenance! C. Count. What, Crafty Conveyance!
1596. Harington, Metam. Ajax (1814), 63. A certain gentleman … stole a piece of plate … at a banquet; the conveyance was not so cleanly but one had spied it.
c. 1605. Rowley, Birth Merl., IV. i. Ha, cleanly conveyance again! ye have no invisible fingers, have ye? ’Tis gone certainly.
1779–81. Johnson, L. P., Smith, Wks. II. 465. The simile … is stolen from Cowley, however little worth the labour of conveyance.
5. The communicating or imparting (of a thing to any one).
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., II. i. § 1. The matter to be believed should have a certain uniform conveyance to mens minds.
1737. Waterland, Eucharist, 367. If the putting on Christ carries with it a Conveyance of the Holy Spirit.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 561. Ghostly counsel, if it … be dishonour’d in th’exterior form and mode of its conveyance.
a. 1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. IV. v. (1876), 69. Absolution is the conveyance to the conscience of the conviction of forgiveness.
6. Transmission, transference, handing from one to another.
1646. J. Gregory, Notes & Observ. (1652), 121. This body of Adam was embalmed and transmitted from Father to Son by a Reverend and Religious way of conveighance.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., I. vi. § 5. In those things which had no certain conveyance to posterity.
1850. Gladstone, Glean., V. xlviii. 202. It is expressly affirmed … to be valid in very deed as to the conveyance of the episcopal character.
7. Law. The transference of property (esp. real property) from one person to another by any lawful act (in modern use only by deed or writing between living persons).
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., Prol. If the owner make a true pee degre or conueyaunce by discente or by purchace vnto the said landes or lordshippes.
1571. Act 13 Eliz., c. 5. Covenous and fraudulent … conveyaunces … as well of landes and tenementes as of goodes and catals.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man. in Hum., V. iii. Master Wellbred might make a coveiance of mistris Bridget to my yong master.
1628. Digby, Voy. Medit., Pref. (1868), 9. The law upheld the conveyance to uses which he had made.
1653. Milton, Hirelings (1659), 66. Where did he assigne it [tithe] or by what evident conveyance to ministers?
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull (1755), 48. He has the original deed of conveyance to the fortunate islands.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), V. 130. A fine being considered as a common assurance or conveyance of real property.
1863. Fawcett, Pol. Econ., II. xi. 209. The conveyance of land in England is most cumbrous and costly.
b. The written instrument or document by which this transference is effected.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 240. Your father left you nothing either by deede of gift, testament, or any other conveyance.
1589. Pappe w. Hachet, 31. These Martins make the Scriptures a Scriueners-shop to drawe conueyances.
1602. Shaks., Ham., V. i. 119. The very conueyances of his Lands will hardly lye in this Boxe.
1626. Sir S. D’Ewes, Jrnls. (1783), 35. All particulars to bee inserted into the marriage-conveyance.
1679–88. Secr. Serv. Money Chas. & Jas. (Camden), 65. To Daniel Storer, for copying and ingrossing the conveyances made by Sir Wm Poultney and others of the ground and houses bought by his said late Majesty to enlarge St. James Parke.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 399. [Deeds] used in the alienation of real estates … are commonly denominated conveyances.
1877. Dowden, Shaks. Primer, ii. 26. His brother Gilbert received the conveyance for him.
Mod. (Indorsement of purchase-deed or draft), Conveyance of messuage and hereditaments at Stoke in the county of X.
8. conveying or conducting of running water, air, heat, electricity, or the like, by a suitable channel or medium.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. (1586), 49 b. Conveiance by Condit or pumpe, or running streame.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 125. Disposing Veines and Arteries throughout the bodie, for their apt conveyance of the bloud and spirit.
1704. Swift, T. Tub, Introd. If it be upon its decay, it is the better … for Conveyance of sound.
1794. S. Williams, Vermont, 176. An aperture … at the top, for the conveyance of smoke.
1840. Lardner, Geom., 144. Pipes for the conveyance of gas, water, or other fluid.
1871. B. Stewart, Heat, § 403. There will be a conveyance of heat from the first to the second.
attrib. 1860. Tyndall, Glaciers, I. 9. By suddenly stopping a cock from which water flows you may burst the conveyance pipe.
† 9. The conveying of meaning by words; expression, or clothing of thought in language; disposition of material in a poem, etc. Hence, b. Manner of expressing thought, form of expression or utterance, style. Obs.
1515. Barclay, Egloges, IV. (1570), c. iv./2. Mercury geueth to Poetes laureate Goodly conueyaunce, speeche pleasaunt and ornate.
1543. Grafton, Contn. Harding, 519. Howbeit concernyng that opinion menne maye see the conueighaunce therof in the type of … Henry the Seuenth.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop. (Arb.), 14. Ye wittie inuencion and fine conueiaunce or disposition of ye matter.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 342. The conveyaunce of his matter is manifest and perceivable.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary, II. (1625), 52. This Invective … howbeit both termes and conveiance are somewhat hard, yet is it in such cases very tolerable.
1592. Greene, Art Conny Catch., II. Pref. 3. I shewed no elegant phrases, nor fine figuratiue conueyance in my first booke.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), A b. The imperfections in the harsh composure and conveyance of the stile.
1625. trans. Gonsalvio’s Sp. Inquis., 197. The profound learning that was in him, as also his singular art for conueiance.
1703. Kirkton, Hist. J. Welsh (1845), 7. No man could forbear weeping, his conveyance was so affecting.
1775. Johnson, Tax. no Tyr., 79. The soft conveyance of a female patriot bewailing the miseries of her … fellow-citizens.
† c. with pl. An expression. Obs.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary, I. (1625), 12. By divers Epithites, and fine conveiances.
† 10. Carrying on, conduct, management (of an affair); carrying out, execution. Also in Mus., Execution. Obs.
1572. R. H., trans. Lauaterus’ Ghostes (1596), 27. [She] declared the slie conveiance of this horrible deed unto her husband.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xi. 150. By the orderly conueyance of things which he seeth both aboue and beneath; by the order which they keepe without fayling.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., 150. One with a quicke hand playing vpon an instrument … will by the hast of his conueiance cloke manie faultes.
1607. Dekker, Northw. Hoe, V. i. Wks. 1873, III. 63. My reuenge will haue a more neat and vnexpected conueyance.
a. 1652. Brome, Mad Couple, IV. II. Wks. 1873, I. 69. Full directions for the conveyance of our designe.
† 11. Manner of managing or conducting; skilful management, skill; generalship. Obs.
1526. Frith, Disput. Purgat., 173. Since such a patron, so greatly recommended for his conveyance and wisdom, handleth this matter.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. Ep. Ded. In … the world, there is most excellent conveiance without confusion.
1600. Dr. Dodypoll, II. i., in Bullen, O. Pl., III. 110. Marke the conveiance of this lovelie hand.
1604. Edmonds, Observ. Cæsar’s Comm., 53. Neither is a Commaunder the lesse valued for fine conueyance in militarie proiects.
† b. esp. Cunning management or contrivance; underhand dealing, jugglery, sleight of hand. Obs.
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. xxvi. If they be taken with any crafty conueiaunce.
1547. J. Harrison, Exhort. Scottes, 211. In an euill cause, muche arte and conueyaunce must be vsed, afore it can appere good.
1565. Jewel, Def. Apol. (1611), 281. Miracles be wrought … sometime by the conueiance of the Diuell.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. iii. 2. I am come to suruey the Tower this day; Since Henries death, I feare there is Conueyance.
1608. Day, Law Trickes, IV. iii. The deepest wit could not haue bettered Our smooth conueyance.
1615. J. Stephens, Satyr. Ess. (ed. 2), 278. He hath a sleight of hand, or cleanly conveiance, which threaten silver spoones.
1625. W. Pemble, Justification (1629), 34. Arminius … vsed much closenesse & cunning conveyance.
1642. Milton, Apol. Smect. (1851), 289. The dexterity and conveiance of his nonsense.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Praise Poverty, Wks. 1730, I. 93. The legerdemain must be clean and the conveyance impenetrable to the eye of the people.
† c. (with a and pl.) A secret or cunning device, an artifice, a trick of jugglery. Obs.
1534. Mrs. M. Basset, trans. More’s Treat. on Passion, Wks. 1397/1. Youre subtyle conueyghaunces.
1565. Jewel, Repl. Harding (1611), 43. That … is another conueiance, to blinde thy sight.
1565–78. Cooper, Thesaurus, Pilarius … A juggler that playeth his conueighances with little round balles.
1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse (ed. 2), 30 a. All Italionate conueyances, as to kill a man, and then mourne for him.
1627–77. Feltham, Resolves, II. lxviii. 303. They are deterr’d from poor and skulking conveyances.
1641. Milton, Animadv. (1851), 205. A pretty slip-skin conveyance!
† d. concr. An ingenious device, a contrivance.
1596. Harington, Metam. Ajax. The deviser of this rare conveyance.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 207. Sundry little pieces of … marble in checker-work, and other most exquisite conveyances. Ibid., 455. A very large spheare beautified with many cunning conueighances and withe inuentions.
II. A way or means of conveying.
12. A conducting way, passage, or channel.
† a. A way of communication, a passage. Sometimes, a private or secret passage. Also fig.
1542. in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), I. 237. Our enemye, knowynge the places and conueighaunces of the countrees.
1600. Surflet, Countrie Farme, VII. xxxix. 867. [Badgers] holes are deepe and narrowe … consisting of many conueiances and passages.
a. 1639. W. Whately, Prototypes, II. xxxi. (1640), 156. To keepe … this window as it were of the soule, to be master of this conveighance, by which so much comes in and goes out of the soule.
1642. R. Carpenter, Experience, iv. p. vii. Scarce a House … which they have not fitted with private doores and conveyances.
1691. trans. Emilianne’s Obs. Journ. Naples, 173. Stopping up the Conveyance they had made under their Walls.
† b. A channel for conveying water, steam, smoke, electricity, etc.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. (1586), 109. For conveighances of water, the Alder … and the Pitche Tree, are best made in Pipes.
1607. Shaks., Cor., V. i. 54. These Pipes and these Conueyances of our blood.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 125. Vnder the mouthes of the vpper ouens are conueyances for smoke.
1659. Leak, Waterwks., 26. There must be 3 conveiances for the wind.
1710. T. Fuller, Pharm. Extemp., 300. A free circulation through the minutist Conveyances of the Humane Machine.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 303. If struck with lightning, it would thus far be a sufficient conveyance; then joining the kitchen grate to the leaden sink by a metal conveyance.
c. A conducting pipe in an organ; see quots.
1840. Penny Cycl., XVI. 492. One of the front pipes, to which the wind is conveyed by metal tubes called conveyances.
1876. Hiles, Catech. Organ, v. (1878), 40. The pipes in the front of the case [of an organ] … are supplied with wind from the wind-chest by means of pipes of metal, tin, or wood, called conveyances, which carry the wind from the sound-board to those pipes at a distance.
13. A means of transport from place to place, a carriage, a vehicle: now, esp. applied to anything used to convey persons as passengers, e.g., any kind of private or public vehicle, a railway carriage, a boat, ship, etc. Formerly Formerly applicable also to a beast of burden: cf. CARRIAGE.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., III. iii. 135. Your husband’s heere at hand, bethinke you of some conueyance: in the house you cannot hide him.
1649. Sir E. Nicholas, in N. Papers (Camden), 126. The last letters you sent were by Mr. Hardings conveyance.
1702. R. Nelson, in Pepys, Diary, VI. 256. The conveniency of public conveyances.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., IV. i. (1869), II. 312. Mules are the only conveyance which can safely be trusted.
1825. C. Wordsworth, Lett., in Overton, Life (1888), 31. We start by the first conveyance, the night coach, for London.
1830. Disraeli, Home Lett., I. 2. The steam packet is a beastly conveyance.
1850. Lyell, 2nd Visit U.S., II. 320. It must have been transferred to three distinct conveyances, including two railways.
† 14. fig. A means or medium for communicating; an organ or channel of communication; a ‘vehicle’ (of thought, etc.). Obs.
1548. Hall, Chron., 11. There lacked only an orgaine and conveighance bothe how secretly to serche and knowe the myndes of the nobilitee.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxvii. 4. Should serve as … conveyances of his body and blood unto them.
a. 1711. Ken, Divine Love, Wks. (1838), 318. Thou … art the Author and Fountain of grace, and thou only hast the right of instituting the conveyances of thy own grace.
1715. Bentley, Serm., x. 348. And the Apostles to speak more authenticly in that conveyance [Latin] than in their own Words.
1841. Myers, Cath. Th., III. § 6. 21. Our Lord did not use His Apostles as mere mechanical conveyances of Truth.
III. attrib., as conveyance-stamp, -pipe (7 b, 8).
1845. McCulloch, Taxation, II. vi. § 3. The conveyance stamp on a sale is fixed at 10s. per cent.
