Forms: 4 afy-, 4–6 affiaunce, 5 affyanse, 5–6 affyaunce, 4– affiance. [a. OFr. afiance, n. of action f. afier to trust: see AFFY.]
1. The action of confiding, or fact of having faith, in a person, quality, etc.; faith, trust. Const. in, rarely on (subord. cl., upon, to, unto, obs.)
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 87. Þat he so suld þe barons had affiance.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 642. Alle his afyaunce vpon folde watȝ in þe fyue woundeȝ Þat cryst kaȝt on þe croys.
1475. Bk. Noblesse (1860), 41. That ever we shulde put affiaunce and trust to the Frenshe partie.
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Paraphr. Heb. xi. 24. Puttyng his affyaunce in God.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, 125. Repose the whole affiance of your hearts upon me.
1747. Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. 104. How well I did to put my affiance in his goodness.
1859. Tennyson, Elaine, 1348. My Lancelot, thou in whom I have Most love and most affiance.
1862. Trench, Miracles, Introd. 93. A true affiance on Him who is the Giver of this faith.
† 2. Confidence generally; assurance. Obs.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 16/4. Who is he that is not ravysshid to hope of affyaunce?
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Paraphr. John ix. 34. The Phariseis beyng sore prouoked with the beggars great affyaunce, made no aunswere.
1591. Troubl. Raigne of K. John, II. (1611), 92. There’s no affiance after periurie.
1633. T. Adams, Exp. 2 Pet. ii. 2 (1865), 243/2. Abraham in affiance of this truth ventured to forsake his country.
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1781), I. xxxix. 282. My prayers … have not that affiance with them that they used to be attended with.
3. The pledging of faith; solemn engagement; esp. the plighting of troth between two persons in marriage, a marriage contract.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of Armes, IV. iv. 238. Not sayeng trouthe af hys promesse and affyaunce made.
1528. Perkins, Profit. Bk., v. § 442 (1642), 191. Endowment ought to bee made immediately after affiance made betwixt them at the Church doore.
1557. K. Arthur (W. Copland), I. iii. He made affyaunce to the kynge for to nourysshe the chylde.
1628. Coke, On Littleton, I. v. § 39 (1633), 34/1. After affiance and troth plight between them.
1783. Martyn, Geog. Mag., I. 20. The affiance is compleated by a prayer.
1809. Tomlins, Law Dict., Affiance, the plighting of troth between a man and a woman, upon agreement of marriage.
† 4. Hence fig. Intimate relationship, affinity. Obs.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. (1632), 350. Religion and Superstition have more affiance … then Superstition and Prophaneness.
1601. Chester, Love’s Martyr, xliii. (1878), 45. Merlin, that did alwaies loue the King, As bearing chiefe affiance to his countrey.
