Obs. Forms: 4–5 fiaunce, 5–6 fyaunce, (5 fyence), 6 fiance. [a. OF. fiance f. fier to trust.]
1. Confidence, trust.
1340. Ayenb., 164. Þe uerste poynte of prowesse hi clepieþ magnanimitie. Þe oþer fiaunce.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 5484.
| In whom no man shulde affye, | |
| Nor in hir yeftis have fiaunce. |
c. 1440. Generyaes, 5610. In whom suerly is all her fyence.
a. 1555. Philpot, trans. Curio’s Def., in Exam. & Writ. (Parker Soc.), 348. If thou wilt say, ‘Believe catholic folk,’ they admonish me that I neither give any fiance to thee.
2. A promise, word of honour.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. iii. And whan syre Ector was come he made fyaunce to the kyng for to nourisshe the child lyke as the Kynge desyred.
1592. Wyrley, Armorie, 70. From his gag’d fiaunce cleere I set him free.
