Obs. Also 6 soraunce, 7–8 sorrance, 7 soarrance. [f. SORE a.1 + -ANCE, prob. after GRIEVANCE 4.] A sore, or a morbid state producing a sore, in an animal, esp. in a horse.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 6. If any sorance come to the horse … than he is lyttell worthe. Ibid., § 89. The hawe is a sorance in a horse eye.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 123. A soraunce breeding about the ioyntes.
1610. Markham, Masterp. (title-p.), The curing of all maner of diseases or sorrances in horses. Ibid., II. cviii. 390. The maltlong … is a cankerous soarrance aboue the hoofe.
1655. L. Thetford, Markham’s Perfect Horseman, 15. Incurable deformities, gross sorrances, as Spavens, Ringbones, imperfect Eyes, or the like.
c. 1720. W. Gibson, Farrier’s Guide, II. xxi. (1738), 69. When the Sorance is but in one Eye, it [sc. the bandage] ought to reach to the Middle of his Nose.
1749. W. Ellis, Shepherd’s Guide, 328. These things will afflict them with the nauseous Sorrance.
b. Used with reference to persons. rare.
1592. West, 1st Pt. Symbol., § 102. Al maner of diseases, griefes and sorances wherewith the said H is now infected.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 155. Seldome or neuer complaine they of any sorance in other parts of the body.
c. fig. A painful matter; a grievance.
1608. Heywood, trans. Sallust, 35. Their prestinat prerogatiues brought passed sorances to remembraunce.
