Obs. Forms: 5 sou(u)enaunce, 6–7 souv-, souenance. [a. OF. sov-, souvenance (F. souvenance, It. sovvenenza), f. so(u)venir: see SOUVENIR.] Remembrance; memory.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 19. The souenaunce of his lady presented her into his memorie. Ibid. (1483), Gold. Leg., 363/2. As she hadde alwey souuenaunce and mynde of Jhesu Cryst.
c. 1550. Rolland, Crt. Venus, II. 1026. Ȝe haifand of vs the souenance, With hand we may not make hir resistance.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. vi. 8. Of his way he had no souenaunce, Nor care of vow’d reuenge.
1614. J. Davies (Heref.), Eclogue, 116. Whan wee wenden till an other place, Our souenance, may here ay-gayly wonne.
1625. Lisle, Du Bartas, Noe, 100. Like a forrest wide where … the learned Souvenance Itself entangled is.
