-ance

1. a suffix used to form nouns either from adjectives ending in -ant or from verbs:

   brilliance; appearance.

-ance

suffix forming nouns

1. indicating an action, state or condition, or quality Compare -ence

   resemblance

   hindrance

   tenancy

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ance¹

Middle English < Old French < Latin -antia -ancy, equivalent to -ant- -ant + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ance¹

via Old French from Latin -antia; see -ancy

Example Sentences

Final e of a primitive word is dropped on taking a suffix beginning with a vowel: as, blame + able = blamable; guide + ance = guidance; come + ing = coming; force + ible = forcible; obscure + ity = obscurity.

From Literature

The Herald-Dispatch reports 33-year-old Ance Matthew Marcum was extradited Friday to a Barboursville jail on charges including negligent homicide.

From Washington Times

The script includes helpful stage direction, and it might have been nice if someone had said it out loud: “This is a theatrical séance. … We will try and fail and try again and ask for a commitment to our fellow humans sharing our air.”

From New York Times

This would enable insur­ance providers and individual patients to shop around for the best deals.

From Salon

According to ANCE, the Italian construction businessmen association, profits in the industry have dropped by 90% since 2007.

From The Guardian