Etymology Explorer › Old French

Where does “-ance” come from?

-ance (Old French) comes from Latin -ia, from Latin -ius, from Proto-Italic -jōs, from Proto-Indo-European -yós — Creates adjectives from noun or verb stems.

-ance (Old French): -ance

Definitions

  1. -ance

Ancestry of “-ance”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latin-iaUsed to form a feminine abstract noun, usually...
2Latin-iusforming adjectives from nouns; nominative neuter...
3Proto-Italic-jōsForms comparative adjectives
4Proto-Indo-European-yósCreates adjectives from noun or verb stems

Words derived from “-ance”

  • performance
  • independence
  • accordance
  • guidance
  • compliance
  • assurance
  • Renaissance
  • relevance
  • resemblance
  • reliance
  • allowance
  • surveillance
  • vengeance
  • dominance
  • utterance
  • reluctance
  • clearance
  • deference
  • ambulance
  • impedance
  • grievance
  • hindrance
  • issuance
  • brilliance
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -yós →