n. [ OE. afiaunce trust, confidence, OF. afiance, fr. afier to trust, fr. LL. affidare to trust; ad + fidare to trust, fr. L. fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Affidavit, Affy, Confidence. ] 1. Plighted faith; marriage contract or promise. [ archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Trust; reliance; faith; confidence. [ archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Such feelings promptly yielded to his habitual affiance in the divine love. Sir J. Stephen. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lancelot, my Lancelot, thou in whom I have
Most joy and most affiance. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. affianced p. pr. & vb. n. affiancing ] [ Cf. OF. afiancier, fr. afiance. ] 1. To betroth; to pledge one's faith to for marriage, or solemnly promise (one's self or another) in marriage. [ 1913 Webster ]

To me, sad maid, he was affianced. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To assure by promise. [ Obs. ] Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who makes a contract of marriage between two persons. [ 1913 Webster ]