Afiance

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To formally promise or pledge someone in marriage
2. To bind by a promise of marriage or engagement
3. To pledge in betrothal or commit to a future marriage

Etymology: Before it meant a formal promise of marriage, this verb meant simply to trust. It comes from Old French "afier," "to pledge one's faith to," built from "a-" ("to") and "fier" ("to trust"). Both go back to Latin "fidere," "to trust," the source of English "faith," "fidelity," and "confide." The spelling "afiance" is an older variant of the more common "affiance," which keeps the same core sense. To affiance someone was to bind yourself to them by a solemn pledge, and in English the sense narrowed to betrothal. The noun "fiancé" comes from the same Old French root, so an engagement is, at bottom, a promise made in good faith.

Synonyms: betroth, pledge, engage