English Dictionary: Durance | by the DICT Development Group |
2 results for Durance | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Durance \Dur"ance\, n. [OF. durance duration, fr. L. durans, -antis, p. pr. durare to endure, last. See {Dure}, and cf. {Durant}.] 1. Continuance; duration. See {Endurance}. [Archaic] Of how short durance was this new-made state! --Dryden. 2. Imprisonment; restraint of the person; custody by a jailer; duress. Shak. [bd]Durance vile.[b8] --Burns. In durance, exile, Bedlam or the mint. --Pope. 3. (a) A stout cloth stuff, formerly made in imitation of buff leather and used for garments; a sort of tammy or everlasting. Where didst thou buy this buff? let me not live but I will give thee a good suit of durance. --J. Webster. (b) In modern manufacture, a worsted of one color used for window blinds and similar purposes. |