ANCE

5 definitions found across Law Mind sources

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ANCEAuthored
The Law Mind • 665 words
Definition
A Latin-derived suffix used in legal English to form nouns denoting action, process, condition, or quality. As a standalone dictionary entry, ANCE functions as a formative element — a word-building unit — rather than a term with independent legal content. Its significance lies entirely in the compound legal terms it produces: words such as imparlance, recognizance, surety of the peace, and assistance derive their form from this suffix. The suffix carries two principal senses in legal usage: 1. Action or process: The doing of some act or the carrying on of some proceeding (e.g., appearance — the act of appearing before a court; assistance — the act of rendering aid, as in a writ of assistance). 2. State or quality: A continuing condition or status (e.g., recognizance — the state of being bound by acknowledgment to a court).
Why It Matters in Research
Researchers consulting historical legal dictionaries will encounter ANCE listed as a standalone entry primarily in older compilations that followed the encyclopedic tradition of including Latin and Anglo-French grammatical units alongside substantive legal terms. Bouvier's cross-references IMPARLANCE directly, signaling that the practical research value of this entry lies in chasing those compound terms, not in studying the suffix itself. The trap for the historical corpus researcher is this: many ANCE-terminated legal terms are archaic or have changed meaning substantially. IMPARLANCE (a pleading procedure for obtaining time to answer), RECOGNIZANCE (a bond acknowledged before a court), and DISTURBANCE (interference with a legal right) all carry technical meanings that bear little resemblance to their etymological roots in action or quality. Do not assume that a common-language parsing of the suffix illuminates the legal content of the derived term — it rarely does. Because historical dictionaries often indexed terms alphabetically in a way that grouped ANCE-formed words together, researchers scanning microfilm or digitized facsimile editions may encounter clusters of functionally unrelated entries in close proximity. Cross-check every ANCE-terminated term against its own dedicated entry rather than relying on neighboring entries for definitional context.
Historical Dictionary Support
The historical sources reviewed for this entry do not provide a unified treatment of ANCE as a legal concept. Black's (1st ed.) includes entries for compound terms built on this suffix — such as INSURANCE (cross-referenced via Bouvier's truncated "See INSUR-") and the court for merchant insurance disputes established by 43 Eliz. c. 12 — but does not define the suffix independently in any substantive way. Rapalje & Lawrence likewise treats ANCE-derived terms as individual headwords (ASSISTANCE, writ of; ASSISTING AND DIRECTING) without reflection on the suffix itself. Bouvier's is the most direct, cross-referencing IMPARLANCE from within what appears to be an entry touching pleading advantage and reservation of exceptions — a useful reminder that ANCE-terminated pleading terms often carried highly specific procedural content in common law practice. Webster's 1913 supplies the clearest synthesis available: ANCE denotes "action" or "quality or state," with -ANCY as the parallel form. This grammatical note accurately describes the suffix's function across both common and legal English, which is the rare case where the common-language definition and the legal usage are structurally aligned — though the legal content of each derived term must still be independently verified. No historical source reviewed assigns freestanding legal content to ANCE as a term of art. Its presence as a dictionary headword reflects the encyclopedic ambitions of 19th-century legal lexicography rather than any substantive legal doctrine.
Related Terms
IMPARLANCE — the most directly cross-referenced ANCE-formed term in Bouvier's RECOGNIZANCE — major common-law term formed with this suffix ASSISTANCE (WRIT OF) — procedural term; treated as independent headword in Rapalje & Lawrence APPEARANCE — foundational ANCE-formed term in civil and criminal procedure DISTURBANCE — ANCE-formed tort concept INSURANCE — substantive field cross-referenced in Bouvier's from this entry cluster ANCY — parallel suffix form; see Webster's 1913 cross-reference
ANCEmain
Black's Law Dictionary • 1891
A court established by statute 43 Eliz. c. 12, to determine in a summary way all causes between merchants, concerning policies of insurance. Crabb, Eng. Law, 503.
ANCEmain
Black's Law Dictionary • 1891
An under-tenant, who is in posses- sion at the determination of an original lease, and is permitted by the reversioner to hold over. QUASI TORT, though not a recognized term of English law, may be conveniently used in those cases where a man who has not committed a tort is liable as if he had. Thus, a master is liable for wrongful acts done by his servant in the course of his employment. Broom, Com. Law, 690; Underh. Torts, 29.
ANCEmain
Rapalje & Lawrence • 1888
ASSISTANCE, (writ of). 21 Wall. (U.S.) 289. (writ of, when issues). 21 Cal. 87. ASSISTANT JUDGE-A judge of the English Court of General or Quarter Sessions in Middlesex: he differs from the other justices in being a barrister of ten years' standing, and in being salaried. Stat. 7 and 8 Vict. c. 71; 22 and 23 Vict. c. 4; Pritch. Quar. Sess. 31. ASSISTING AND DIRECTING, (in an indictment for larceny). Russ. & R. C. C. 343. ASSIZE COURT, (described). 13 Ad. & E. N. S.738; 6 Hurlst. & N. 717. ASSIZES.-Sre ASSISE, & 2. The commoners, or tenants and inhabitants, who have the right of common or commoning in open field.-Cowell. A court of special jurisdiction, which anciently took cognizance of cases involving claims made by those insured upon policies in the city of London.-Bouvier. COURT OF PROBAТЕ - 1. In American law. A court, so called in many of the States, (in others it is styled "Court of Ordinary" (q. v.), "Orphans' Court" (q. v.), "Surrogate's Court" (q. v.)) which has jurisdiction of the probate of wills, the issuing of letters tes tamentary or of administration, the settlement of decedents' estates, guardianship of infant heirs, control over personal representatives, &c. In some States there is alsc added a limited jurisdiction in civil actions and criminal prosecutions. 2. In English law. -By the Stat. 20 and 21 Vict. c. 77, it was enacted that the voluntary and contentious jurisdiction and authority of all ecclesiastical, peculiar, manorial and other courts and persons in England having jurisdiction or authority to grant probate of wills or letters of administration should cease, and that such jurisdiction and authority should thenceforth be exercised in the name of her majesty in a court to be called the "Court of Probate," consisting of a judge and a number of registrars. (See REGISTRAR.) By the Judicature Act, 1873, the jurisdiction of the court was transferred to the Supreme Court of Judicature, the principal effect of the transfer being to change the name of the court to that of the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice (q. v.), and to alter the practice in contentious business. See ACTION, 11; CAVEAT, § 2; CITATION, p. 211, note; PLEADING; PROBATE;
ANCEn.
Websters Unabridged Dictionary (1913) • 1913
A suffix signifying action; also, quality or state; as, assistance, resistance, appearance, elegance. See -ancy. A suffix signifying action; also, quality or state; as, assistance, resistance, appearance, elegance. See -ancy.

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