Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Durance"

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. ``Durance vile.'' --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.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

durance
n : imprisonment (especially for a long time)


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