Etymology

spence

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Today it means: A buttery or pantry. Full definition →

Middle English spence ← Middle French despense ← Medieval Latin dīspēnsa
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The story

  1. Latin · derived fromdīspēnsus
  2. Medieval Latin · derived fromdīspēnsa
  3. Middle French · derived fromdespense
  4. Middle English · inherited fromspence
  5. English todayspence

From Middle English spence, spense, borrowed from Middle French despense, from Medieval Latin dīspēnsa, noun use of feminine of Latin dīspēnsus, past participle of dīspendere (“weigh out”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.