Meanings
plural deficiences
- countableobsoleteuncountableDeficiency.
[H]is faults seem to be very many; some of natural deficience, and some of laborious affectation.
1760, Samuel Johnson, in James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson, Oxford 2008, p. 2532 more examples
Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee Is no deficience found: Not so is Man, But in degree; the cause of his desire By conversation with his like to help Or solace his defects.
1667, John Milton, Paradise LostWhoever has the care of instructing others, may be charged with deficience in his duty if this book is not recommended.
1719, Isaac Watts, The Psalms of David
Origin
- Late Latindēficientia
- Englishdeficience
From Late Latin dēficientia.
More words from Late Latin
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
deficience. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deficience
“deficience.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deficience. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “deficience,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deficience.
Source: deficience on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.