habitance

plural habitances

1. countableobsoleteuncountabledwelling; abode; residence

   What art thou , man , ( if man at all thou art , ) That here in desert hast thine habitance

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “(please specify the book)”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

   1 more example

   Hardly had the peahen done speaking, when the antelope came up to them, thinking to shelter under the shade of the tree, and seeing the two birds, saluted them and said, ‘I came to this island to-day, and I have seen none richer in herbage nor more pleasant of habitance.’ Then he besought them of company and amity, and they, seeing his friendly behaviour to them, welcomed him and gladly accepted his offer.

   1882-1884, John Payne, The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Story of the Birds and Beasts and the Son of Adam