Meanings
plural werowances · alternative weroance
- historicalA chief of an American Indian tribe in colonial Virginia and Maryland.
they boldly demanded what we were, and what we would; but after many circumstances they seemed very kinde, and directed us to Accomack, the habitation of their Werowance, where we were kindly intreated.
1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, Kupperman, published 1988, page 871 more example
they stirred not from vs, but walked vp and downe, by and amongst vs, the best of them inquiring for our Weroance or king, with whom they would gladly consult to know the occasion of our comming thither […]
1615, Ralph Hamor, A True Discourse of the Present State of Virginia, Richmond, published 1957, page 9
Origin
- Powhatanwirowántĕsu“he is rich”
- Englishwerowance
Apparently borrowed from Powhatan wirowántĕsu (“he is rich”), from wiro (“to be rich”).
More words from Powhatan
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
werowance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/werowance
“werowance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/werowance. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “werowance,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/werowance.
Source: werowance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.