Also 7 adherance. [a. Fr. adhérence, ad. L. adhærentia: see ADHERENCY.]
1. The action of sticking or holding fast (to anything, or together).
1612. T. Taylor, Titus iii. 7 (1619), 670. A thing is ours two waies, 1. by infusion, inherence, or adherence; or 2. by account or reckoning.
1794. Sullivan, View of Nat., I. 435. Siliceous earths are characterized by … a total want of flexibility, and adherence to each other, when minutely divided.
1875. Swinburne, Ess. & Stud., 338. Another child clings to his leg … The helpless adherence of the slighted older child.
2. Attachment (to a person or party); adhesion.
1634–46. J. Row (father), Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1842), 44. The causses of adherence and divorcements ought also to appertaine to them [ministers].
1660. R. Coke, Just. Vind., Ep. Ded. 8. Your constant adherence to the Church.
1754. Sherlock, Disc., I. i. (1759), 2. The ground of their Constancy and Adherence to Christ.
1852. Conybeare & Howson, St. Paul (1862), I. xi. 374. His present host and hostess had now given their formal adherence to St. Paul.
3. Persistence in a practice or tenet; steady observance or maintenance. Const. to.
1638. Chillingworth, Relig. Prot., I. ii. § 154. 112. God’s Spirit … may work a certainty of adherence beyond a certainty of evidence.
1769. Burke, State Nat., Wks. II. 144. What does he mean by talking of an adherence to the old navigation laws?
1869. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 424. I profess adherence to the English psychological method.
1879. Gladstone, Gleanings, II. v. 219. An uncompromising adherence to what was right.
4. Bot. = ADHESION 4; adnation.
1857. Henfrey, Bot., 94. Adherence of sepals and petals.
† 5. A particular instance of adhering; adherent matter or circumstance. Cf. ADHERENCY 2. Obs.
1531. Elyot, Governour (1580), 766. Unto this noble vertue [fortitude] be attendant, or as it were continuall adherences, diuers uertues.
1650. Jer. Taylor, Holy Living (1727), 94. To discern his own infirmities and make discovery of his bad adherences.
1667. in Phil. Trans., II. 426. Every one of these small adherances is turned into a little Vermicle.
