[f. as CONVENIENCE sb. with later suffix -ENCY. Formerly more frequent than convenience, but now little used.]
† 1. = CONVENIENCE 1. Obs.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., I. xxi. (R.). More to the conueniency of tyme and agreement of other cronyclers.
1581. Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 41. That imitation wherof Poetry is, hath the most conueniency to Nature of all other.
1668. Howe, Bless. Righteous (1825), 42. The things spoken … have a real likeness and conveniency in nature with one another.
1708. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., II. I. ii. (1743), 329. If this conveniency was not a sufficient testimony, the inscriptions … found … would put it beyond all dispute.
† 2. = CONVENIENCE 3. Obs.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 143 b. By this … appereth the conuenyency how our exercyse … may be compared to a buyldyng.
1541. Act 33 Hen. VIII., c. 37. Such a palace roial … ought of all conueniency in reason to be ornated and set forth with the name and title of an honour.
1574. Whitgift, Def. Aunsw., iii. Wks. 1851, I. 369. The perpetual equity, reasonableness, and conveniency of this order.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 320. Moved thereunto [his marriage] … by the conveniency of her years.
1669. Worlidge, Syst. Agric., vii. § 5 (1681), 124. This way is with most conveniency to be used when the Stock is too big to be cleft.
† b. Conveniency of: what is accordant to or in accordance with. Obs.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., II. xvi. 243. It was against conveniencie of reason, that he should be fearfull for the salvation of his soule.
1624. Ld. Kensington, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 301, III. 174. No further to oblige himself … then might well stand with the … conveniency of his state.
† 3. = CONVENIENCE 4. Obs.
1583. Babington, Commandm., vii. (1637), 58. Tricking and trimming our selves above conveniencie, is a dangerous allurer of lust.
1656. Finett, For. Ambass., 2. His Majesty … desireth to perform all things with conveniency.
4. = CONVENIENCE 5.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., xi. Notes, 181. Conveniency of situation.
1683. Tryon, Way to Health, 309. If conveniency will permit, go to Bed and keep yourself warm for an hour.
1722. J. Macky, Journ. thro’ Eng., I. 230. What adds to the Beauty as well as Conveniency of these Offices, is, that they all open into St. James’s Park.
1772. Hutton, Bridges, 3. The conveniency of the passage to and from the bridge.
1816. Keatinge, Trav., II. 30. It is probable that such conveniency originally presenting itself first suggested the idea.
b. with qualifying words expressing the respect in or purpose for which a thing is convenient.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 7. The plaine countrey by reason of the fruitfulnes, doth minister … conveniencie to joyne their forces.
1625. K. Long, trans. Barclay’s Argenis, III. x. 183. They should returne … into the next Towne for the more conveniency of lodging.
1669. Worlidge, Syst. Agric., xi. § 2 (1681), 232. The Forewheels are lesser in a Waggon … for its conveniency in turning.
1721. Perry, Daggenh. Breach, 122. Water enough for the Conveniency of Ships to lie afloat.
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit. (1847), I. 279. The conveniency of the scholastic phrase to distinguish the kind from all degrees.
† c. Convenient occasion, opportunity. Obs.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., I. xxvi. 51. There will be conveniency every week of receiving and sending.
1659. B. Harris, Parival’s Iron Age, 61. Their sudden submission, gave the Spaniards conveniency to hasten to the relief of the Duke.
1667. Primatt, City & C. Build., 10. If they should want a conveniency of communicating the same to their Neighbours.
a. 1834. Lamb, Lett. to Manning, in Talfourd, Life, ix. 87. I have no conveniency of doing it by this.
† 5. = CONVENIENCE 6. Obs.
a. 1628. F. Greville, Sidney (1652), 64. To weigh the immortall wisdom in even scales with mortal conveniency or inconveniency.
a. 1654. Selden, Table-T. (Arb.), 40. Churches are set apart for the conveniency of men to Worship in.
1657. Cromwell, Sp., 13 April (1871), V. 19. I cannot, with conveniency to myself, speak out.
1728. Morgan, Algiers, I. vi. 189. Consulting the Conveniency of the worst of Infidels.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 425. Narrow causeways … for the conveniency of foot passengers.
b. Time or occasion convenient to a person.
1649. Alcoran, 28. You shall do well to stay their conveniency.
1693. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), III. 144. The French at their first conveniency intend to make a descent on Scotland.
1739. trans. Duhamel’s Husb., I. ix. (1762), 52. As your best conveniency invites you.
1831. Scott, Nigel, v. [He] would … wait his royal conveniency for payment.
6. A convenient thing; = CONVENIENCE 7.
† a. A convenient state or condition of matters; an advantage. Obs.
1638. Wilkins, New World, I. (1684), 8. Neither are there Seas, or Rivers, or any other conveniency for Habitation.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith., i. (1691), 17. Wherefore to have the occasion of abounding in Seamen, is a vast Conveniency.
1715. Desaguliers, Fires Impr., 53. Another conveniency will be, that you will hinder the Smoak … from being beaten down into your Room.
1779. J. Moore, View Soc. Fr. (1789), I. xi. 78. A stranger may fairly avail himself of every conveniency arising from their obliging manners.
† b. with defining words connected by of. Obs.
1660. Blount, Boscobel, II. (1680), 24. [To] stay there some days before the conveniency of a transportation could be found.
1676. Ray, Corr. (1848), 123. Wanting the conveniency of books to assist me in such an undertaking.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones (1775), 194. This room wanted the conveniency of a closet.
1798. Pennant, Hindoostan, I. 8. The Chinese merchants … got the conveniency of the river Ilak for part of their journey.
c. pl. Material arrangements or appliances advantageous to life, personal comfort, ease of work, saving of trouble, etc.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 441, ¶ 3. The Blessings and Conveniencies of Life.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 177, ¶ 2. I furnished a large room with all conveniencies for study.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., III. 202. The ancients were destitute of many of the conveniencies of life, which have been invented or improved by the progress of industry.
d. A particular convenient appliance or article; a utensil; formerly, esp. a conveyance or vehicle; = CONVENIENCE 7 d. arch.
1660. Trial Regic., 109. Having a conveniency out of my house into a Gallery.
1679–88. Secr. Serv. Money Chas. & Jas. (Camden), 16. For providing ships and conveniencys to transport horses to Tanger.
1703. J. Savage, Lett. Antients, liv. 138. Thy Helmet I believe thou wear’st … for a conveniency to drink out of in a Tavern.
1717. Mrs. Centlivre, Bold Stroke for Wife, V. (D.). I remember thou didst come up in the leathern conveniency with me.
1725. Lond. Gaz., No. 6423/3. A large Diamond Ring, with another Conveniency set with Diamonds.
1756. Nugent, Gr. Tour, IV. 36. The next thing is, to get you a conveniency to carry you abroad.
1875. Emerson, Lett. & Soc. Aims, i. 10. This magnificent hotel and conveniency we call Nature.
e. transf. of a person. arch.
1728–9. Mrs. Delany, in Life (1861), I. iii. 192. I did make a conveniency of him, for by his means I found my Lady Carteret.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess., Ser. II. viii. (1876), 191. The uninspired man certainly finds persons a conveniency in household matters.
† 7. Means of living conveniently, a competence.
a. 1628. Preston, Effect. Faith (1631), 155. He will leave a conveniency for his posterity if he can.
