Obs. Also 5–6 esperaunce, 6 espirance. [a. F. esperance = Pr. esperansa, Sp. esperanza, It. speranza:—late L. *spērantia, f. spērāre to hope.] Expectation, hope.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, I. civ. (1869), 56. Þe burdoun hatteth esperaunce.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, 51. Made hym to sitte besyde hym for to geue hym good esperaunce.
a. 1508. Henryson, Gamut Good Ladies, viii. in Gilfillan, Spec. Brit. Poets (1861), I. 58. Her sleeves should be of esperance To keep her from despair.
1552. Lyndesay, Monarche, IV. 5632. On the left hand of that gret Iuge, But espirance to gett refuge.
1605. Shaks., Lear, IV. i. 4. The lowest and most deiected thing of Fortune, Stands still in esperance.
a. 1651. Calderwood, Hist. Kirk (1842–6), III. 9. In assured hope and esperance to recover his oun rowme.
b. Used as a watchword or battle-cry.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., V. ii. 97. Now Esperance Percy, and set on.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. IV., ccc. Esperance! Noe, the word is, face about.
