Obs. Also 4–5 ascauns(e, ascance, ascaunce, ascaunces, askaunse, as skaunce, asscaunce, 6 ascanses, askaunces. [Etym. unknown; the word was orig. of 3 syllables, and ascaunces was perh. the orig. form. See Skeat, Chaucer’s Man of Law’s T., etc., Glossary; also Notes and Queries, 4th ser. XI. 251, where its use is shown to correspond to that of Du. kwantwijs, ODu. quantsuys, quansîs.]
1. As though, as if. (? On the pretence.)
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sompn. T., 37. And wroot the names … Ascaunce [v.r. ascance, askaunse] that he wolde for hem preye.
c. 1400. Beryn, 1797. They walkid to and fro … as skaunce they knewe nauȝte.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., VI. 39. And even the erthe above ascaunce her noon is.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, IV. xiv. 114 a. A sprite of feined pacience … Ascaunce she had been in vertue strong.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 162. Keeping a countenance ascanses she vnderstood him not.
2. ellipt. As if saying, as much as to say.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 292. Sche lete falle Hire loke a lite aside, in swich manere, Ascaunces, ‘What! may I nat stonden here?’ [Boccaccio: quasi dicesse, E no ci si puo star?].
1572. Gascoigne, Flowers, Wks. 1587, 101. Therewith he raysed his heavy head alight, Askaunces, Ha! in deede and thinkst thou so.
