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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Spence \Spence\, noun [OF. despense, F. d['e]pense, buffet, buttery, fr. OF. despendre to spend, distribute, L. dispendere, dispensum. See {Dispense}, {Spend}.]
1. A place where provisions are kept; a buttery; a larder; a pantry.
In . . . his spence, or ''pantry'' were hung the carcasses of a sheep or ewe, and two cows lately slaughtered. --Sir W. Scott.
Bluff Harry broke into the spence, And turned the cowls adrift. --Tennyson.
2. The inner apartment of a country house; also, the place where the family sit and eat. [Scot.] --Jamieson.
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |