-nce - -nts (Table)
From Hull AWE
(For an explanation of the Table, see -nce - -nts
| abstract noun | approx meaning | adjective/agent | approx meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| abhorrence | detestation, loathing, hatred | abhorrent | detestable, loathsome, hateful | There is more detail available. |
| accidence | 'grammar of word-endings' | accident | 'unforeseen event' | see more detail |
| acquiescence | 'agreement in something', 'complicity or acceptance' |
acquiescent | 'agreeing to', 'complicit in', 'accepting of' | can be of s.th. with which one may not be fully in agreement |
| adolescence | 'becoming adult', 'the state between childhood and maturity' |
adolescent | 'person approaching adulthood' 'teenager' |
|
| affluence | 'wealth' | affluent | 'rich', 'well off' | In older English, often the more etymologically correct 'flowing towards' |
| ambience | 'the surroundings', 'environment' | ambient | surrounding (adj.) | ambient is rarely a noun |
| ambulance | vehicle for the sick | ambulant | 'walking [wounded]' | Lat. ambulare 'to walk'. |
| assistance | 'help' | assistant | 'helper' | see more |
| attendance | 'the state of being present' or 'record of being present' | attendant | 'one who waits upon someone'; 'a servant' | |
| belligerence | 'aggressiveness', 'readiness to fight' | belligerent | adj. 'ready to fight', 'aggressive'; n. 'a combatant', esp. state in a war | homophone confusion possible: belligerence/belligerents The state of being at war is belligerency. |
| beneficence | 'doing good', 'performing charitable work' 'state of doing good' |
beneficent | 'doing good', 'charitable', 'having good effects' | See also benef- |
| benevolence | 'mood of wishing others well ', 'kindliness' |
benevolent | 'well-wishing', 'kind' | See also benef- |
| brilliance | 'the state of being brilliant' | brilliant | (1) shining bright; (2) very clever | A brilliant (noun) is a diamond.See more detail |
| complacence | 'self-satisfaction', 'smugness' | complacent | 'feeling pleased with oneself' | See more detail |
| complaisance | 'obsequiousness', 'the desire to please' | complaisant | 'being [over-]polite', (colloquially) 'greasy' | See more detail |
| compliance | 'state of obeying [the law, etc]' | compliant | 'in obedience to or observing' the law, etc | compliant is rarely a noun. For another spelling error, see Complaint - compliant |
| co-incidence | (of events) 'a happening together by chance' | co-incident | [adjective] | co-incident either describes 'chance happenings at the same time' or, usually, is a technical term in mathematical and physical sciences. |
| concupiscence | 'bodily, or sexual, desire' | concupiscent | 'lustful', colloquially 'randy' | the noun 'concupiscent(s)' is rare |
| convergence | 'the condition of approaching', 'coming together' fig. 'tendency to become alike' |
convergent | 'coming together' fig. 'conventional', 'like other people' | |
| dependence | 'state of depending on' s.th. or s.o. | dependent | someone who depends | see also Dependant - dependent |
| difference | 'the quality of not being the same' | different | [adjective] 'not being the same' | differents hardly exists in English |
| dissidence | 'disagreement' partic. with those in power | dissident | someone who disagrees | |
| evidence | 'factual proof', 'witness' (noun) | evident (adj) | 'obvious', 'clear' | evidents hardly exists in English |
| impatience | 'state of not being patient', 'lack of calm' | impatient | [adjective] | aee also Patient |
| incidence | a 'falling upon something'; 'rate of occurence of some phenomenon' | incident | 'an event', 'a single occurence' of s.th | In optics, the falling of [a ray of] light upon s.th. |
| independence | 'freedom from control', 'NOT being dependent on' | independent | adj, OR 'a person who is free', 's.o. who supports herself' | |
| patience | 'quality of being patient, calm' | patient | [adj] OR s.o. being treated for ill-health | see also patient, and passion, with which patient is linked etymologically. |
| penitence | 'state or feeling of regret or guilt' | penitent | 'person who feels penitence', spec. one who parades sin in Roman Catholic countries. Also adjective | |
| presence | 'state of being here' | present | 'here in person' | present has many difficulties. Go to present |
| superintendence | 'action of superintending, or overseeing' s.o. or s.th. | superintendent | person who superintends |
