outrance

English

Etymology

From Old French oltrance (modern outrance (“excess”)), from outrer (“pass beyond”), from oltre, outre, utre, from Late Latin ultra-. Compare outrage.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈuː.tɹɑ̃s/

Noun

outrance (usually uncountable, plural outrances)

1. (obsolete) The furthest degree or extremity, going beyond bounds or propriety.

   Synonym: utterance

   • 1819: But if the shield was touched with the sharp end of the lance, the combat was understood to be at “outrance”, that is, the knights were to fight with sharp weapons, as in actual battle. — Walter Scott, Ivanhoe

Anagrams

• cornuate, courante

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French oltrance, from outrer (“pass beyond”), from oltre, outre, utre, from Late Latin ultra-. Compare outrage.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /u.tʁɑ̃s/

• Audio (Canada):

  (file)

• Homophone: outrances
• Rhymes: -ɑ̃s

Noun

outrance f (plural outrances)

1. extravagance
2. excess

Derived terms

• à outrance

Further reading

• “outrance”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Anagrams

• courante, écrouant, encroûta