chevisaunce

Noun

chevisance (countable and uncountable, plural chevisances)

1. (obsolete) Provision(s), supply.
   • There was then neither such number of Altars, nor such chueisance of Masses, as hath beene sithence.1565, Jewel, Repl. Harding (1611), page 67
2. (obsolete) Booty.
   • When we with Magnyfycence goodys made chevysaunce.1526, Skelton, Magnyf., page 2264
3. (obsolete) Remedy, resource, expedient, means of helping oneself.
   • Hir craftie chevesaunce tooke none effect in Brytayne1548, Chron, Hall, published 1809, page 406
4. (derogatory, obsolete) The raising of money (by a borrower, by some expedient).
   • If he shame to begge […] Then turneth he to fraude and crafty cheuesaunce, Of all men borowing on suertie, othe or seale.1510, Barclay, Mirr. Good Mann. (1570), C, iiij
5. (derogatory, obsolete, often) The furnishing of money (by a lender) for profit.
   • Couenous and fraudulent Feoffements […] to the overthrow of all true and plain dealing, bargaining and chevisance between man and man.1570, Act 13 Eliz., c. 5
6. (obsolete) A contract or agreement (about a matter in dispute, such as a debt); in particular, an unlawful contract intended to evade laws against usury.
   • [Discussing events from June 1421.] […] committed to prison till he satisfied the commonalty for £17 10s which he did not deny having obtained from the said Guy by false chevisance, together with the sum of £53 8d, being double the amount of gain he had made from the other persons.1961, Philip E. Jones, Calendar of Plea and Memoranda Rolls, CUP Archive, page 102

See all 7 meanings of chevisance