residence

English

Etymology

From Middle English residence, from Old French residence, from Medieval Latin residentia, from residēns, present participle of resideō.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛz.ɪ.dəns/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

residence (countable and uncountable, plural residences)

1. The place where one lives (resides); one's home.
   • 1856 December, [Thomas Babington] Macaulay, “Samuel Johnson”, in T[homas] F[lower] E[llis], editor, The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, new edition, London: Longman, Green, Reader, & Dyer, published 1871, →OCLC:

     Johnson took up his residence in London.

2. A building or portion thereof used as a home, such as a house or an apartment therein.
3. The place where a corporation is established.
4. The state of living in a particular place or environment.
   • 1713, The History of the Common Law of England, Sir Matthew Hale (jurist), Google Books, page 87

     The confessor had often made considerable residences in Normandy.

5. Accommodation for students at a university or college.
6. The place where anything rests permanently.
   • 1649, J[ohn] Milton, ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ  , London: Matthew Simmons, , →OCLC:

     But when a king sets himself to bandy against the highest court and residence of all his regal power, he then […] fights against his own majesty and kingship.

7. Subsidence, as of a sediment
   • 1631, Francis [Bacon], “(please specify |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. , 3rd edition, London: William Rawley; rinted by J H for William Lee , →OCLC:

     Separation […] is wrought by Weight; as in the ordinary Residence or Settlement of Liquors.

8. That which falls to the bottom of liquors; sediment; also, refuse; residuum.
   • 1638, Jeremy Taylor, Sermon on Gunpowder Treason:

     waters of a muddy residence

9. (espionage) Synonym of rezidentura

Derived terms

Related terms

• reside
• residency
• resident
• residential

Translations

See also

• homestead
• messuage
• mease

Further reading

• “residence”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “residence”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “residence”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Middle French

Noun

residence f (plural residences)

1. residence (place where one resides)

Old French

Alternative forms

• residance
• residense

Noun

residence oblique singular, f (oblique plural residences, nominative singular residence, nominative plural residences)

1. residence (place where one resides)