pence

Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search
See also pençe

Contents

English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

14th century contraction of penies (“pennies”), collective plural of penny.[1]

Pronunciation [edit]

  • (UK) IPA: /pɛns/ (stressed), IPA: /pəns/ (unstressed and in compounds)
  • Rhymes: -ɛns

Noun [edit]

pence

  1. (UK) Plural form of penny (the sub-unit of the pound sterling).

Usage notes [edit]

  • This is the collective plural, used when referring to a sum of money, as in These apples are twenty pence each. When referring to several coins each worth one penny, the correct plural is pennies, as in I have one tenpence coin and three pennies.

Related terms [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ “pence” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).
Retrieved from "http://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=pence&oldid=19482531"