sevenpence

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English[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From seven +‎ pence.

Noun[edit]

sevenpence pl (plural only)

  1. (UK, obsolete) The value of seven old pennies.
    • 1895, F. J. Cross, Beneath the Banner[1]:
      A newspaper cost sevenpence; there were no national schools or Sunday schools, no penny publications, no penny postage, no railways, no gas, and no free libraries, and no free education!
    • 1850, Thomas Carlyle, Latter-Day Pamphlets[2]:
      "A Costermonger in this street," says Crabbe, "finding lately that his rope of onions, which he hoped would have brought a shilling, was to go for only sevenpence henceforth, burst forth into lamentation, execration and the most pathetic tears.

Etymology 2[edit]

From the above.

Noun[edit]

sevenpence (plural sevenpences)

  1. (UK, obsolete, rare) Construed as singular.