independency

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See also: Independency

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

independent +‎ -cy

Noun[edit]

independency (countable and uncountable, plural independencies)

  1. (obsolete) Independence.
    • 1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XIX”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: [], volumes (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: [] S[amuel] Richardson;  [], →OCLC:
      All young creatures, thought I, more or less, covet independency […].
    • 1776 August 11, William Howe and Richard Howe, letter sent from North America to Europe with a copy of the United States Declaration of Independence:
      A printed copy of this Declaration of Independency came accidentally to our hands a few days after the dispatch of the Mercury packet, and we have the honor to enclose it.
    • 1860, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 1, in Lovel, the Widower:
      I found myself in possession of a small independency
  2. An independent territory or state.