Durance
Pronunciation : Dur"ance
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OF. durance duration, fr. L. durans, -antis, p. pr. durare to endure, last. See Dure, and cf. Durant.]
Definition : 1. Continuance; duration. See Endurance. [Archaic] Of how short durance was this new-made state! Dryden.
2. Imprisonment; restraint of the person; custody by a jailer; duress. Shak. "Durance vile." Burns. In durance, exile, Bedlam or the mint. Pope.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913