‖n. [ L., hardness, a hardened, i. e., ligneous, vine branch, fr. durare to harden. See Dure. ] (Bot.) The heartwood of an exogenous tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. durance duration, fr. L. durans, -antis, p. pr. durare to endure, last. See Dure, and cf. Durant. ] 1. Continuance; duration. See Endurance. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Of how short durance was this new-made state! Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Imprisonment; restraint of the person; custody by a jailer; duress. Shak. “Durance vile.” Burns. [ 1913 Webster ]

In durance, exile, Bedlam or the mint. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (a) A stout cloth stuff, formerly made in imitation of buff leather and used for garments; a sort of tammy or everlasting. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where didst thou buy this buff? let me not live but I will give thee a good suit of durance. J. Webster.

(b) In modern manufacture, a worsted of one color used for window blinds and similar purposes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Duration. [ Obs. ] Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. durant, p. pr. of durer to last. Cf. Durance. ] See Durance, 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖prep. [ L., abl. case of the p. pr. of durare to last. ] (Law) During; as, durante vita, during life; durante bene placito, during pleasure. [ 1913 Webster ]