Semblance

How to spell semblance

9 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce semblance

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does semblance mean?

1. nounAn outward form or appearance, often one that only partly matches the underlying reality.

Semblance in a sentence

• After the move, the family finally restored some semblance of normal routine.

• The negotiators wanted at least a semblance of fairness in the final contract.

Where does semblance come from?

Language of origin: French

This word reached English in the 1300s from Old French semblance, which meant 'appearance' or 'likeness'. The French noun was built on the verb sembler, 'to seem' or 'to resemble', which itself descended from the Latin verb similare (also written simulare), meaning 'to make like' or 'to imitate'. At the root of all of this sits the Latin adjective similis, 'like' or 'similar', the same ancestor that gives us 'similar', 'simulate', and 'assemble'. Over time the English sense narrowed toward the idea of an outward show or a token resemblance, often hinting that the appearance may not match the reality. The spelling keeps the soft French 'mbl' cluster and the -ance ending, which is the part adults most often second-guess, wavering between -ance and -ence.

How the word is built

• sembl- (from Latin similis: like, similar)
• -ance (noun-forming suffix)