† sportancen.
Obsolete.
Sport, play, dalliance; playful, lively, or sportive activity.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > [noun]
gleea700
playeOE
gameeOE
lakec1175
skentingc1175
wil-gomenc1275
solacec1290
deduit1297
envesurec1300
playingc1300
disport1303
spilea1325
laking1340
solacingc1384
bourdc1390
mazec1390
welfarea1400
recreationc1400
solancec1400
sporta1425
sportancea1450
sportingc1475
deport1477
recreancea1500
shurting15..
ebate?1518
recreating1538
abatementc1550
pleasuring1556
comfortmenta1558
disporting1561
pastiming1574
riec1576
joyance1595
spleen1598
merriment1600
amusement1603
amusing1603
entertainment1612
spleena1616
divertisement1651
diversion1653
disportment1660
sporting of nature1666
fun1726
délassement1804
gammock1841
pleasurement1843
dallying1889
rec1922
good, clean fun1923
cracka1966
looning1966
shoppertainment1993
a1450 Castle Perseverance (1969) l. 141 Dere frendys. We thanke ȝou of all good dalyaunce And of all ȝoure specyal sportaunce.
1584 G. Peele Araygnem. Paris i. iii. sig. Aiiijv The rouude in a circle our sportance must must be, Holde handes in a hornepype, all gallant in glee.
1595 R. S. tr. Amorous Contention Phillis & Flora in G. Chapman Ouids Banquet of Sence sig. G2 To walke these Ladies liked best, (For sleepe reiects the wounded brest,) Who ioyntly to a Meade addrest Theyr sportance with the place to feast.
1891 F. Thompson Sister-songs (1895) 45 Where sprites of so essential kind Set their paces, Surely they shall leave behind The green traces Of their sportance in the mind.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
<
n.a1450