Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-Frenchadherance, aerdaunce, aherdance "act of adhering, faction, supporters," borrowed from Medieval Latinadhaerentia, going back to Late Latin, "act of adhering," derivative of Latinadhaerent-, adhaerens, present participle ofadhaerēre "toadhere"
15th century, in the meaning defined atsense 2
“Adherence.”Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adherence. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
adherence
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Merriam-Webster unabridged