Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

-ance \-ance\ [F. -ance, fr. L. -antia and also fr. -entia.]
   A suffix signifying action; also, quality or state; as,
   assistance, resistance, appearance, elegance. See {-ancy}.

   Note: All recently adopted words of this class take either
         -ance or -ence, according to the Latin spelling.