ən(t)s, ə n(t)s, in some words “ or -ˌen(t)s; “-erence” is often ərn(t)s noun suffix
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin -entia, from -ent-, -ens -ent + -ia -y
1. : action or process
abstin ence
emerg ence
conflu ence
: instance of an action or process
refer ence
reminis cence
2. : quality or state
condescend ence
depend ence
: one having a (specified) quality or being in a (specified) state
standing on an emin ence