Renascence and renaissance are two words that are close in spelling and pronunciation. Many find these terms confusing. We will examine the definitions of renascence and renaissance, where these words came from and some examples of their use in sentences.
Renascence means a rebirth, a revival. Renascence usually refers to a rebirth of something that has been dormant for a period of time, or a reemergence of something that has gone out of fashion, and subsequently returned to popularity. Renascence is a noun and is derived from the Latin word renascentem meaning born again.
Renaissance means a rebirth, a revival, usually referring to something that has been dormant for a period of time. Renascence and renaissance are synonyms, which are two words that have the same meaning. However, when capitalized, Renaissance refers to a certain period in European history, from the fourteenth to the seventeenth centuries. The Renaissance marked a time when Europe moved from the Dark Ages into the Age of Enlightenment. Art, music and science enjoyed great strides forward as intellectuals embraced classical thought. The word renaissance is also derived from renascentem.
Examples
Some years ago, in the vanguard of the Southern literary renascence, Ellen Glasgow commented that what the South needed was “blood and irony.” (The New York Times Book Review)
The key to the renascence and flourishing of the Senate of Canada is to fill it with capable people, and the way to do that is not to invite people to apply for the position of senator. (The National Post)
Perhaps known mostly for college basketball and snowy winters, Syracuse has been undergoing a modern-day renaissance in recent years and has more to offer locals and visitors than ever before. (Forbes Magazine)
The light streaming in the windows is reminiscent of the light in Renaissance paintings of the Annunciation and Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. (The Sacramento Bee)