valence

In the sense “extract, preparation”, from Latin valentia (“strength, capacity”) (1425). The now-current sense of “combining capacity (of an atom)” is from German Valenz (1884), from the same Latin word. The linguistic definition was formed in analogy to its use in chemistry. The sense “one-dimensional value” used in psychology is also from German Valenz (1935).

• IPA^(key): /ˈveɪləns/

valence (countable and uncountable, plural valences)

1. (chemistry, medicine, obsolete) An extract; a preparation, now especially one effective against a certain number of strains of a pathogen.
2. (chemistry) The combining capacity of an atom, radical or functional group determined by the number of electrons that it will lose, gain, or share when it combines with other atoms etc. [from 1884]

   Synonym: valency

3. (chemistry) The number of binding sites of a molecule, such as an antibody or antigen.
4. (linguistics) The number of arguments that a verb can have, including its subject, ranging from zero (for the likes of "It rains") to three (for the likes of "He gives her a flower") or, less commonly, four.

   Synonym: valency

   The number of bonds that a verb has constitutes what we will call the valence of the verb.

5. (especially psychology) A one-dimensional value assigned to an object, situation, or state, that can usually be positive or negative. [from 1935]

   anger and fear have negative valence

6. (sociology) Value.
   • 2017 November 8 (last accessed) “Expectancy Theory Overview”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎:

     Valence means "value" and refers to beliefs about outcome desirability (Redmond, 2010). There are individual differences in the level of value associated with any specific outcome. […] Valence can be thought of as the pressure or importance that a person puts on an expected outcome.

• valency (mostly UK)

• valent
• -valent

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

• IPA^(key): /ˈvæləns/

valence (plural valences)

1. Alternative spelling of valance

• valance

• valence on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Valence (chemistry) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Valency (linguistics) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Valence (psychology) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Expectancy theory on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Online Etymology Dictionary

• enclave

• IPA^(key): [ˈvalɛnt͡sɛ]

valence f

1. (chemistry) valence, valency
2. (linguistics) valence, valency

• valenční

• See vale

• valence in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
• valence in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989

Back-formation from monovalence., etc.

• IPA^(key): /va.lɑ̃s/

valence f (plural valences)

1. (chemistry) valence
2. (linguistics) valency

• rection
• transitivité

• “valence” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

• enclave, enclavé