Espérance is one of the two French words that can be translated into `hope`, the other being `espoir`. Whereas the latter is closer to the idea of `dream` or `fantasy` and corresponds to most of the common uses of `hope`, `espérance` refers to an abstract, positive expectation. It is rarely used compared to its counterpart, except in... Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espérance
Es'pe·rance noun [ French espérance , from Latin sperans , present participle of sperare to hope.] Hope. [ Obsolete] Shak. Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/E/67