successe

Successe is an archaic English spelling of the noun success, used in the late Middle English and Early Modern English periods. It denotes the achievement of an aim, a favorable outcome, or prosperity, much like the modern word success. In historical texts, successe commonly appears with modifiers and in phrases reflecting the era’s orthographic conventions.

Etymology and form: The spelling derives from Old French succes (from Latin successus) and entered English through Norman influence. The final -e in successe was a typical feature of Early Modern English orthography, often used to indicate a long vowel or to align with other spellings of the period.

Usage and distribution: Successe is attested in literature, legal records, and chronicles from roughly the 14th through the 17th centuries. Over time, the modern spelling success became dominant as English spelling conventions standardized during the Early Modern period and thereafter.

Modern relevance: Outside historical or linguistic contexts, successe is not used in contemporary standard English. It may appear in editions of older texts, in historical fiction, or as a deliberate archaism intended to evoke the language of early modern authors. In such uses, it serves primarily as a linguistic artifact rather than as a distinct term.