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affinage

noun
plural -s

Definition of affinage 

1 obsolete : the act or process of refining a metal
2 : the act or process of aging cheese Affinage does for cheeses what great coaching does for athletes.— Ari Weinzweig, Zingerman’s Guide to Good Eating, 2003

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First Known Use of affinage

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for affinage

French, from affiner to refine + -age

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The first known use of affinage was circa 1656

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