warrant

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Derived terms 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Verb 1.3.1.1 Translations 2 Italian 2.1 Etymology 2.2 Noun

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈwɒɹənt/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Etymology 1

From Old Northern French warant, warand ( = Old French guarant > modern garant), present participle of a Romance verb from Frankish *warjan.

[edit] Noun

warrant (plural warrants)

1. (obsolete) A protector or defender.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book X:

     Than for pité I made the damesell to lepe on her palferey, and I promysed her to be her waraunte and to helpe to entyre her lorde.

2. Authorization or certification; sanction, as given by a superior.
3. Something that provides assurance or confirmation; a guarantee or proof: a warrant of authenticity; a warrant for success.

   He almost gives his failings as a warrant for his greatness (Garry Wills).

4. An order that serves as authorization, especially: A voucher authorizing payment or receipt of money.
5. (law) A judicial writ authorizing an officer to make a search, seizure, or arrest or to execute a judgment.

   arrest warrant issued by Thai supreme court

6. A warrant officer.
7. A certificate of appointment given to a warrant officer.
8. (finance) An option, usually with a term at issue greater than a year, usually issued together with another security, to buy other securities of the issuer.
9. (New Zealand) A Warrant of Fitness; a document certifying that a motor vehicle meets certain standards of safety and mechanical soundness.

[edit] Derived terms

• warrant card
• death warrant

[edit] Etymology 2

From Old Northern French warantir, warandir ( = Old French guarantir > modern garantir), a Romance formation from the noun, Etymology 1, above.

[edit] Verb

to warrant (third-person singular simple present warrants, present participle warranting, simple past and past participle warranted)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To protect, keep safe (from danger).
   • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, Folio Society 2006, vol. 1 p. 44:

     all honest meanes for a man to warrant himselfe from evils are not onely tolerable, but commendable.

2. (transitive) To guarantee (something) to be (of a specified quality, value etc.).

   I warrant it genuine, sir.

3. (transitive) To guarantee as being true; (colloquially) to believe strongly.

   That tree is going to fall, I'll warrant.

4. (transitive) To authorize; to give (someone) warrant or sanction (to do something).

   I am warranted to search these premises fully.

5. (transitive) To justify; to give grounds for.

   Circumstances arose that warranted the use of lethal force.

[edit] Translations

---

[edit] Italian

[edit] Etymology

English

[edit] Noun

warrant m. inv.

1. warrant (document or certificate)