vouchsafe

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English

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Etymology

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From vouch +‎ safe, written as two words in Middle English and early Modern English.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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vouchsafe (third-person singular simple present vouchsafes, present participle vouchsafing, simple past and past participle vouchsafed)

  1. To graciously give, to condescendingly grant a right, benefit, outcome, etc.; to deign to acknowledge.
    Synonym: (archaic) vouch
  2. To receive or accept in condescension.
    • 1913, Eleanor H. Porter, chapter 8, in Pollyanna[2], L.C. Page, →OCLC:
      Nancy's lips parted abruptly, as if there were angry words all ready to come; but her eyes, resting on Pollyanna's jubilantly trustful face, saw something that prevented the words being spoken.
      "Humph!" she vouchsafed. Then, showing her old-time interest, she went on: "But, say, it is queer, his speakin' to you, honestly, Miss Pollyanna. He don't speak ter no one; and he lives all alone in a great big lovely house all full of jest grand things, they say. Some says he's crazy, and some jest cross; and some says he's got a skeleton in his closet."
  3. To disclose or divulge.
    She vouchsafed to me that she regretted ever marrying him.
    • 1879, F. D. Morice, Pindar, chapter 8, page 129:
      His predictions were at first to be guided by direct intimations vouchsafed to him by the god; []

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References

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