Vouchsafe Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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vouchsafe
[vaʊtʃˈseɪf ]
Definition
formal assurance
To vouchsafe means to grant or bestow something in a gracious or condescending manner. It often implies giving permission or allowing someone to have access to something valuable or privileged. The term is typically used in a more formal or literary context.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The king vouchsafed his blessing to the proposal.
- She vouchsafed her secrets only to her closest friends.
- The professor vouchsafed encouragement to his students.
- In his speech, he vouchsafed that the project would succeed.
Translations
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Origin of 'vouchsafe'
The word 'vouchsafe' originates from the late Middle English period, first appearing in the 14th century. It is derived from the combination of the words 'vouch' and 'safe'. The verb 'vouch', which has roots in the Latin 'vocare', meaning 'to call' or 'to summon', historically connoted the idea of assuring or guaranteeing. The 'safe' element comes from the Old French 'saf', meaning 'to guard' or 'to protect'. Over time, vouchsafe settled into a term used in formal contexts, suggesting an act of bestowal that comes with a sense of dignity and privilege. It often appears in literary and legal texts where an authority figure grants permission or provides information that is not freely available.