vouchsafe

[ vouch-seyf ]

verb (used with object)

, vouch·safed, vouch·saf·ing.

1. to grant or give, as by favor, graciousness, or condescension:

   to vouchsafe a reply to a question.

   Synonyms: accord, confer, bestow

2. to allow or permit, as by favor or graciousness:

   They vouchsafed his return to his own country.

verb (used without object)

, vouch·safed, vouch·saf·ing.

1. to condescend; deign.

vouchsafe

/ ˌvaʊtʃˈseɪf /

verb

1. to give or grant or condescend to give or grant

   she vouchsafed no reply

   he vouchsafed me no encouragement

2. may take a clause as object or an infinitive to agree, promise, or permit, often graciously or condescendingly

   he vouchsafed to come yesterday

3. obsolete.
   1. to warrant as being safe
   2. to bestow as a favour (upon)

Derived Forms

• ˌvouchˈsafement, noun

Other Words From

• vouch·safement noun
• unvouch·safed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vouchsafe¹

1275–1325; Middle English phrase vouche sauf. See vouch, safe

Word History and Origins

Origin of vouchsafe¹

C14: vouchen sauf; see vouch , safe

Example Sentences

Jonathan Franzen offered to “vouchsafe my secrets,” discussing religion, women and when we might expect the next novel at the Festival of Books.

From Los Angeles Times

“And it’s my first time at the Los Angeles Times Book Festival. I suppose, given the circumstances, it’s OK to vouchsafe my secrets or at least one secret about this book.”

From Los Angeles Times

And requiring that staff safeguard themselves and others is not “socialism”; it’s a necessity to vouchsafe the public welfare.

From Washington Post

We shall know more about them all, in half an hour, from you, than Miss Fairfax would have vouchsafed in half a year.”

From Literature

But even under the supposed best of circumstances, white artists vouchsafing a form of authenticity by inviting people of color to augment their work can look a little patronizing.

From New York Times