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Glite Dictionary
to vouchsafe

to vouchsafe

6 9.9
To give something politely but a little reluctantly
  • verb
  • /ˈvaʊtʃseɪf/
  • Archaic
: conceder
  • When the old man vouchsafed his story, the children listened with wide eyes.

No one is vouchsafed with the truth by God.

Examples

  • It would come to immediate trial if your lordship would vouchsafe the answer.

    Hamlet (1948)

  • Almighty God, we thank thee, that thou hast vouchsafed to us the most holy...

    Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

  • Good my lord, vouchsafe me a word with you.

    Hamlet (1990)

  • That she vouchsafe me audience for one word.

    Love's Labour's Lost (2000)

  • That you vouchsafe in your rich wisdom...

    Love's Labour's Lost (2000)

  • You supported Jefferson! Will you vouchsafe me a moment's conversation with Hamilton?

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Vouchsafe thine aid, Almighty Father of the universe... to this, our present convention.

    From Hell (2001)

  • May entry be vouchsafed to the servants of his magnificence who loyally attend his pleasure?

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Fair Katherine, and most fair, will you vouchsafe to teach a soldier... terms such as will enter at a lady's ear... and plead his love suit to her gentle heart?

    Henry V (1989)

  • Could you vouchsafe your thoughts on this matter during the meeting?

Synonyms

to fork over
vsto vouchsafe
  • Informal
20 6.1

To give money to someone after they ask or force you

gives it graciously or with condescension rather than under pressure
to proffer
vsto vouchsafe
  • Formal
16 8.1

To offer something to someone for them to accept or refuse

gives it graciously or with condescension rather than offering neutrally

Antonyms

to withhold
204 5.1

Refuse to give something someone wants or needs

How Gracious

to bestow
  • Formal
74 5.6
to vouchsafe
  • Archaic
6 9.9
to confer
  • Formal
35 6.2
to grant
  • Formal
657 3.3
to deign
  • Formal
15 9.5

Surface Forms

vouchsafe infinitive
vouchsafed past
vouchsafed past participle
vouchsafing present participle
vouchsafes third person singular

Morphology

vouchsafe = vouch + safe (opaque) = vouch + safe

Although formed from recognisable words, the sense 'to grant or give graciously' is not predictable from 'vouch'+'safe' for most learners.

Etymology

Vouchsafe is easy to remember if you see it as two parts: vouch ('to promise' or 'allow') and safe ('secure' or 'protected'). A helpful way to remember the meaning is to imagine someone important kindly promising to give you something and keeping it 'safe', so to vouchsafe something is to grant it in a gracious or slightly condescending way.