vouchsafe
verb /ˌvaʊtʃˈseɪf/
/ˌvaʊtʃˈseɪf/
(old-fashioned or formal)Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they vouchsafe | /ˌvaʊtʃˈseɪf/ /ˌvaʊtʃˈseɪf/ |
| he / she / it vouchsafes | /ˌvaʊtʃˈseɪfs/ /ˌvaʊtʃˈseɪfs/ |
| past simple vouchsafed | /ˌvaʊtʃˈseɪft/ /ˌvaʊtʃˈseɪft/ |
| past participle vouchsafed | /ˌvaʊtʃˈseɪft/ /ˌvaʊtʃˈseɪft/ |
| -ing form vouchsafing | /ˌvaʊtʃˈseɪfɪŋ/ /ˌvaʊtʃˈseɪfɪŋ/ |
- to give, offer or tell something to somebody, especially in order to give them a special advantage
- vouchsafe something (to somebody) He vouchsafed to me certain family secrets.
- vouchsafe somebody something Lady Agnes only vouchsafed him a slight nod.
- vouchsafe that… I can vouchsafe that we all think very highly of you.
Word OriginMiddle English: originally as the phrase vouch something safe on someone, i.e. ‘warrant the secure conferment of (something on someone)’.