vouchsafe

American  

[vauch-sayf] / vaʊtʃˈseɪf /

verb (used with object)

• vouchsafes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• vouchsafed,
  past participle,  past
• vouchsafing
  present participle

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.

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verb (used without object)

• vouchsafes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• vouchsafed,
  past participle,  past
• vouchsafing
  present participle

1. to condescend; deign.

vouchsafe British  

/ 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)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• vouchsafement
  noun
• unvouchsafed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• vouchsafing
  present
• vouchsafed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• vouchsafe
  simple
• vouchsafes
  simple
• have vouchsafed
  perfect
• has vouchsafed
  perfect
• am vouchsafing
  progressive
• are vouchsafing
  progressive
• is vouchsafing
  progressive
• have been vouchsafing
  perfect progressive
• has been vouchsafing
  perfect progressive

Past

• vouchsafed
  simple
• had vouchsafed
  perfect
• was vouchsafing
  progressive
• were vouchsafing
  progressive
• had been vouchsafing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will vouchsafe
  simple
• will have vouchsafed
  perfect
• will be vouchsafing
  progressive
• will have been vouchsafing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of vouchsafe

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

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Explanation

Vouchsafe is a verb meaning to offer something in a condescending way. You might vouchsafe to your brother the secret to your key lime pie recipe. Because vouchsafe can mean making an offering in a gracious way, it’s sometimes used in reference to religious acts — you might vouchsafe your prayers unto God. Vouchsafe can also mean doing something in a condescending way, which makes it a word that's used in many of other contexts. For example, your fancy great aunt might vouchsafe to visit your dorm room. Vouchsafe comes from the Middle English expression “To vouch something safe on someone,” meaning you confer something in a way that's secure.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vouchsafe vouchsafes vouchsafed vouchsafing

“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 ● Apr. 24, 2022

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

From Washington Post ● Nov. 19, 2021

All of my life, I had never rid myself of the preposterous idea that someday Young would vouchsafe to me some life-altering truth, until one day it happened.

From New York Times ● Aug. 20, 2019

Only regarding the next can we vouchsafe certainty.

From The New Yorker ● Nov. 14, 2018

"To vouchsafe for our good intentions, my brother Ser Perwyn will remain here until she is safely returned to you."

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

We secure the latter firmly to the couch; the former vouchsafes to deliver a stream of car chases and oh-no-they-locked-themselves-in-the-walk-in-freezer episodes.

From Time Magazine Archive

Although federal law vouchsafes a right to interpreters, financially strapped hospitals often slide by with a minimum of service.

From Time Magazine Archive

All-sorrowful, I think of him, Longing to move his love; But he vouchsafes no kind response; His thoughts far from me rove.

From The Wisdom of Confucius with Critical and Biographical Sketches by Epiphanius Wilson

The offer of reward for evidence against the scapegraces also vouchsafes a pardon to the informant.

From History of Cuba; or, Notes of a Traveller in the Tropics Being a Political, Historical, and Statistical Account of the Island, from its First Discovery to the Present Time by Maturin Murray Ballou

Eastlake only vouchsafes him one line as “an artist of fantastic imagination.”

From The Venetian School of Painting by Evelyn March Phillipps

Being in Iran hasn’t vouchsafed them much happiness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026

God has vouchsafed to me a priceless gift in the weapon of ahimsa.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 15, 2022

In a statement in February, however, the Taliban affirmed that the rights vouchsafed to women by Islam included business ownership, inheritance, education, work, choosing one’s husband, security, health, and “a good life.”

From The New Yorker ● Oct. 21, 2019

Only much later does Anthony realize that he has been vouchsafed a vision of the Grail King.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 27, 2017

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

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

A pivotal battleground would be in the Central Valley, where spraying of the herbicide is common l and agricultural groups defend it as an essential tool in controlling weeds and vouchsafing the food supply.

From New York Times ● Apr. 10, 2017

Instead, Mr. Pence has thrown himself into the work with relish, constantly vouchsafing the character of “this good man” Donald Trump.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2016

I thank Mr. Nichols for vouchsafing us that glimpse of a watershed opening night in American drama, an uncommon gift from one theater lover to many others.

From New York Times ● Mar. 16, 2012

Lahiri speaks quietly and deliberately, vouchsafing only the occasional smile.

From Time Magazine Archive

Miss Ruskinstone gave an angry sneer, vouchsafing no other response.

From Beatrice Boville and Other Stories by Ouida

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