Vouchsafe
verb
To give or grant something, often reluctantly.
The queen vouchsafed a rare smile to her servant.
Often appears as...
- vouchsafe a smile
- vouchsafe an answer
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
verb
To reveal or disclose.
The wise old man vouchsafed the secret of his longevity.
Often appears as...
- vouchsafe the truth
- vouchsafe a secret
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
verb
To give or grant something, often reluctantly.
The queen vouchsafed a rare smile to her servant.
Often appears as...
- vouchsafe a smile
- vouchsafe an answer
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
verb
To reveal or disclose.
The wise old man vouchsafed the secret of his longevity.
Often appears as...
- vouchsafe the truth
- vouchsafe a secret
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Reluctance Connotation
Vouchsafe often implies the giver is hesitant or not fully willing.
She finally vouchsafed permission, though with obvious hesitation.
Pro Tip 2/3Regal Associations
Vouchsafe is associated with royalty or higher ranks conveying a favor.
The knight hoped the king would vouchsafe his request for an audience.
Pro Tip 3/3Rare Generosity
Often used to describe an act that is not commonly performed by the giver.
The reclusive artist vouchsafed an interview to the young journalist.
Pro Tip 1/3Reluctance Connotation
Vouchsafe often implies the giver is hesitant or not fully willing.
She finally vouchsafed permission, though with obvious hesitation.
Pro Tip 2/3Regal Associations
Vouchsafe is associated with royalty or higher ranks conveying a favor.
The knight hoped the king would vouchsafe his request for an audience.
Pro Tip 3/3Rare Generosity
Often used to describe an act that is not commonly performed by the giver.
The reclusive artist vouchsafed an interview to the young journalist.
Pro Tip 1/3Reluctance Connotation
Vouchsafe often implies the giver is hesitant or not fully willing.
She finally vouchsafed permission, though with obvious hesitation.
Pro Tip 2/3Regal Associations
Vouchsafe is associated with royalty or higher ranks conveying a favor.
The knight hoped the king would vouchsafe his request for an audience.
Pro Tip 3/3Rare Generosity
Often used to describe an act that is not commonly performed by the giver.
The reclusive artist vouchsafed an interview to the young journalist.
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Video examples
How science & reason...
moral universe toward truth justice and freedom by morality I mean the survival and flourishing of sentient beings survival and flourishing this is what evolution is vouchsafed us in our nature
Video examples
Militant atheism PIPE...
Now, the next one. "The President of the Royal Society has been vouchsafed a strong inner conviction that an asteroid killed the dinosaurs."
Video examples
How science & reason...
moral universe toward truth justice and freedom by morality I mean the survival and flourishing of sentient beings survival and flourishing this is what evolution is vouchsafed us in our nature
Video examples
Militant atheism PIPE...
Now, the next one. "The President of the Royal Society has been vouchsafed a strong inner conviction that an asteroid killed the dinosaurs."
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Zhang Zhidong
Chinese Politician
Let us display our loyalty and love and embrace every opportunity to become wealthy and strong; let our first object be the veneration of the Imperial Court, which vouchsafes its protection to the commonwealth, and let those who hold the reins of government consider the general good.
Quote examples
Michael Shermer
Writer
Mammals are sentient beings that want to live and are afraid to die. Evolution vouchsafed us all with an instinct to survive, reproduce and flourish.
Quote examples
Cleveland Abbe
American Scientist
It is inevitable that those to whom is vouchsafed a long life of usefulness should outlive the friends of their youth.
Quote examples
Zhang Zhidong
Chinese Politician
Let us display our loyalty and love and embrace every opportunity to become wealthy and strong; let our first object be the veneration of the Imperial Court, which vouchsafes its protection to the commonwealth, and let those who hold the reins of government consider the general good.
Quote examples
Michael Shermer
Writer
Mammals are sentient beings that want to live and are afraid to die. Evolution vouchsafed us all with an instinct to survive, reproduce and flourish.
Quote examples
Cleveland Abbe
American Scientist
It is inevitable that those to whom is vouchsafed a long life of usefulness should outlive the friends of their youth.
Example 1 of 3
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