vouchsafe

vouchsafe, v.
  (vaʊtʃˈseɪf)
  Forms: α. 4–5 vowche-, 5 vowch-, 4–6 vouche- (4–5 voche-, 5 woche-, vousshe-), 4– vouch-, 6 voutchsafe, etc.; also 4 votesave, 6 voutsalfe, vousalf, vowt-, voult-, 6–8 voutsafe, 7 voutchafe. β. 4–5 fowche-, fouche-, 5 ffouch-, foche-, fuch(e)safe, etc.; also 5 fuchesef. γ. 4–5 woche- (5 woches-; whoche-), 5 woch-, 4–6 wouche- (5 woushe-), 6 wouchsafe, etc.; also 5 wot-save, 7 wow-, wouchaife, wouchaiffe. δ. 4 weche-, 5 wych(e-, wiche-, 6 wich-safe, etc.; also 5 wet-saffe, wytsaff, Sc. witsaufe, 6 -save, -saffe, -safe, wytsaue, -save, -saufe; 5 Sc. wichauf, wiche-, wichsauf, -saif, 5–6 witschaif, 6 withsaif, -save, -schaif, wythsaue, -save; 5 witeselfe, 6 -safe, 6 wytesave (5 wyȝt-). (For usual variants of the second element see safe a., and for special illustration of forms see sense 6 b.)
  [f. vouch v. (in the sense of ‘warrant’) + safe a. In early use still treated as two words, with normal inflection of the verb, and occasional inversion (safe vouch), or insertion of words between the verb and adj.]
  I. † 1. trans. To confer or bestow (some thing, favour, or benefit) on a person: a. With separable vb. and adj. (Freq. in 14th cent. romances.) Obs.

1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 6345 He vouchede hyt [sc. his property] saufe on vs, he seyd, Þat we ȝave hyt whan he deyde. a 1400 Sir Amadace (Camden) liii, And ȝe be a mon that wille wedde a wife, I vouche hur safe, be my life, On ȝo that fayre may. c 1425 Seven Sag. (P.) 453, I vowch hym wylle save on the, To do what thy wylle bee. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 103 Quhy suld man tak it fra thame sen God vouchis it sauf on thame. 1457 Harding Chron. i. in Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. (1912) 742 Seth that prynce is gone..I vouche it sauf, wyth all benyvolence, On yow, gode lorde, hys sonne and hayre that bene. 1508 Gest Robyn Hode ccclxxxi. in Child Ballads III. 75/1 But yf I had an hondred pounde, I wolde vouch it safe on the.

  † b. With vb. and adj. in juxtaposition or combination. Obs.

c 1330 King of Tars 336 Ich fouchesaf on him my blod, To him heo nis not to good, Though heo weore ten so briht. c 1374 Chaucer Anel. & Arc. 254 Is þer now neyþer worde ne chere Ye vowchensauff vpon myn hevynesse? a 1440 Sir Eglam. 222 Lorde, y have servyd yow many a day, Vowchesafe ye hur on mee. c 1475 Babees Bk. 175 For yt ys nouhte ywys convenyent,..Alle forto holde that vnto yow ys brouhte, And as wrecches on other vouchesauf nouhte. c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) i. 624 But syth þou wytyst saff a dyner on me, with pes and grace I entyr þi hows. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 10 Na rewaird desire I of ȝour grace Bot to witchaif on me sa greit credence [etc.]. 1599 Hakluyt Voy. I. Pref. **2, You may see..what gracious priuileges and high prerogatiues were by diuers kings vouchsafed vpon them. 1671 Milton P.R. ii. 210 What woman will you find..On whom his leisure will vouchsafe an eye Of fond desire?

  2. To give, grant, or bestow in a gracious or condescending manner: a. Without const.

13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1391 Tas yow þere my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more; I wowche hit saf fynly, þaȝ feler hit were. a 1400 Sir Amadace (Camden) xxxii, Sadyll, brydyll, and oder geyre, Fowre so gud thoffe hit were I woch hit save, bi Sen Jon! 1424 in R. R. Sharpe Lond. & Kingd. (1895) III. 369 Of þat þat your lordly clemence so beningly voucheþ sauf..it excedeth inestimablich our power..to yeve you thankynges. 1594 Kyd Cornelia Ded., And so vouchsafing but the passing of a Winters weeke with desolate Cornelia, I [etc.]. 1611 Shakes. Cymb. ii. iii. 45, I haue assayl'd her with Musickes, but she vouchsafes no notice. 1642 Chas. I in 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. 420/2 There is hardly any⁓thing..that we shall not finde in our hart a willingnesse and readinesse to voutsafe it. 1667 Milton P.L. v. 881 Those indulgent Laws Will not now be voutsaf't, other Decrees Against thee are gon forth without recall. 1781 Cowper Hope 487 Nature indeed vouchsafes, for our delight, The sweet vicissitudes of day and night. 1838 Talfourd Athenian Captive ii. i, Wilt thou not join thy fellows at the feast, And taste a cup of wine the king vouchsafes For merriment to-day? 1856 R. A. Vaughan Mystics (1860) II. ix. iii. 138 Forms of glory come and go: gifts of subtlest discernment are vouchsafed. 1881 Besant & Rice Chapl. of Fleet I. 2 They ought not to lessen the glad song of praise for blessings formerly vouchsafed of love, of joy, and of happiness.

  b. With indirect object. † Also (quot. 1595), to make a grant of something.

1587 Golding De Mornay xxxii. (1592) 515 Men voutchsafed them not so much as a Tombe to be buried in. 1592 G. Harvey Four Lett. iii. 19 Not Tubulcain,..but Tuball, whom Genesis voutsafeth honourable mention. 1595 Spenser Col. Clout 484 But say, who else vouchsafed thee of grace? They all (quoth he) me graced goodly well. 1605 Shakes. Lear ii. iv. 158 On my knees I begge That you'l vouchsafe me Rayment, Bed, and Food. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. To Rdr. *4 b, As for obscure Etymologies,..I have vouch⁓safed them no place in this worke. 1659 Hammond On Ps. lxxii. 1 They are vouchsafed that dignity. 1778 F. Burney Evelina (1791) II. xxi. 136 Should I once more remind you of the promise you vouchsafed me yesterday? 1791 Cowper Iliad iv. 466 Them Tydeus vanquish'd easily, such aid Pallas vouchsafed him. 1848 W. K. Kelly tr. L. Blanc's Hist. Ten Y. I. 315 Men who are not always vouch⁓safed the use of a church steps or stones of the street for their bed. 1867 ‘Ouida’ C. Castlemaine's Gage (1879) 13 That is all you vouchsafe me.

  c. Const. to (or unto).

a 1660 Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.) III. 40 His Lordship may be pleased..to voutchafe a meetinge..to Sir Walter Dungan. 1671 Milton P.R. i. 490 Thy Father..vouchsaf'd his voice To Balaam Reprobate, a Prophet yet Inspir'd. 1756–7 tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) I. 20 Whether they will vouchsafe any new memorial to their benefactor time must discover. 1781 Cowper Table-t. 699 Nature..But seldom..Vouchsafes to man a poet's just pretence. 1818 Scott Br. Lamm. xxvii, I will be true to my word, while the exercise of my reason is vouchsafed to me. 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. II. iii. 47 We have marked every dash of color which the great Painter in his benevolence vouchsafed to us. 1880 Swinburne Stud. Shaks. 4 It is as yet but a partial revelation that has been vouchsafed to them.

  d. To deign or condescend to give (a word, answer, etc.) in reply or by way of friendly notice.

1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxiv. §2 Vouchsafe me here⁓unto some short answer, such as..may..instruct me in the cause thereof. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iii. i. 152 Vouch⁓safe a word, yong sister, but one word. 1648 Milton Tenure Kings 22 Yet to a tyrant we hear him not voutsafe an humble word. 1732 Berkeley Alciphr. ii. §12 Lysicles..smiled at Crito, without vouchsafing any answer. 1836 W. Irving Astoria II. 163 So saying, he flung out of their presence without vouchsafing any further conversation. 1848 Lytton Harold i. v, Twice the Duke paced the chamber without vouchsafing a word to either. 1872 Black Adv. Phaeton iv. 40 All the reply that Tita vouchsafed was to wear a pleased smile of defiance.

ellipt. 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. i. v, Bob. You were wish'd for, and drunk to, I assure you. Mat. Vouch⁓safe mee, by whom, good Captaine.

  † 3. a. To condescend to engage in (some pursuit). Obs.

c 1581 Lodge Repl. Gosson's Sch. Abuse (Shaks. Soc. 1853) 10 Ask Josephus, and he wil tel you that Esay, Job and Salomon, voutsafed poetical practises, for..theyre verse was Hexameter, and Pentameter. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 823 Nor other strife with them do I voutsafe.

  † b. To receive (a thing) graciously or condescendingly; to deign to accept. Obs.

1589 Greene Tullies Love Wks. (Grosart) VII. 156 Considering it [a letter] came from so honourable a personage as Lentulus, shee vouchsafed it. 1599 ? Greene George a Greene D j, Geo. Why then, to honour G. a Greene the more, Vouchsafe a peice of beefe at my poore house. 1599 Broughton's Let. iii. 11 Whose singular affabilitie and clemencie..[is] such, that shee will vouchsafe the speech of the meanest. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. ii. i. 313 Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue. 1607 ― Timon i. i. 152 Vouchsafe my Labour, And long liue your Lordship.

  † c. To be prepared to bear or sustain. Obs.

1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, ii. iii. 43 If your backe Cannot vouchsafe this burthen, 'tis too weake Euer to get a Boy.

  † 4. To acknowledge (a person) in some favourable relationship or manner. Obs.

1582 in T. Watson's Poems (Arb.) 34 Let Britan beare your spring..That it hence foorth may of your fauour boast, And him, whome first you heere voutsafe for hoast. 1584 Lodge Hist. Forbonius & Prisceria K 4 b, He which whilome hated Forbonius, now vouchsafeth him his son in lawe. 1615 T. Adams Two Sonnes 73 It is no ordinary favour that God will vouchsafe thee his Servant; yet hath hee made us his Sonnes. 1634 Ford Perk. Warbeck i. ii, If my princely mistress Vouchsaf'd me not her servant, twere as good I were reduc'd to clownery.

  II. † 5. To grant, permit, or allow, as an act of grace or condescension. Usually const. with clause introduced by that. Obs.

1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 260 Homage vp to ȝeld, lordschip to forsake,..As ȝe haf mad present, þe Kyng vouches it saue. c 1350 Will. Palerne 1449 He prayeth, lord, vowche⁓sauf þat his sone hire wedde. Ibid. 4152 Þat þe quen be ofsent sauf wol i fouche. c 1386 Chaucer Frankl. T. 315 Now voucheth sauf, that I may you devise How that I may be holpe. c 1400 Rom. Rose 2002 My mouthe..to no vilayn was never couthe..For sauff of cherlis I ne vouche That they shulle never neigh it nere. 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas iii. v. (1554) 74 Rehearce I wil, so that ye sauf it vouch, A mortal wronge which the and me doth touch. 1539 Elyot Cast. Helthe Proheme a ij b, Truely yf they wyll call hym a physition,..I wytsaufe they so name me. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 72 War I gyltie or ȝit committit crime, I wald witschaif ȝe held me out this time. 1594 Kyd Cornelia iii. i. 50 Doe ye vouchsafe that thys victorious title Be not expired in Cornelias blood. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. iii. i. 130 If Brutus will vouchsafe, that Anthony May safely come to him. 1639 Sir W. Mure Psalm xvii. 2 Wouchaife furth from before thy face, My sentence may proceid.

  b. To permit or allow (a person) to do something. † Also ellipt., to allow to speak.

14.. Lydg. Lyfe our Ladye (1484) a viij b, And lord also on me saue thou vouche..That holy mayde to handyl and touche. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. v. i. 282 Most mighty Duke, vouchsafe me speak a word. 1599 ― Much Ado iii. ii. 3 Clau. Ile bring you thither my Lord, if you'l vouchsafe me. 1608 Chapman Byron's Conspir. v. Plays 1873 II. 244, 2. Truely we are not of his counsaile of warre. Sau. Nay but vouchsafe me. 3. Vouchsafe him, vouchsafe him, else there is no play in't. 1827 Keble Chr. Y., St. Luke xx, Be it vouchsaf'd thee still to see Thy true, fond nurslings closer cling.

  6. To show a gracious readiness or willingness, to grant readily, to condescend or deign, to do something: † a. In earlier types of usage (with verb and adj. still distinct).

(a) a 1350 St. Stephen 207 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 30 Gamaliell wouched safe To lay þat body in his awyn graue. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 339 For as Crist vouchiþ-saaf to clepe þis Chirche his spouse, so he clepiþ curside men fendis. c 1400 Prymer in Maskell Mon. Rit. (1847) II. 23 The maker of mankynde takynge a bodi..fouchide saaf to be born. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione iii. vi. 69, I blesse þe, heuenly fader,..for þou vouchist saaf to haue mynde on me. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 376/1 Thou haste vouched sauf to comforte me poure caytyf. 1545 Udall Erasm. Par. Luke (1548) 21 Who..hath vouchedsafe to cast a fauourable iye on me. 1555 W. Watreman Fardle Facions Ded. 3 The Emperours Maiestie..vouchedsaulfe to receiue the presentacion therof. 1565 Golding Ovid's Met. iv. (1593) 81 In vouching safe to let Our sayings to our friendly eares thus freely come and go.

(b) c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 73 Ȝit he fouchide nevere saaf to fede hem þus wiþ a kide. c 1400 Prymer in Maskell Mon. Rit. (1847) II. 29 Fouche thou saaf to liȝtne our hertis and bodies. 14.. Lydg. Lyfe our Ladye lviii. (1484) i ij, Glad mayst thou be that sauf [he] list to vouche..To have plesaunce thy brestis for to towche. 1540–1 Elyot Image Gov. Pref., He wouched not saufe to loke on them. 1565 Golding Ovid's Met. i. (1593) 6 As Satyres..Whom into heaven since that as yet we vouch not safe to take.

  b. In ordinary later forms.

α1 c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 55 Lord, vouchesaaf to kepe us þis day wiþouten synne. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 373, I þonke God..þat he wole vouchesauf þis day to axe me þat he haþ i-yeve me. 1411 Rolls of Parlt. III. 650/2 He besought the Kyng of grace, And that he wold vouchesauf to praye the Lord the Roos, that he wold chese two Lordes of hys kyn. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys Introd. (Roxb.) 7, I you beseche frend ryht enterly That ye vouchesaf for me to preye. c 1489 Caxton Blanchardyn v. 24 Blanchardyn..prayed hym that he vousshesauff to helpe hym that he were doubed knyght wyth his armes. c 1539 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 126 The most bountiful gifts..wich your Grace hath vouchsavid to bestowe upon us. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 83 b, Diogenes..would not vouche⁓salve so muche as ones to aryse up from his taille. 1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Fam. Love, Brief Desc. ☛ iij b, For the testimony of the truth hereof vouchsafe good reader to read the booke. 1624 Trag. Nero ii. iii. in Bullen O. Plays I. 37 O Piso, that vouchsafest To grace our headlesse partie with thy name. 1648 J. Beaumont Psyche xi. 17 The only Thing Which Heav'n's peculiar Hand vouchaf'd to frame. 1661 Papers on Alter. Prayer-Bk. 88 We had a conceit that you would have vouchsaved to treate with us personally in presence. a 1713 T. Ellwood Autobiog. (1714) 2 The many Deliverances and Preservations, which the Lord hath vouch⁓safed to work for me. 1765 Goldsm. New Simile 31 Lastly, vouchsafe t' observe his hand Filled with a snake-encircled wand. 1807 Wordsw. White Doe iii. 75 A Maid o'er whom the blessed Dove Vouchsafed in gentleness to brood. 1862 Chr. Wordsw. Misc. (1879) I. 280 The Pope vouchsafed to give bulls of institution to the ecclesiastics named by the crown to fill the vacant sees. 1880 Mrs. Forrester Roy & V. I. 177 She did not even vouchsafe to answer him.

α2 1546 Supplic. Poore Commons (E.E.T.S.) 85 Onles your Hyghnes wyll voultsafe to take our cause in hand. 1565 Stapleton tr. Bede's Hist. 116 That most louely geast,..who was wonte to visit our bretherne, hath voutsafed this day to come to me also. 1577 Fulke Answ. True Christian Pref., If any one of these..shall voutsalfe to reade this answere. c 1597 Sir J. Harington On Play in Nugæ Ant. (1804) I. 206 Her Highnes can vowtsafe to play somtyme with her servantes. 1642 Milton Apol. Smect. Wks. 1851 III. 303 We count it ample honour when God voutsafes to make man the instrument and subordinate worker of his gracious will. 1667 ― P.L. vii. 80 Since thou hast vout⁓saf't Gently for our instruction to impart Things above Earthly thought. 1704 N. N. tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. III. 176 They besought her Imperial Majesty, that she would voutsafe to acquaint 'em [etc.].

β c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 359 Ȝif þat God wolde fouchesafe to ȝyve þes preestis of his grace, þat þei wolden mekeli leeve þis. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xix. 18 Ich þonke ȝow a þowsend sythes..þat ȝe fowche-saue to seye me what hit hihte. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 2195 Ȝyff God wold fouche⁓save to consent þerto. 1432–43 in Cal. Proc. Chanc. Q. Eliz. (1827) I. Introd. 24 That ye wold fuchesef of your benygne grace to graunte a writ of sub pena. c 1440 Gesta Rom. iv. 9 (Harl. MS.) Thei prayd him..that he wold fuch⁓safe to helpe hem ayenst theyre enemeys.

γ c 1420–30 in Hampole's Wks. (1895) I. 171 Þis syght is bot be tymes, wen god will woches-sawf forto gif it vnto a wyrkande saule. 1448 Paston Lett. Suppl. (1901) 18 My mastres..pray yow that and ye wold wochesaff to speke to my master Edmund. 1491 Caxton Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495) ii. 223 b/2, I prayed hym that he wolde woushesauf to haue me in mynde. 1518 H. Watson Hist. Oliver of Castile (Roxb.) C 4, Wherfore I praye the that thou wouchesauf for to kepe the honour of my fader and me. 1530 Palsgr. 769/1 If he wyll nat wouchesaufe to do it, you lese your payne. c 1590 Montgomerie Sonn. xxxiv. 2 Melpomene,..Wouchsaiv to help a wrechit woman weep. 1639 Sir W. Mure Psalms cvi. 4 Wowchaife, O Lord, to visite me With thy salvation.

δ1 c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. xv. 2332 To pray þis paip Bonyface That he wald witschaif of his grace..Off þai iniuris to set remeid. 1455 Paston Lett. I. 355 Besechyng you that ye woll weche safe to be her goode mastre. 1462 Ibid. II. 119, I beseche yow that ye wole wychesave to send me sume mony. c 1500 Lancelot 356 Beseiching hyme he wold wichsaif to wende To camelot the Cetee. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 8 The caus na way we knaw Quhill y{supt} ȝour grace will witchaif for to schaw. 1585 Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1814) III. 408/1 That our said souerane lord wald wischeaf..To appoint [etc.].

δ2 1444 Aberdeen Reg. (1844) I. 10 We counsaile..yhour lordschip..that..yhe witsaufe to louse and deliuer frely the said Inglisemen. 1482 Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 28 Y blessyd our lorde and thankid him that he wolde white safe to chaste me..in a fadyrly chastment. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1874) II. 228 The Mast nowe meuyth, the taklynge and the sayle, O god wythsaue the wayke shyp to socour. 1523 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) I. 42 Most humbly beseching..that he wyll of his haboundaunt goodnes to wytsaufe to take me as I meane. 1549 Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par. Rom. Prol. **i, Praye God that he wyll witesafe to worke faith in thyne herte. 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xix. (Arb.) 245 O Phebus,..Wouldst thou witsafe to slide a downe: And dwell with vs.

  † c. With omission of the connective to. Obs.

a 1400 Prymer (1891) 26 The makere of mankynde takynge a body..fowchede sauf be bore. 1444 Rolls of Parlt. V. 73/2 That they wold wochesaf, for the said considerations, pray and beseche our said Soveraigne Lorde the Kyng [etc.]. 1455 Paston Lett. I. 357, I besech your gode grace that ye will vouchesafe remember the premissez. 1501 in Eng. Misc. (Surtees) 51 We pray.., y{supt} thei woll votesave, at our request & prayer, beald, succour, & releffe the said Ric' Hammylton.

  † d. intr. To be pleased to accept of something. Obs. rare. (Cf. vouch v. 12.)

1587 Greene Penelope's Web Ep. Ded., I hope your Ladyships wil vouchsafe of Penelopes Web. 1587 ― Euphues Cens. Ep. Ded., As Alexander did vouchsafe of Misons rude and vnpolished picture of Mars. 1590 ― Mourning Garm. Concl., So I hope..you will vouchsafe of my Mourning Garment.

  † 7. ellipt. To grant; to agree graciously; to condescend. Chiefly in clauses introduced by as or if. Obs.

(a) c 1308 Pol. Songs (Camden) 199 Whan hit is so, ich vouchsave, Ic forȝive the this gilte. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 234 ‘Yf þow see hur..þou most lese þyn een-syght.’ Then sayde he: ‘Syr, I vouchesaf wele, so þat I may se hur.’ 1596 Edward III, iv. ii. 27 And if your grace no otherwise vouchsafe, As welcome death is vnto vs as life.

(b) 13.. Northern Passion (H.) 452 Lat þis paines pas fra me. And noght anly als I will craue Bot, fader, als þou vowchis saue. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 3002 Þus sal þe saules, als God vouches save, For sere syns, sere maledys have. 14.. Tundale's Vis. 2344 No worldly goode more wold he have, But lyved as longe, as god vowche save.

(c) 13.. Seuyn Sages (W.) 3030 Gif me a place..that I may my wonyng haue, At myne ese, if ye vowchesaue. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 466 And þus ȝif god wolde fouche-saf, hooly chirche shulde be purgid of heresyes in þis mater. c 1386 Chaucer Frankl. T. 606, I haue do so as ye comanded me, And if ye vouche sauf ye may go see. 1463 Bury Wills (Camden) 17 Item I wyll that Maist' Thomas Harlowe sey the sermon at my interment, if he wochesaft. 1535 Coverdale Tobit xii. 2, I praye the..that thou wilt desyre him, yf happlie he wil voutsafe, to take with him the half of all that we haue brought. 1736 Sheridan Let. to Swift 15 Sept., If you pleased, or would vouchsafe, or condescend, or think proper, I would rather that you would..charge only five per cent.

  † 8. impers. To be pleasing or agreeable to (a person) to do something. Obs.^—1

1543 Grafton Contn. Harding 587 Thomas Trencharde..went to the kyng, desyring hym (yf it would wite salfe hym) to take a lodging at his house.

  Hence vouchˈsafed ppl. a., vouchˈsafing vbl. n.

1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. iii. xxii. (1634) 454 By that vouchsafing, whereof there is found no cause elsewhere than in God. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. iii. i. 100 My matter hath no voice Lady, but to your owne most pregnant and vouchsafed eare. 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. i. Ad Sect. ii. 22 His graces and all other his vouchsafings and descents into our hearts. 1755 Johnson, Deigning,..a vouchsafing; a thinking worthy.

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