▪ I. warrant, n.1
(ˈwɒrənt)
Forms: 3–6 warant, 5 warante, warente, 3–5 waraunt, (5 warawnt, 6 warantte), 6 waraunte, 6–7 warraunt, 6 warraunte, 6 warrante, (7 Sc. quarrente), 4– warrant; Sc. and north. 4–7 warand, 4–5 warande, 5 waronde, (6 woran, 5 warrane, 6–8 warran, waran, warn), 4 warrande, varrand, 5 werrand, 4– warrand.
[a. OF. warant, warand, dial. var. of guarant, garant (mod.F. garant) = Pr. garen-s, guiren-s, Sp., Pg. garante, It. guarento, Frankish L. warens, warentem, warandus, -um; the Teut. source is represented by MLG. warend, warent, warranty, subst. use of pres. pple. of waren to warrant (= OFris. wara, early mod.Du. waren; early mod.G. wahren in legal formulas, from LG.), cogn. and synonymous with OHG. werên (MHG. wern, mod.G. währen, gewähren); cf. MHG. wari, ware, MDu. ware fem., warranty, and the synonymous MHG. were (mod.G. währe) fem.
The affinities of the root *wer-: *war- in these words are disputed: see K. v. Bahder in the Deutsches Wörterbuch (Grimm) s.vv. Wahre, Währe, Wahren, Währen.]
I. One who or something which protects or authorizes.
† 1. A protector, defender. Obs.
| a 1225 St. Marher. 8 Þu art iweddedes weole ant wide⁓wene warant. a 1240 Lofsong in O.E. Hom. I. 211 Beo mi scheld and mi warant on euche halfe aȝein þes feondes flon. c 1300 Havelok 2067 Cum now forth with me,..For nou wile y youre warant be. c 1330 King of Tars 455 Bi Mahoun, and bi Termagaunt, No mon schal be heore waraunt, Emperour ne kyng with croun. 1375 Barbour Bruce ii. 502 In commownys may nane affy, Bot he that may thar warrand be. c 1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 2583 For hir warand mai thou noght be, Bot thou allane fight with us thre. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 516/1 Warant, protector, defensor. c 1450 Lovelich Grail xliv. 455 On Goddis Enemyes now let vs gon In Iesus Name..Oure warawunt and Oure Governour, that vs wele Save In Every stour. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. IV, 8 The kyng craftely perswaded the saied byshop to make no answere, for he would be his warrant. 1549–62 Sternhold & H. Ps. cxxi. 5 The Lord is thy warrant alway, The Lord eke doth thee couer. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 111 Had not the Lord bene our warrand,..Thay had us all on liue deuorit. a 1600 Capt. Car xv. in Trans. New Shaks. Soc. (1880–6) App. 54† ‘Lap him in a shete’, he sayth, ‘And let him downe to me, And I shall take him in my arme; His waran wyll I be.’ 16.. Rising in North vii. in Child Ballads III. 405/1 But goe to the court yet, good my lord, Take men enowe with thee; If any man will doe you wronge, Your warrant they may be. a 1828 Charlie Macpherson iv. in Buchan Ballads I. 86 Jamie M{supc}Robbie, likewise Wattie Nairn, All ga'ed wi' Charlie for to be his warran'. 1829 Scott Anne of G. xi, I swear to thee..by the shoulder of my horse, and the edge of my good sword, I will be thy warrand for a year and a day. |
† 2. A safeguard, protection, defence. Obs.
| a 1272 Luue Ron 27 in O.E. Misc. 94 Nis non so riche ne non so freo Þat he ne schal heonne sone away Ne may hit neuer his waraunt beo. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 183 Himself as a Geant þe cheynes in tuo hew, Þe targe was his warant, þat non tille him threw. c 1450 Lovelich Grail xii. 301 From deth thi waraunt this [sc. the Cross] schal be, And from Alle presonementis. c 1450 Merlin xxii. 408 Whom that he raught a full stroke was so harde smyten that noo armure was his warante fro deth. |
† 3. a. Security or safety from one's enemies; also a place of refuge, shelter. Obs.
| 13.. Coer de L. 5749 Whom that he ovyr-raught that tyde, Off lyff ne was her waraunt non. 1375 Barbour Bruce vi. 422 Thai that saw sa suddandly That folk sa egirly cum prikand Betuix thame and thair varrand. Ibid. viii. 485 And thai mycht help thaim-self no thing, Bot fled to varrand quhan thai mocht. 1490 Caxton Eneydos xlvii. 139 But elecor, that was ryght swyfte & lyght, fled toward the castel for his waraunt. 1513 Douglas æneis xi. xvii. 9 The chiftanis.. Socht to warrand on horsbak. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) II. 119 Was prouydet, that nane of Jngland entir into Scotland,..without his kingis lettres for his defence and warran. |
† b. to draw to warrant (cf. 5): to resort for protection to (a person). to hold in or to warrant: to keep (subjects) in safety, to protect. Obs.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 1472 Coryneus..was a man als a Geaunt, Tyl hym þey drowe alle to waraunt. 1375 Barbour Bruce xiii. 710 God grant that thai, that cummyne ar Of his ofspring, maynteyme the land, And hald the folk weill to warrand. Ibid. xx. 604 The gude erll gouernit the land, And held the pure weill to warand. |
† 4. a. A guarantor, surety, bail. Sc. Obs.
| 1478 Acta Dom. Conc. (1839) 6/1 Gife þe said ser Johne has ony vþer to warand him, he sall haue priuilege to call þat warand. c 1575 Balfour's Practicks (1754) 320 Ane beand callit and persewit for the singil and doubil avail of his mariage, may leasumlie call ony persoun for his warrand, quha is bund and oblist to warrand him thairanent. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. iii. xii. 52 Quhen ane challenges fra the buyer anie thing, as thifteouslie stollen: the buyer sould defend him anent the thift alledged against him: or else to alledge and call ane warand there anent. |
† b. Assurance given, pledge, guaranty. to take warrant on oneself (? quasi-arch.), to pledge oneself, make oneself responsible. Obs.
| 1460 Rolls of Parlt. V. 381/2 Prejudiciall to any..Ratification Confirmation or Warante. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. ii. iv. 102 His worth is warrant for his welcome hether. 1593 ― Rich. II, iv. 235 There should'st thou finde one heynous Article, Contayning the deposing of a King, And cracking the strong Warrant of an Oath. 1604 ― Oth. iii. iii. 20, I give thee warrant of thy place. 1611 ― Cymb. i. iv. 63 This Gentleman, at that time vouching (and vpon warrant of bloody affirmation) his to be more Faire, Vertuous,..then any, the rarest of our Ladies in France. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xxi, I can take warrant upon myself for the innocence of my household and followers. |
5. a. One who is answerable for a fact or statement; an authoritative witness. † to draw, take to warrant: to appeal to as evidence.
For to vouch to warrant, see vouch v. 1.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 14651 He þat es fader of heuen king..Him drau i me to mi warand. 13.. Guy Warw. 547 Þei ich hir loue, blame me noman; To warant ichil drawe atte frome Þat loue doþ me þider come. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 1539 To his waraunt he drouȝ His schippe and al his pride. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 5229 Þe Brut þer of is mi waraunt. ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 6 This may I drawe to waraunte [F. trere à garant] An author, that hight Macrobes. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. i. Prol. 116 For few wrytis I redye fand That I couth draw to my warrand. c 1480 Henryson Fox & Wolf 2148 Wend quhen ȝe will, I dar be warrand now That ȝe sall de na suddan deith this day. 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. 48 A manifest deceite before the Lorde, and one daye shall be answered for, I dare be their warrante. 1873 Browning Red Cotton Night-Cap Country 225 If insufficient faith have done thus much,..More would move mountains, you are warrant. |
b. A conclusive proof.
| a 1450 Le Morte Arth. 1142 Thys lettere there-of [sc. of Lancelot's innocence] warannte wolle be. 1860 Hawthorne Transf. III. ii. 21 Though but a single word, and the first that he had spoken, its tone was a warrant of the sad and tender depth from which it came. |
† 6. One whose command justifies an action. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 14968 Gais fotte hir me, if animan Lais apon yow hand To lette yow, ye sai yee haf Þe lauerd to your warand. 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 138/2 You are not here in your own proper names, men shall not be your warrants, it is God that must gouerne aboue al. 1821 Scott Kenilw. xxii, Janet, alarm the house!—Foster, break open the door—I am detained here by a traitor!—Use axe and lever, Master Foster—I will be your warrant! |
7. a. Command or permission of a superior which frees the doer of an act from blame or legal responsibility; authorization, sanction; an act of authorization.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 18426 And if þe yate-ward þe witstand, Sa him þou has ful gode warand. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VIII. 135 He bygan rabbisliche to passe his waraunt [L. fines creditae sibi potestatis petulanter excedere] in absens of þe kyng. c 1400 Rule St. Benet (Prose) ii. 5 He [sc. the abbot] ah na þing at cumande bot þat he may haue warant at god. c 1440 York Myst. xvii. 67 For haue we his wille and his warande Þan may we wende with-outen drede. 1453 Rolls of Parlt. V. 268/2 That noo Letters Patentes..be made hereafter, but by Warrant of bill, enselid by the Tresorer of Englond. c 1480 Henryson Poems III. 173 Now wrang hes warrane, and law is bot wilfulness. 1547–8 Ordre Commun. 8 Where as he hath no warrant of God's worde for thesame. 1563 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 249 This present ordinance salbe sufficient warrand to thame. 1575 Gascoigne Glasse of Govt. Wks. 1910 II. 15, I..have by warrant of the same commission brought with me my Brother Phylomusus. 1629 in A. I. Ritchie Ch. St. Baldred (1880) 219 The minister..culd not gett sik quarrente to punishe the prophaners of the Sabbothe in tyme of draife. 1635 D. Dickson Hebr. x. 2. 199 Hee that is purged by Vertue of the sacrifice of Christ, hath God's Warrand, to haue a quyet and peaceable Conscience. 1637 Star Chamb. Decree §4 in Arber Milton's Areop. 11 Euery person and persons, which..shall be appointed or authorized to Licence Bookes, or giue Warrant for imprinting thereof. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. iii. xxxix, That Assembly, which is without warrant from the Civil Soveraign, is unlawful. 1683 Col. Rec. Pennsylv. I. 84 That it was Convenient Warrant should be sent from this board. 1855 Prescott Philip II, i. v. (1857) 85 The Spanish monarch determined to ease his conscience, by obtaining, if possible, a warrant for his proceedings from the Church itself. |
b. A token or evidence of authorization. (Cf. branch II.)
| 1390 Gower Conf. I. 201 Thei..have him thilke lettre rad, Which he hem sende for warant. 1595 Queen Elizabeth in Rymer Foedera (1705) XVI. 282 And thes our Letters shall be your sufficient Warraunt and Discharge in that behalf. 1611 Beaum. & Fl. King & no K. iv. ii, Bac. It was your own command, to barr none from him, Besides, the Princess sent her ring Sir, for my warrant. 1614 in Rymer Foedera (1705) XVI. 767 To the end sufficient Warrant may remayne here in our Exchequer for the Payment of the said Annuity, our Pleasure is..that you cause a Duplicate of the said Graunt to be sealed with our said Great Seale, and the same..to be sent to our said Exchequer. 1635 D. Dickson Hebr. xi. 8. 255 Fayth is willing to obey, as soone as it seeth a Warrand. 1875 Stubbs Const. Hist. II. xiv. 110 He produced an old rusty sword and cried, ‘See, my lords, here is my warrant.’ |
c. Scots Law. jedge and warrant, ‘the authority given by the Dean of Guild to repair a ruinous tenement’ (W. Bell Dict. Law Scot.).
| 1715 Morison's Dict. Decis. (1806) XXXIII. 14521 Deacon Brownhill..obtained jedge and warrant from the Dean of Guild, for taking down and rebuilding a ruinous house. 1816 G. J. Bell Comm. Law Scot. (1826) I. 750 The judicial process of Jedge and Warrant creates a real burden on a burgage tenement, which will be effectual against creditors and purchasers. |
8. a. Justifying reason or ground for an action, belief, or feeling.
| 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. xxxv, Sith his promise is our plaine warrant, that in his name what we aske we shall receyue. 1609 A. Hume Admon. 365 Wks. (S.T.S.) 176 Ye wer eschamed..to be called Lordis..whiche wes a takin ye had no guid warrand in your conscience for it. ? 1622 Fletcher Loves Cure iv. iv, Gen. Nay you are rude; pray you forbear, you offer now More than the breeding of a Gentleman Can give you warrant for. a 1628 Preston New Covt. (1634) 413, I have applyed these promises, but upon what warrant, upon what ground have I done it? 1664 Butler Hud. ii. i. 786 But for a Lady no ways Errant To free a Knight, we have no warrant In any Authentical Romance. 1695 Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth i. 2 Intending..not to offer anything but what hath due warrant from Observations. a 1703 Burkitt On N.T., John xviii. 11 Good intentions are no warrant for irregular actions. 1781 Cowper Charity 183 Canst thou..Trade in the blood of innocence, and plead Expedience as a warrant for the deed? 1828 Scott F.M. Perth vii, We relate it as it is given by an ancient and uniform tradition, which carries in it great indications of truth, and is warrant enough, perhaps, for its insertion in graver histories than the present. 1832 H. Martineau Demerara ii. 23 But that they will die out the slave history of Europe is our warrant. 1846 Trench Mirac. xxi. (1862) 333 Still there is no warrant for ascribing to them such treachery here. 1848 Dickens Dombey xlvii, Florence took her seat..with an uneasiness amounting to dread. She had no other warrant for it than the occasion, the expression of her father's face [etc.]. 1862 Spencer First Princ. ii. iv. §53 (1875) 174 This last fact naturally raises the question, whether we have any higher warrant for this fundamental belief than the warrant of conscious induction. 1893 Daily News 15 Apr. 3/7 Another painter who repeats himself this year, but with more warrant, is Mr. Herbert Marshall. |
† b. Phrases. of (good) warrant: ? held in esteem, important. out of warrant: unlawful. Obs.
In quot. c 1330 the sense may be ‘well-defended’: cf. 2.
| c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 4210 Til þai com to Norhant, A fair cite of gode waraunt. 1576 Charter at Thirkleby Park (MS.), Prouyded also that nether the said Henry Procter..shall fell or cutt doune any oke trez eshe trez crabtrez or other wood of warrant. 1602 Shakes. Ham. ii. i. 38 Marry Sir, heere's my drift, And I belieue it is a fetch of warrant. 1604 ― Oth. i. ii. 79, I therefore..do attach thee, For..a practiser Of Arts inhibited, and out of warrant. |
II. A document conveying authority or security.
9. a. A writing issued by the sovereign, an officer of state, or an administrative body, authorizing those to whom it is addressed to perform some act.
† Premier's warrant (Cape Colony), an order given by the Premier on his own responsibility, authorizing expenditure for the public service in some sudden emergency. Obs.
| a 1513 Fabyan Chron. vii. (1811) 306 Then this abbot gate a warrant of the kynge, and at London callyd dyuerse offycers before hym, for to yelde to hym theyr accompte. 1551 in Feuillerat Revels Edw. VI (1914) 56 A warraunt from kynge Edward ffor ffurnyshyng of A tryeumfe. a 1568 R. Ascham Scholem. ii. (Arb.) 154 Antonius Triumuir,..whan Varros name..was brought in a schedule vnto him, to be noted to death, he tooke his penne and wrote his warrant of sauegard with these most goodlie wordes, Viuat Varro vir doctissimus. 1682 Fountainhall Hist. Observes (Bannatyne Club) 73 He had coined a quantity of copper beyond the 3000 stone contained in his Majesties warrands. 1711 Swift Let. to Abp. King 4 Jan., Mr. secretary St. John..told me from Mr. Harley that I need not to be in pain about the first-fruits, for the warrant was drawn in order toward a patent: but must..take up some time, for the queen designs to make a grant by her letters-patent. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. ii. 171 As soon as the parliament is summoned, the lord chancellor..sends his warrant to the clerk of the crown in chancery; who thereupon issues out writs to the sheriff of every county, for the election of all the members to serve for that county, and for every city and borough therein. 1800 Wellington in Gurwood Desp. (1834) I. 150 You will easily perceive the difference in the warrant and in the other papers from those usually given for a General Court Martial. 1842 Dickens Amer. Notes iii, The indigent blind..from the adjoining state of Connecticut, or from the states of Maine, Vermont, or New Hampshire, are admitted by a warrant from the state to which they respectively belong. 1853 Stocqueler Milit. Encycl., Warrant,..also a document under the sign manual, to authorize the assembling of a general court-martial, &c. 1880 Gen. Adye in 19th Cent. Apr. 697 The general provisions of the warrant were, that military rank, rising according to length of service, with commensurate pay and pension, should be given to all who entered. |
| Proverb. 1616 R. C. Times' Whistle i. (1871) 12 ‘A warrant seald with butter!’ as we say. |
† b. A licence to go abroad. Obs.
| c 1645 Howell Lett. (1650) I. iii. 5, I have got a Warrant from the Lords of the Councell to travell for three years any where, Rome and S. Omer excepted. |
† c. warrant-dormant: see dormant a. 2 b.
| 1423 Proc. Privy Counc. (1834) III. 85 That it like to zour grace to graunt letters of warant dormaunt..to the seyd Tresorer commaundyng hym to pay to the seyd Thomas the seyd somme fro tyme to tyme. 1551, 1614 [see dormant a. 2 b]. |
| fig. 1635 E. Pagitt Christianogr. i. iii. (1636) 208 A man may haue for money a warrant dormant, or dispensation to commit sinnes. |
10. a. A writ or order issued by some executive authority, empowering a ministerial officer to make an arrest, a seizure, or a search, to execute a judicial sentence, or to do other acts incident to the administration of justice. In early use, † letter of warrant.
See also bench-warrant, death-warrant, press-warrant, search-warrant.
| a 1450 Mirk's Festial 53 He ȝeode to hom þat haden þe lawe of Iewes to kepe, and gete hym lettyrs of warant, forto take and bryng all crysten men and woymen..bonden ynto Ierusalem, forto take hor deth þer. 1464 Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.) 185 Iohn Boteler of Herwesche is on of the iij. that was arested at the same towen be Pertones warente. 1538 in Lett. Suppress. Monasteries (Camden) 200 My gude lorde, if that ȝe wold..send to me a hunderyd worans for the delyverans of a hunderyd ffreeres that [etc.]. Ibid. If ye wold be so gode to sende to me iij. or iiij waranttes with a space for ther namys, I wer bonde to yow. 1595 Shakes. John iv. ii. 70 This is the man should do the bloody deed: He shew'd his warrant to a friend of mine. 1620 Rowlands Nt. Raven 33 A Warrant to a Constable was sent, Of speciall charge, disorder to preuent. 1621 Fletcher Pilgr. iii. vi, The Justice keeps such a stir yonder with his Charges, And such a coil with warrants. 1623 Cockeram ii, A Warrant to commit one, Mittimus. a 1634 Coke Inst. iv. (1648) 176 One or more Iustice or Iustices of Peace cannot make a warrant upon a bare surmise to break any mans house to search for a Felon, or for stoln goods. 1635 Life Long Meg of Westminster xv. (1816) 24 Come in, master Constable,..let me see your warrant, what suspected persons you seeke for in my house. 1697 Congreve Mourn. Bride iv. i, Wherefore a Warrant for his Death is sign'd. 1724 W. Hawkins Pleas Crown ii. (ed. 2) 117 The Habeas Corpus Act, seems to suppose, That all Persons who are committed to Prison, are there detained by Virtue of some Warrant in Writing. 1726–31 Tindal Rapin's Hist. Eng. (1743) II. xvii. 89 Which made her sign a Warrant to send the Duke of Norfolk to the Tower. 1835 Dickens Sk. Boz, Parish v, This is my warrant of distress, mum. 1836 Ibid., Visit to Newgate, When the warrant for a prisoner's execution arrives, he is removed to the cells, [etc.]. 1845 Disraeli Sybil v. ix, There's a warrant from the Secretary of State for your release. 1859 H. Kingsley G. Hamlyn vi, You see, I'm in trouble, there's a warrant out against me, and I must fly. 1874 ‘Max Adeler’ Out of Hurly-burly xiv, It was a constable with a warrant for her arrest. 1891 Law Times XC. 373/1 The magistrate..granted an English warrant on which the prisoner was now under arrest. |
b. general warrant: a warrant for the apprehension of the persons suspected of an offence, no individual being named or particularly described in special.
According to Blackstone, the practice of issuing general warrants, founded on some clauses in the Acts (of Charles II) for regulating the press, was inadvertently continued after those Acts expired in 1694, and (except during the last four years of Queen Anne) remained down to 1763. In that year the arrest of John Wilkes on a general warrant raised the question of the legality of such warrants. In 1765 the Court of King's Bench decided that they were illegal, and in 1766 this was affirmed by a vote of the House of Commons.
| 1657 Bulstrode Rep. i. 146 Williams Iustice, this is a most perilous example, to breake a mans house in the night, by force, and by vertue of a generall warrant. 1763 A. B. Let. 7 May in Gentl. Mag. XXXIII. 246 The question, Whether a Secretary of State can grant a general warrant against authors, printers, and publishers, without naming any names..remains yet to be determined. 1766 Jrnls. Ho. Comm. 22 Apr. 753/2 Resolved, That a General Warrant for apprehending the Author, Printer, or Publisher, of a Libel is illegal. 1769 Blackstone Comm. IV. xxi. 288. 1843 Penny Cycl. XXVII. 380/1. |
11. A writing which authorizes one person to pay or deliver, and another to receive, a sum of money.
For dividend warrant, share warrant, see the first words.
| 1433 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 439/1 Many Warantis come to me of paiementz. ? 1470 Stonor Papers (Camden) I. 115 He had it [the money] in grete for that his labour, and a warrant made to Harre Dogett to pay yt. 1555 Eden Decades ii. vii. (Arb.) 127 A warrant to thofficers of his escheker to delyuer hym money in preste. 1613 in Rymer Foedera (1705) XVI. 742 The Somme of Two Thousand Pounds, now by Warrant of our Exchequer appointed to bee delivered unto you. 1794 Rep. Committees Ho. Comm. XII. 364 Warrant for the Pay, &c. of the 11th Regiment of Foot, for 365 Days. 1802 C. James Milit. Dict., Warrant... Likewise a document with the sign manual attached to it, to authorize the receipt of public monies at the treasury, &c. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xxi. IV. 551 Sir Thomas Cook..had merely told them in general terms that he had been at a charge of twenty three thousand, of twenty five thousand, of thirty thousand pounds,..and his colleagues had..ordered warrants for these great sums to be instantly made out. 1912 Times 19 Oct. 18/5 (Company's report) Third interim dividend of 75 per cent. (actual), less tax, in respect of the year ending December 31. Warrants will be posted on January 14. |
† 12. A voucher, certificate. Obs.
| 1433 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 455/1 Youre Custumers..writen no Warants in discharge of youre said Merchantz. 1598 Hakluyt Voy. I. 172 He..caried a warrant also with him, that he had at Sandwich paid the custome due vnto our lord the king. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. i. i. 10 And a Gentleman borne (Master Parson) who writes himself Armigero, in any Bill, Warrant, Quittance or Obligation, Armigero. |
13. A form of receipt given to a person who has deposited goods in a warehouse, by assignment of which the title to the goods is transferred.
| 1825 Act 6 Geo. IV, c. 94 §2 Any Person..in Possession of any Bill of Lading, India Warrant, Dock Warrant,..Warrant or Order for Delivery of..Merchandize described..in the said several Documents. 1861 Times 10 July, On two occasions in September last he had received warrants for wine of the bankrupt, and had advanced money on them without charging interest. 1864 A. Miller Coatbridge 27 The stock of ‘good merchantable brands’ [of iron] at present in store, represented by ‘warrants’ is 280,000 tons. 1870 Act 33 & 34 Vict. c. 97 Schedule, [Stamp Duties] Warrant for Goods, 0 0 3. 1875 Economist 2 Jan. 6/1 Scotch pig iron (warrants) per ton. 103/. 1894 Daily News 19 Mar. 3/7 Makers..have very little stock, the bulk of the iron being in the shape of warrants. 1912 Pitman's Commerc. Encycl. III. 876 Iron Warrants, or warrants for iron, differ from warrants for other goods, since by the custom of the iron trade, an indorsee of the warrant obtains the goods free from any vendor's claim for purchase money. |
14. Mil. and Naval. a. An official certificate of appointment issued to an officer of lower rank than a commissioned officer. Cf. warrant officer.
| 1786 Grose Milit. Antiq. I. 316 note, The commissioned staff officers of a corps of infantry are the chaplain, adjutant, quarter master, and surgeon. The surgeons' mates, though reckoned among the staff, have only warrants from the colonel. 1802 C. James Milit. Dict., Warrant, a writ of authority inferior to a commission: thus quartermasters are warrant officers. 1815 Falconer's Dict. Marine (ed. Burney), Warrant, the name given to a sort of commission or authority to those officers appointed by the Navy-Board, while the authorities granted by the Admiralty are styled commissions. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Warrant,..a commission from the Admiralty to petty officers of a vessel of war. |
b. Short for warrant officer.
| 1706 E. Ward Wooden World Diss. (1708) 74 He's marry'd as well as his Brother Warrants. 1904 Kipling Traffics & Discov. 349 She kep' a little hotel for warrants and non⁓coms close to Auckland. |
15. a. warrant of attorney: a formal document by which a person appoints another to perform certain acts on his behalf: = letter, power of attorney. See attorney2.
| 1512 Act 4 Hen. VIII, c. 20 §2 All Warant of Attourney made..by the said Kateryne Agnes and Edward..in the said Appelys [shall] be utterly voyde. 1747 Gentl. Mag. XVII. 495/2 The new lord mayor..was sworn at the Exchequer bar, and having recorded warrants of attorney in the proper courts, returned to a magnificent entertainment at Guildhall. 1768 Blackstone Comm. III. xxiv. 397 It is very usual, in order to strengthen a bond-creditor's security, for the debtor to execute a warrant of attorney to any one empowering him to confess a judgment..in an action of debt to be brought by the creditor for the specific sum due. 1837 Dickens Pickw. xx, And if he gives us a warrant of attorney, as he must in the end, I know his employers will see it paid. 1870 Act 33 & 34 Vict. c. 97 Schedule, [Stamp Duties] Warrant of Attorney to confess and enter up a judgment given as a security for the payment or repayment of money, or for the transfer or retransfer of stock. See Mortgage, &c... Warrant of Attorney of any other kind, 0 10 0. |
b. warrant of fitness, a certificate of roadworthiness valid for six months, which must be carried by most classes of motor vehicle in New Zealand. (The equivalent of an M.O.T. test certificate: see M 5.)
| 1936 N.Z. Statutory Regulations 1936–37 (1938) 331 Save as provided in clause (3) hereof, the driver of every motor-vehicle used on a road after the 31st day of March, 1937, shall carry in the vehicle a warrant of fitness... The warrant of fitness shall be issued only by a city authority or a person or firm appointed or approved for the purpose by the Minister. 1948 N.Z. Law Rep. 1229, I am convinced that a warrant of fitness does not extend to the drag link or steering assembly of a car. 1953 Road Code (N.Z.) 1 Jan. 39 There must be carried on a motor vehicle a Warrant of Fitness issued within the past six months. 1961 B. Crump Hang on a Minute 23 Are you aware of the law regarding warrants of fitness for motor vehicles? 1983 N.Z. Official Yearbk. xiii. 371 Most lightweight vehicles are required to have a warrant of fitness which can be issued at approved garages, or at testing stations operated by local authorities or the Ministry of Transport. |
III. ? Concrete uses of sense 2.
16. north. ‘A mill-dam in a stream’ (Eng. Dial. Dict.). Now written warren.
| 1406–7 Priory of Finchale (Surtees) p. cxxxvii, In expensis pro le warand pro defensione molendini et fleme. 1457–8 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 637 Et sol. eisdem operantibus apud le Warraunte Molendini Abbathie. 1531–2 Durham Househ. Bk. (Surtees) 82 Ad molendinum de Sheylez,..super le warrant ibidem. 1901 Durh. Acc. Rolls (Surtees) III. Gloss., Warraunte. Millers in Durham and North Yorkshire say that the ‘Warrant’ is the mill-dam, and that it is pronounced War'n'... So Halliwell, ‘Warren-head, a dam across a river in the more northern parts of Northumberland’. |
† 17. Archery. (See quot.). Obs.
| 1688 Holme Armoury iii. xvii. (Roxb.) 117/1 The Warrants, are Knots in a Bow, which are left strong there for the securing of it. |
IV. 18. attrib. and Comb., as (sense 9) warrant-book; (sense 13) warrant-market, warrant stock; (sense 14) warrant machinist, warrant mechanician, warrant rank; warrant card, a document of authorization and identification carried by police officer; warrant chief: in Nigeria, an African local official, esp. (formerly) one appointed by the colonial power; warrant holder, a tradesman who has written authority to supply goods to the household of the king or a member of the royal family; † warrant-man (see quot. 1746); † warrant-parol, a judicial sentence given by word of mouth.
| 1873 Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874) 14 Do you produce from the General Record Office a *Warrant Book for Scotland, containing entries of the date of January 1681? I do. |
| 1920 H. L. Adam Police Encycl. III. iv. 77 All officers in plain clothes are furnished with a ‘*warrant card’, by means of which they can, should they be challenged, at once prove their bona fides. 1933 D. L. Sayers Murder must Advertise xvii. 296 Beware of..the plain-clothes cop without a warrant-card. 1983 R. Allason Branch xii. 169 He stresses to newcomers to the Branch that they hold the same warrant cards as the rest of the Metropolitan Police. |
| 1922 S. M. Grier Rep. Eastern Provinces by Secretary for Native Affairs 5 The Native Court Clerk..conveys to the *warrant chiefs instructions sent from the Divisional Officer. 1957 Ld. Hailey African Survey 1956 viii. 465 The members of these Councils, who came to be known as Warrant Chiefs, were selected from villages within the Council or Court area. 1976 Daily Times (Lagos) 12 Oct. 5/2 The role of some warrant chiefs in the selection of the new Owa of Indanre was consistent with the chieftaincy regulations. |
| 1893 Daily News 12 June 5/8 The Association of her Majesty's and the Prince and Princess of Wales's *Warrant Holders. |
| 1902 Monthly Rev. Aug. 93 Admiral Melville, in his report dealing with the *warrant machinists of the U.S. Navy, says [etc.]. |
| 1746 Rep. Committees Ho. of Comm. II. 100 But the real Charge being greater, as there are a Number of fictitious Names allowed upon the Muster Rolls by Warrant, called *Warrant-men. |
| 1896 Daily News 28 Dec. 3/7 The Cleveland *warrant market has been stronger, and 40s. 10d. is asked by sellers. |
| 1906 Daily Chron. 12 Apr. 6/7 [A stoker] eligible for advancement to the rank of *warrant mechanician. |
| 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. 363 And by this *warrant⁓parol [L. hoc elogio] the eloquent man lost his life. |
| 1903 Daily Chron. 9 Nov. 3/2 Boys passing through training ships..can ultimately reach *warrant rank. |
Hence † ˈwarrantship = guaranteeship.
| 1702 Anguis in Herba 63 There is but one way to warrant this Peace; and that is, we must enter into a League of Warrantship with the Emperor, the Empire, the Dutch, and all other Nations. |
Add: [I.] [5.] c. Anglo-Irish. With preceding adj. (esp. good or great): a person who may be relied upon to do something to the extent specified.
| 1832 W. H. Maxwell Wild Sports of West II. xxxii. 101 Father Patt gave me a tumbler of rael stiff punch, and the divil a better warrant to make the same was within the province of Connaught. 1902 W. B. Yeats Where there is Nothing (1903) iv. i. 76 No, but you were the best warrant to set a snare that ever I came across. 1907 J. M. Synge Playboy of Western World i. 3 And he a great warrant to tell stories of holy Ireland till he'd have the old women shedding down tears about their feet. 1931 ‘F. O'Connor’ Guests of Nation 3 She was a great warrant to scold, and crotchety even with us. |
▪ II. warrant, n.2 Mining.
(ˈwɒrənt)
Also warren.
[Of obscure origin; perh. a use of prec.]
Under-clay.
| 1847–89 Halliwell, Warrant, the bottom of a coal-pit. 1871 A. H. Green Coal (Manch. Sci. Lect., Ser. ii) 5, I think in Lancashire that you know it [the under-clay] by the name of ‘warrant’, or ‘seat earth’. 1883 Gresley Gloss. Coal-mining, Warrant; Warren or Warren Earth. |
▪ III. † ˈwarrant, a. Obs. rare—1.
[f. war v. + -ant.]
Warring, conflicting.
| 1606 Warner Alb. Eng. xv. c. 396 How many seuerall Lawes at once had Britaine long agoe? The Britons theirs, the Romanes theirs, the Picts and Scots also... But that I know be lawes in force for Sabbaths, feasts of Saints, For Fasts, for Vagrants,..I should haue thought those too prophane and warrant lawes had bin, So common and so vncontrould is sufferance of such sin. |
▪ IV. warrant, v.
(ˈwɒrənt)
Pa. tense and pple. warranted. Forms: 3 warantye, waraunti, 4 waranti, 4–5 warente, 5–6 warent, 4–5 warante, 4–7 warant, 4–6 waraunt, 5–6 warraunt, (6 -e), 5 warawnt, 6–7 warrante, 5– warrant; Sc. and north. 4–5 warand(e, 5 werrand, 6 warrande, (7 pa. pple. warand), 8 warran, 5– warrand (occas. written wand etc.).
[early ME. warant, waranti, warand, a. OF. warantir, warandir, dial. variants of g(u)arantir, g(u)arandir (mod.F. garantir) = Pr. garentir, guirentir, Sp., Pg. garantir, It. guarantire, guarentire; a Com. Rom. formation on the n.: see warrant n.1]
† 1. trans. To keep safe from danger, to protect. Const. from. Obs.
| c 1275 Five Joys of the Virg. 9 in O.E. Misc. 89 Bidde we vre louerd crist þat hire warantye. c 1290 Magdalen 40 in S. Eng. Leg. 463 Iesu crist of heouene of heom habbe merci And for is names seouene fram helle heom waraunti! 13.. K. Alis. 2131 (Laud MS.), Alisaunder..bad hem be hardy & noþing drede He wolde hem warant in euery nede. 13.. Guy Warw. 4415 Seþþe þou no miȝt nouȝt waranti me, Whar-to schuld y serui þe. 1375 Barbour Bruce ii. 504 For he Thaim fra thar fais mycht nocht warand, Thai turnyt to the tothir hand. c 1386 Chaucer Pard. T. Prol. 10 Oure lige lordes seel on my patente That shewe I first my body to warente. c 1400 Master of Game (MS. Digby 182) ii, If he hath a deere þat be his felawe, he leueth hym to þe houndes in entente, þat he may warrant hymselfe. c 1450 Lovelich Merlin 3498 What good Man was he that from the deth warawnted the? c 1450 Merlin ii. 29 Yef ye will leve me, ye shal warant youre owen lyves. c 1470 Henry Wallace viii. 978 Wictaill as than was nayne left in the land, Bot in houssis quhar it mycht be warrand. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon i. 19 Hym I beseche to kepe and waraunt thee..from evyl. 1489 ― Faytes of A. i. x. 28 Iulius cesar y{supt} for to waraunt his owne lyf sauf dide swimme in y⊇ see. 1570 Satir. Poems Reform. xix. 14 This commoun weill quhat wicht sal now warrand, Sen he is gone, that Gouernd vs befoir. 1589 R. Harvey Pl. Perc. (1590) 8 We shall speake so long of the diuell in iest, that he shall come amongst vs in good earnest: God warrant vs [they crossed themselves on saying this]. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. iii. iii. 5 Clo[wne]. Doth my simple feature content you? Aud. Your features, Lord warrant vs: what features? |
† b. Of armour: to protect physically. Obs.
| c 1450 Merlin x. 162 He..smote a knyght so sore that ther was noon armoure myght hym warante. c 1475 Partenay 2237 A paynym to smyte went he forth Anon, hym not warented harnes ne helme Aboute. c 1500 Melusine xxi. 136 For hys harneys coude neuer waraunt hym. |
† c. With inverted construction: To keep off (enemies) from a person. Obs.
| 1586 Earl of Leicester Corr. (Camden) 431 For who can warrant these villaines from her [Q. Eliz.], if that person [Mary Q. Scots] liue, or shall liue, anie time? |
2. Law. a. To guarantee the security of (land, possessions to a person).
| 1406 in Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 1427 17/2, I oblis me my ayris to kep and warand and defende tha said landis to the said Jon. 1440 in Cartul. S. Nicholai Aberdon. (New Spalding Club) I. 11 And I..all ye forsaid landes..againis all dedelik sal warand acquit and defend for evyr. c 1450 Godstow Reg. 82 The forseyd Dame Margery..warentyd the fore-seyd ij acris of londe..to the for-seyd Richard..a-geynst all pepull. 1495 Act 11 Hen. VII, c. 47 §1 You..be not bounden to warant the seid Manoris..by reason of any warantye comprised in the same lettres patentes. 1551 Rental Bk. Cupar Angus (1880) II. 71 We..sall warrand, acquiet, and defend this our present assedatioun,..to the saidis personis. 1564 Abstr. Protocols Town Clerks Glasgow (1896) III. 50 Robert sall warrande the saidis reversioune..fre of all byrwnnyn annuallis. 1570 Jewel View Seditious Bull Wks. 1848 VII. 256 Was not the crown due to her [Elizabeth]..by the laws of this realm? did not her father warrant it to her by will, as his daughter? 1628 in Cramond Ann. Banff (1891) I. 58 He to..warrand the grein yeird and ground thereof to be uncassin up or riwin or away carried. 1642 Perkins' Prof. Bk. ii. §176. 78 If this acre bee warranted unto them, this warranty is good. |
† b. To be surety for. Obs.
| 1478 [see warrant n.1 4]. 1609 Skene Reg. Mag. 15 Gif anie thing thifteouslie stollen, is challenged be anie man; and he quha is challenged, alledges ane Priest for his warant; and the Priest will willinglie warant the samine. |
c. To give warranty of (title); to give warranty of title to (a person). Also with the land as obj. Cf. to vouch to warrant: vouch v. 1.
| ? 1475 Stonor Papers (Camden) I. 159 Yowre masterchyp muste warent hym agaynst al men. 1480 Acta Dom. Conc. (1839) 51/2 Þe said vmfra sall warand þe said macolme þe said landis of W. 1488 Acta Dom. Audit. (1839) 123/2 He haid deliuerit þe said malez to him, and þerfore askit him to Werrand him þerintill. 1544 tr. Littleton's Tenures 34 He ought to warrante his tenaunt whan he is impleaded of the landes holden of him. 1579 Expos. Terms Law 53 b, Where..the tenaunt in hys aunswere and plee, voucheth or calleth for anie manne to warrant his title. 1845 Williams Real Property (1877) 45 The tenant then alleged that this third person had warranted the title. |
3. With obj. and complement or inf.: To guarantee (goods, an article sold or made) to be of the quality, quantity, etc. specified.
| 1387 Charters etc. Edin. (1871) 36 The qwilke werke the forsaide masounys sal warande watir thicht. 1484 Caxton Fables of Alfonce iii, This Ryche man thenne sold his oylle to the marchaunts and waraunted eche toune al ful. 1530 Palsgr. 771/2, I warant, as a marchaunt, or seller dothe his ware that it is good. Je pleuuis. 1602 W. Fulbecke 1st Pt. Parall. 4 If a mans seruant sell to one certaine clothe, and warrant it to bee of a certaine length the Action will lye against the Maister onely. 1608 Pennyless Parl. Threadbare Poets §23 Bow bell in Cheapside, if it break not, shall be warranted by Letters Pattents to ring well. 1742 Fielding J. Andrews i. xvi, Perhaps you may sell them by advertising the manuscript sermons of a clergyman lately deceased, all warranted originals, and never printed. 1789 W. H. Marshall Glouc. I. 331 ‘Will you warrant them siddow [= tender]?’ is the ordinary question asked on buying peas for boiling. 1837 Dickens Pickw. v, ‘Not the slightest fear, sir,’ interposed the hostler. ‘Warrant him quiet, sir.’ 1848 ― Dombey xxix, One French roll rasped, one egg new laid (or warranted to be). 1886 C. Scholl Phraseol. Dict. II. 832 Warranted free from adulteration. Ibid., The colors of all stuffs warranted fast. |
| fig. 1809–10 Coleridge Friend (1866) 131, I could almost venture to warrant our patriot's publications innoxious. 1865 W. G. Palgrave Arabia II. 176, I would not warrant the numerical precision of this statement. |
b. To promise under guarantees.
| 1849 Freese Comm. Class-bk. 63 Ship warranted to sail on or before 10th August next. 1886 C. Scholl Phraseol. Dict. II. 832 We warrant the vessel will be loaded by the time specified. |
4. To guarantee as true, make oneself answerable for (a statement). a. with clause as obj. Chiefly in phrase I warrant, I will (I'll) warrant, often used colloq. as a mere expression of strong belief = ‘I'll be bound’.
| 13.. Coer de L. 3523 Kyng Richard schal waraunt, There is no flesch so noryssaunt,..As the hed off a Sarezyn. 13.. Northern Passion 245/39* Þe knightes said: ‘we will warand þat ioseph es in his awind land.’ c 1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 1049 Madame, sho said, i dar warand A genteler lord es none lifand. c 1440 York Myst. xxxiii. 384 He swounes or sweltes, I swarand. c 1460 Towneley Myst. xxiii. 484 Haue here the draght..And I shall warand it is not swete. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon li. 172 Or it be halfe a yere past I waraunt thou shalt haue a horse. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. ii. i. 76, I warrant he hath a thousand of these Letters. Ibid. iii. iii. 174 Ile warrant wee'le vnkennell the Fox. Ibid. iv. v. 114 And haue not they suffer'd? Yes, I warrant. 1677 Lady Chaworth in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 37 All from Court say the House will infailibly sit, but none dares warrant how long. 1715 De Foe Fam. Instruct. i. iv. (1841) I. 88, I warrant she kissed thee. 1742 Fielding J. Andrews iv. v, He..refused, saying he could walk by its side, and he'd warrant he kept up with it. 1786 Burns Earnest Cry xiii, Dempster, a true-blue Scot I'se warran. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxvii, I heard one of the soldiers..say to his comrade, that he would warrant they'd bring home a rare deal of booty. 1860 Dickens Uncomm. Trav. ix, Some chapel where she comforts herself with brimstone doctrine, I warrant. 1864 Tennyson En. Ard. 847, I warrant, man, that we shall bring you round. |
b. with obj. and complement, inf., or clause; also with ellipsis of the complement. arch.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xviii. 46 ‘Crucifige,’ quod a cacchepolle ‘I warante hym a wicche’. c 1440 York Myst. xxix. 373, I warande hym wakande. c 1520 Skelton Magnyf. 1835 Nay fole, I warant her blode warme. 1532 Tindale Expos. v–vii. Matt. (?1550) 93, I warrante hym synge masse on the next daye after as wel as he dyd before. 1607 Shakes. Cor. v. ii. 115 A Noble Fellow I warrant him. 1684 Bunyan Pilgr. ii. (1879) 210, I will warrant her a good Huswife, quoth he to himself. 1751 F. Coventry Pompey the Little i. xi. 100 Why don't they send out V-rn-n with a strong Fleet..? I warrant him,..he would not leave a Harbour or a Ship in France. 1884 Tennyson Becket v. ii, Becket. Doth he remember me? Rosamund. I warrant him. |
c. with neut. pronoun as obj. (sometimes pleonastic). Now dial.
| a 1400 Sir Perc. 1843 Here mone I stande, For a faute that he fande, That salle I warande Is my moste mone. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 122 Thow art vncourtes, that sall I warrand. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. ii. iv. 59 Nay Ile not warrant that: for I can speake Against the thing I say. 1719 De Foe Crusoe ii. (Globe) 493 They told me, like Seamen, they'd warrant it they would come off again. 1877 Holderness Gloss. s.v. Wand it, He'll come tiv a bad end yan o' these days, Ah'll wand it he will. |
d. With n. as obj.: To vouch for the truth of (an opinion).
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxi. (Clement) 648 Opunyonys ware sere..bot I dare nane of þame warand. |
† e. To promise or predict as certain. Also, of a thing: To be a sure presage of. Obs.
| 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. v. 95 True; and thou seest, that I no Issue haue, And that my fainting words doe warrant death. Ibid. v. v. 46 Beside, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower. 1639 in Verney Mem. (1907) I. 106 My frenchman..tells me he will warrant I shall speak it [French] perfectly before we draw into the field! 1662 R. Mathew Unl. Alch. 160 He..willed me to get good Oyl of Amber, and drink three or four drops in the morning fasting, and he would warrant my recovery. 1821 Scott Kenilw. xviii, ‘My son,’ replied the astrologer, ‘let me remind you, I warranted not his death’. |
† f. To undertake, pledge oneself to do something. Also with neut. pronoun as obj. Obs. rare.
| 13.. Seuyn Sages (W.) 111 Bot for to lere him I warand, Als mekil als he mai vnderstand. c 1440 York Myst. xix. 355 Cayph. Ȝa, and felawes, wayte þat he be ay wakand. ii Miles. Ȝis lorde, þat warant will wee! 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 630/1 Yet hys grace and good wyll he hath warraunted neuer to take from them. |
5. To give (a person) assurance of a fact. Chiefly in I (I'll) warrant you, used colloq. = ‘I warrant’ in 4 a.
| c 1520 Skelton Magnyf. 506, I shall the warent, As long as I lyue, thou haste an heyre parent. 1529 More Dyal. xiv. 19/2 There be many such I warrant you y{supt} neuer cum to light. 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. iv. i, The very marchpane of the court, I warrant you? 1632 Lithgow Trav. x. 454, I warrant you (sayd he) I shal lodge him well enough. 1670 Eachard Cont. Clergy 13 A forward boy, (cries the school-master)..he proves a brave clergyman, I'll warrant you. 1689 Selden's Table-talk 17, I..warranted him, if he would follow my directions, to Cure him in a short time. 1711 Budgell Spect. No. 77 ¶6, I warrant you he is now thrusting his short Face into some Coffee-house about 'Change. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 25, I warrant him, let us but go up the height of St. Helena, we will soon reach the Rio de la Plata. 1777 Johnson Let. to Mrs. Thrale 25 Oct., Cicely, I warrant you, will do well enough. 1799 Southey To a Spider iv, I'll warrant thee thou'lt drain His life-blood dry. 1826 Scott Woodst. xi, Sent him to share with us, I'se warrant ye. 1835 J. Poole Sk. & Recoll. I. 37 ‘He be vive mile off by now.’ ‘You are certain of that?’ ‘I warrant 'ee, zur.’ At this assurance I felt a throb of joy. 1860 W. W. Reade Liberty Hall II. 136 Many's the horn of old Pharoah ale have I mopped up in their brick floor kitchens, I warrant 'ee. |
¶ b. I warrant me (originally quasi-arch.) = ‘I warrant’, ‘I'll be bound’.
| 1825 Scott Talism. xviii, And I warrant me thou wouldst have another—in requital, ha? 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey vi. i, No enemy with the girls, I warrant me. |
6. To attest the truth or authenticity of; to authenticate.
| 1598 Marston Sco. Villanie x. H 4 At least what ere he sayes Is warranted by Curtaine plaudeties. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado iv. i. 168 Friar... Trust not..my obseruations, Which with experimental seale doth warrant The tenure of my booke:..If this sweet Ladie lye not guiltlesse heere. 1600 Chester Pl., Banes 13 This moonke..In pagentes set fourth..the old and newe testament..Interminglinge therewith..some thinge, not warranted by any writt. 1617 Moryson Itin. ii. 8, I purpose to write nothing which is not warranted..by Letters interchanged betweene the States of England and Ireland, or like authenticall writings. c 1620 Fletcher False One Prol., New Titles warrant not a Play for new, The Subject being old. 1635 Swan Spec. M. iv. §2 (1643) 66 The truth of it was never questioned, but warranted by all antiquitie. 1649 Milton Eikon. xi. 109 Antiquity that adds or varies from the Scripture is no more warranted to our safe imitation then what was done..at Trent. 1700 Locke Hum. Und. iv. xix. §15 (ed. 4) 427 Reason warrants it, and we may safely receive it for true. 1769 Blackstone Comm. IV. xxiii. 305 Wherever any capital offence is charged, the same law requires that the accusation be warranted by the oath of twelve men, before the party shall be put to answer it. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xix. IV. 287 That it [his confession] was genuine could not be doubted: for it was warranted by the signatures of some of the most distinguished military men living. |
† b. with clause as obj. or with obj. and complement. Obs.
| 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. ii. vii. 71 A thousand oathes, an Ocean of his teares,..Warrant me welcome to my Protheus. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. i. ii. §2 Experience doth warrant, that both in persons and in times, there hath beene a meeting and concurrence in learning and Armes. 1655 Moufet & Bennet Health's Improv. (1746) 189 Experience warranteth them [Martinets] a dainty and good Meat. |
† 7. To furnish (a person) with a guarantee or assurance. Const. of, or with subord. clause. Obs.
| 1548 Geste Pr. Masse K ij, The cause why..they sacrifyce and praye for thee dead, was..partly to assure & warrant the suruyuers at the remembraunce of the good & blesful estate of the deceased. 1569 Newton Cicero's Olde Age 23 Young men also are subject to the same, and cannot warrant themselves of health, no more than old men can. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. i. i. 140 And happy were I in my timelie death, Could all my trauells warrant me they liue. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxvii. §4 They being the first that were commaunded to receiue from him, the first which were warranted by his promise that [etc.]. |
† b. With double obj.: To guarantee or ensure (a person something). Also, to promise (a person something) as certain. Obs.
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. IV 8 b, The Duke biddyng him to be of good comfort and out of fear warranted him his lyfe. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 488 Warrantyng him a famous victorie. 1574 tr. Marlorat's Apocalips 6 For what can a man find in worldly writers too warrant himselfe saluation by? 1582 Stanyhurst æneis i. (Arb.) 25 No worldly corner can theym securitye warrant. 1662 Pagitt's Heresiogr. Ep. Ded., Your present annual authority cannot warrant your Lordship that effect..which might be expected. |
† c. To secure (something) to a person. Obs.
| 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 163 He had great authority ouer all Congregations of Israelites, warranted to him with the Amirs seale. |
8. To guarantee the security or immunity of (a person or thing). Const. from, for (= from), against. Now rare. Cf. sense 1.
| 1530 Palsgr. 772/1, I warrant one to save him harmlesse. Je garantis..I wyll gyve hym twenty pounde that dare warrante me. 1560 J. Fisher's Godly Treatise D 4 b, For in this lyfe no man ought to warrant and assure hym selfe, and lyue thereby out of feare. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 268 That the women and maydens are wickedly defloured, [etc.]..Where the Emperour hath warraunted them for Religion, it is but dissimulation. 1586 B. Young Guazzo's Civ. Conv. iv. 190 b, I doe not thinke that our Cauallero, could be exempted or warranted from this fault. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. iv. iv. 3 An. [to jailor] I will not breake away, Ile giue thee ere I leaue thee so much money To warrant thee as I am rested for. 1610 ― Temp. i. i. 49 I'le warrant him for drowning, though the Ship were no stronger then a Nutt-shell. 1627 May Lucan v. I 3 b, Spread sailes, and if the sky Warrant thee not to goe for Italy, Ile warrant thee. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. v. vii. 385 He had so cunningly contrived his plots, as to warrant himself against all events. 1648 tr. Senault's Paraphr. Job 339 Consider that it [Heaven] is so high, that they cannot assault it, that the distance which seperates it from us, warrants it from all our attempts. 1660 N. Ingelo Bentiv. & Ur. ii. (1682) 213 [They] think they have sufficiently warranted their present Sensuality against all just Reproof. 1683 Apol. Prot. France vi. 82 Thus they had only promis'd to warrant Jerome of Prague, from violence, and not from the arrests of Justice. 1821 Scott Kenilw. xiv, He bore..the higher share in Elizabeth's favour, though..by no means so decidedly expressed as to warrant him against the final preponderance of his rival's pretensions. 1831 James Phil. Augustus xxxix, Let him come! I will warrant him from harm or from injustice. 1873 Browning Red Cotton Night-Cap Country 1633 Like some kindly weathercock Which, stuck fast at Set-Fair, Favonian Breeze, Still warrants you from rain. |
9. To give (a person) warrant or authority, authorize (to do something); to authorize, sanction (a course of action).
| 1579 Lyly Euphues i. (Arb.) 179 Doth his preheminence in the court, warrant him to oppresse the poore by might, and acquit him of punishment? 1581 Lambarde Eiren. i. ix. (1602) 38 The forme of their commission was enlarged, so as they..were..warranted also to arrest Felons that were indited. 1583 Exec. for Treason (1675) 14 All [are] warranted to disobey her and her Laws. 1624 Bacon Apophth. §242 (1625) 264 Marius did Denison them all, for Citizens of Rome, though there was no Law to warrant it. 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 436 The Lord warrants us to suspect the inconstant. 1649 [Langbaine] Answ. Univ. Oxf. 16 But onely such just Power as they are by Law..warranted unto. 1678 Sir G. Mackenzie Crim. Laws Scot. i. i. §iii. (1699) 5 Nor can the Council, by their Acts, warrand any to do what would be otherwise a Crime. 1685 Lond. Gaz. No. 2031/4 But even in the Business of the Excise and Militia..I am warranted to go the greatest lengths for your ease and conveniency that the nature of these things can bear. 1859 Keble in J. O. Johnston Liddon (1904) 47 What most perplexes me is some names in the list of those who have warranted this step. |
† b. to warrant out: to claim licence for (one's action). Obs. (? nonce-use.)
| 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. v. i. 23 Though Mercurie can warrant out His vnder-takings, and make all things good, Out of the powers of his diuinitie. |
† c. To license for printing. Obs.
| 1628 Laud Diary 12 June, Wks. 1853 III. 207, I was complained of by the House of Commons for warranting Doctor Manwaring's sermons to the press. |
d. To authorize (a payment).
| 1662 Petty Taxes 34 Why might not another take much more than 100l. at London for warranting the like sum to be paid at Carlisle on a certain day. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) IV. 219 The donee of the power may make any lease or grant, provided it does not exceed the utmost extent of interest that the power warrants. |
† 10. To direct (a person) authoritatively; to command. Obs. rare.
| 1631 Massinger Emperor East Prol. at Blackfriars, But that imperious custome warrants it, Our Author with much willingnes would omit This Preface to his new worke. |
11. Of things: To furnish good and sufficient grounds for (a course of action); to render allowable, justify.
| 1654 Bramhall Just Vind. i. (1661) 3 Henry the Eighth..pursued but..a way warranted by the practice of the most Christian Emperors of old. 1675 Baxter Cath. Theol. ii. i. 284 They..will know that I have enough to abase me before God and man: But will that warrant a course of lying and backbiting in others? a 1716 South Serm. (1744) XI. 302 All which considerations of a danger so..great, are certainly very sufficient to warrant the nicest caution and fearfulness in this case. 1774 tr. Chesterf. Let. to Son xv. I. 47 The Rape of the Sabines was more an advantageous than a just measure; yet the utility of it should not warrant its injustice. 1813 Lamb Reynolds & Leonardo da Vinci Wks. 1908 I. 191 The hand was by the boldest licence twice as big as the truth of drawing warranted. 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. II. 244 It is impossible to say whether this accusation was warranted by facts. 1833 Ritchie Wand. by Loire 3 Every one has a higher opinion of himself than his station warrants. 1853 C. Brontë Villette xiv, It was not my intention to approach or address him in the garden, our terms of acquaintance not warranting such a step. 1875 Gladstone Glean. (1879) VI. 238 Our general information..is not sufficient to warrant our giving an immediate opinion on the question. 1883 Manch. Exam. 24 Oct. 4/6 Any advance of wages at present is not warranted by the condition of trade. |
b. To justify (a person in or to a course of action).
| 1671 [R. MacWard] True Nonconf. Contents, Positive grounds from Scripture warranding Subjects to defend Religion by armes. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. i. 2 And in this I am warranted by the example of ancient Rome. 1794 R. J. Sulivan View Nat. II. 79 From the universality of this magnetic influence, we might, in some degree, be warranted in conjecturing, that [etc.]. 1804 Abernethy Surg. Obs. 210, I said that I did not think a surgeon warranted in tying the external iliac artery. 1843 Mill Logic i. iii. §7 We are not warranted in referring our sensations to a cause. 1845 T. W. Coit Puritanism 48 These are ample..to well warrant the Dr. in his conclusion. 1883 League Jrnl. 20 Oct. 657/3 If we could have more earthly enjoyment by shortening life this would not warrant us to shorten it. |
c. Of a person: To countenance by one's action or example. ? Obs.
| 1631 Shirley Love's Cruelty i. ii. (1640) B 4 b, Warrant not so much ill by your example To those that live beneath you. |
† d. To justify by appeal to authority or evidence, to find warrant for. Obs.
| 1612 T. Taylor Comm. Titus i. 6 It is no lesse then our dutie to warrant out of this place the marriage of Ministers. 1635 D. Dickson Hebr. vii. 13–15. 127 It is not warranded from Scripture; therefore I am not bound to belieue it. 1662 Hobbes Consid. 33 But seeing there is no such word in the Scripture, how will you warrant it from natural reason? |
12. To appoint (an officer) by a warrant.
| 1746 W. Thompson R.N. Adv. (1757) 32 All Officers were warranted from the Admiralty Board. |
▪ V. warrant
obs. variant of warren.