▪ I. vouch, n.
[f. next.]
† 1. = voucher n.1 1. Obs.—1
| 1621 Bp. R. Montagu Diatribæ 128 Tell mee, if hee will not stand amazed at your Vouches in Fines and Recoueryes. |
2. An assertion, allegation, or declaration; a formal statement or attestation of truth or fact. Now chiefly colloq.
| 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. ii. iv. 156 My vouch against you, and my place i' th' State, Will so your accusation ouerweigh. [Also Oth. ii. i. 147, etc.] 1610 W. Folkingham Art of Survey To Rdr. p. iii, An Arte-lesse Agent can..with the bare vouch of the generall goodnesse of the Ground..haile on the poore Pesant. 1621 Bp. R. Montagu Diatribæ 14 Discrediting their vouches, by empairing their credits, and calling their Honesty into question. 1631 Heylin St. George 5 For having in the generall vouche and confession of the Church, beene reckoned with the Saints departed. |
▪ II. vouch, v.
(vaʊtʃ)
Forms: 4 voch- (5 Sc. woche), fouche, 4 wowche, 5–6 vowch, 4–6 vouche, 5– vouch.
[a. AF. and OF. vocher, voucher (OF. also voch-, vouchier, vougier, voukier), to call, summon, invoke, claim, etc., obscurely f. L. vocāre to call. Cf. avouch v.]
1. trans. Law. to vouch to warrant or voush to (also † for) warranty, to cite, call, or summon (a person) into court to give warranty of title. (After AF. and OF. voucher a garant.)
| a 1325 MS. Rawl. B. 520 fol. 47 Ȝif þilke þat is i voched to warant be in present ant mid wille wolle waranti þe tenaunt. 1485 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 324/2 And over that, caused theym..to vouche by covyn to warrant one John Smyth, whiche also by covyn entred into warrant. 1509–10 Act 1 Hen. VIII c. 19 Preamble, Margaret vouched to warranty your said Suppliant. 1544 tr. Littleton's Tenures 34 Yf such tenaunt be impleded by a Precipe quod reddat &c. and he voucheth hys lorde to warranty. 1594 West 2nd Pt. Symbol. §136 The vouchee is he, whom the tenant voucheth, or calleth to warranty for the land in demaund. 1628 Coke On Litt. 102 When the Tenant being impleaded within a particular iurisdiction..voucheth one to warranty. 1741 T. Robinson Gavelkind i. vi. 130 If the Heir at Common Law be vouched for Warranty. 1766 Blackstone Comm. II. 380 If the vasal's title to enjoy the feud was disputed, he might vouch, or call, the lord or donor to warrant or insure his gift. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 382 When a person is vouched to warranty, and enters of his own accord into the warranty, the law presumes that he parted with his possession with warranty. 1875 K. E. Digby Real Prop. (1876) 78 note, The person vouched to warranty might in his turn vouch a second person, and the second vouchee a third. |
| absol. 1531 Dial. on Laws Eng. ii. i. F iv b, When the tenaunte in tayle hath vouched to warrauntye. 1865 F. M. Nichols Britton II. 258 If the deforciant vouches to warranty, then the like process shall hold [etc.]. |
b. ellipt. (with omission of to warrant).
| 1544 tr. Littleton's Tenures 12 The wyfe of the feoffour bryngeth an accyon of Dower gaynst the yssue of the feoffe, and he vouched the heyre of the feoffour. 1625 Sir H. Finch Law (1636) 370 If the tenaunt vouch a dead man, the demandant may auerre he is dead, or there is none such. 1628 Coke On Litt. 386 b, If two men make a Feoffment.., and the one die, the Feoffee cannot vouche the survivor only, but the heir of him that is dead also. 1766 Blackstone Comm. II. 359 If Edwards therefore be tenant of the freehold in possession,..Edwards doth first vouch Barker, and then Barker vouches Jacob Morland the common vouchee. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 325 This person being tenant to the præcipe, vouches the tenant in tail. 1875 K. E. Digby Real Prop. (1876) 78 note, If at the time of the claim the vouchee were dead, the possessor of the thing claimed could ‘vouch the tomb’ of the vendor. |
| absol. 1523 Fitzherb. Surv. 20 If their copies were lost they may vouche and resort to the lordes court rolles. 1628 Coke On Litt. 101 b, The partie, if he hath a Warrantie, shall not vouche, but haue his action of couenant, if [etc.]. 1642 tr. Perkins' Prof. Bk. i. §49. 23 If a bastard eigne is impleaded and vouch and the vouchee enters into warranty. 1672 [see voucher n.2 4]. |
c. With over. Of a vouchee: To cite (another person) into court in his stead. Also absol.
| 1511–2 Act 3 Hen. VIII, c. 18 Preamble, In whiche..accione the seid tenauntes vouched to warrante Syre John Rysley Knyght and he vouched over to Warantie Thomas Fysshe. 1628 [see voucher n.1 1 b]. 1741 T. Robinson Gavelkind i. vi. 130 If the Heir at Common Law be vouched for Warranty, who vouches the Heirs in Gavelkind because of the Possession, they all shall vouch over. 1766 Blackstone Comm. II. 359 He vouches the tenant in tail, who vouches over the common vouchee. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 451 If a præcipe is brought against a tenant in tail, and his wife,..and they both vouch over in the usual manner, it will bar the estate tail. Ibid., A common recovery, in which he and his wife vouched over the common vouchee. |
2. To take or call (a person) to witness. † In early use with to record. Also transf. (quot. 1700).
| c 1412 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 1838 God of heuen vouch I to record, Þat..Thow schalt no cause haue more þus to muse. 1425 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 267/2 And yat ye same Wauter voucheth Baronez to recorde whiche bene present in yis Parlement, and wer present in yat Counseill. 1676 W. Longueville in Hatton Corr. (Camden) I. 125 Clarke..quoted Basset's man, a bookseller in Fleet-streete; and ye yong bookseller vouch't Mr. Freake, a yong barrister of ye Middle Temple. 1700 Dryden Ovid's Met. xiii. 22 The Sun and Day are Witnesses for me, Let him who fights unseen relate his own, And vouch the silent Stars, and conscious Moon. Ibid. 101 That it is not a Fable forged by me,..I vouch ev'n Diomede. |
b. To cite or appeal to (authority, example, doctrine, etc.) in support of one's views or statements or as justification for a course of action.
| 1531 Elyot Gov. iii. xxv, But the most catholike and renoumed doctours..vouche (as I mought say) to their ayde the autoritie of the writars. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 30 Bycause I sayd that our Preachers do alleadge Scriptures onely: and yet within a whiles after I added, that they did vouche the authoritie of the Fathers also. 1641 J. Shute Sarah & Hagar (1649) 195 He voucheth the example of Elias, how God, upon his prayer, shut and opened heaven. 1660 C. Bonde Scut. Reg. 363, I vouch every mans experience to warrant this truth. 1692 Locke Toleration iii. ix. 215 So that you cannot vouch the Intention of the Magistrate, where his Laws say nothing. 1884 Law Rep. 14 Q.B.D. 799 There is no such doctrine as that..which has been vouched in order to take away the effect of this deed. 1885 Ld. Esher in Law Times' Rep (N.S.) LIII. 445/2 A solicitor cannot vouch his privilege in such a case as this. |
c. Similarly with reference to the citation of authors, works, etc.
| 1599 Thynne Animadv. (1875) 71 In the catalogue of the auctors, you haue omytted manye auctors vouched by chawcer. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. x. (1623) 651 For more credit to which assertion hee vouched sundry books and acts. 1630 Prynne Anti-Armin. 239 We have truly vouched well nigh two hundred that consent with us. 1651 H. L'Estrange Smectymnus-mastix 17 When he is vouched to serve their turns, he is set out with a more honorable encomium, he is then stiled A learned Jew, the famous Rabbi Maymonides. 1722 Wollaston Relig. Nat. iii. 43 For the truth of this I vouch the mathematicians. 1744 Harris Three Treat. Wks. (1841) 45, I am not certain..whether you will admit such authorities as it is possible I may vouch. 1831 Westm. Rev. Jan. 73 No one now regards such writers as Ascham, Burton, Chapman..as obsolete, or would hesitate to vouch them to justify a word and keep its memory from oblivion. 1866 Q. Rev. July 261 As he vouches another person for his former charge, and speaks allusively only of the second, it is difficult to say how much weight he attaches to either of these. |
d. To cite, quote, or adduce (a passage, etc.) out of a work in support of a view or statement.
| 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 25 b, You recite at the last certeine of my wordes, vouched out of Augustine, which be as followeth. 1583 H. Howard Defensative Oo j b, Since I find a sorte of godly verses vouched out of theyr vessels, by the learned fathers of the church. 1596 Danett tr. Comines (1614) 79 Neither will I vouch examples out of the ancient histories. 1631 Heylin St. George 155 His testimony vouch'd by Authors of that antiquity,..assure[s] mee..that such a worke was in their times, receiv'd as his. 1656 Sanderson Serm. (1689) 488 It would be too long to vouch Texts for each particular. 1842 S. R. Maitland Remarks 72 A statement, that Philpot vouched the major of his argument ‘out of Vigilius, an ancient writer’. |
† 3. a. To put in evidence, to display. Obs.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1358 Þis bolde Baltazar biþenkkes hym ones, To vouche on [= an] avayment of his vayne glorie. |
† b. To announce or declare (a vow). Obs.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 165 Vchon glewed on his god þat gayned hym beste, Summe to Vernagu þer vouched a-vowes solemne. |
† c. To cast the responsibility of (something) on a person. Obs.
| c 1395 Plowman's Tale 945 On hir bishop their warant [to] vouche, That is law of the decre. |
4. To allege, assert, affirm or declare. Also const. upon or against (a person). Now rare or Obs.
| 1390 Gower Conf. I. 295 Bot I spak nevere yit..That unto Cheste mihte touche, And that I durste riht wel vouche Upon hirself as for witnesse. Ibid. II. 24 For..sche myn herte toucheth, That for nothing that Slowthe voucheth I mai foryete hire. 1425 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 267/2 Thenne..ye same Wauter seyth and voucheth, ye Parlement yat King Richard held at Westm' [etc.]. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 228 b, From whence shall this mylde & charitable allegation..appeare at the length to be truly vouched agaynst Luther? 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. v. i. 326 What can you vouch against him, Signor Lucio? Is this the man that you did tell vs of? 1604 ― Oth. i. iii. 103 Bra. I therefore vouch againe, That with some Mixtures, powrefull o're the blood,..He wrought vp on her. Duke. To vouch this, is no proofe. 1662 South Serm. (1697) I. 52 In that Power and Dominion that God gave Adam over the Creatures: In that he was vouched his immediate Deputy upon Earth. 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam ix. xxxi. 5 What we have done None shall dare vouch, though it be truly known. |
† b. With complement. Obs.—1
| 1601 Shakes. All's Well ii. v. 87 But like a timorous theefe, [I] most faine would steale What law does vouch mine owne. |
5. To assert or affirm to be true or according to fact; to guarantee the truth or accuracy of (a statement, etc.); to attest or certify. Also const. against (a person).
| 1591 Savile Tacitus, Hist. i. 49 Diuerse miracles vowched by sundry persons terrifyed the mindes of men. 1601 Shakes. All's Well i. ii. 5 Nay tis most credible, we heere receiue it, A certaintie, vouch'd from our Cosin Austria. 1700 Locke Hum. Und. (ed. 4) iv. xvi. §8 When any particular matter of fact is vouched by the concurrent Testimony of unsuspected Witnesses, there our Assent is also unavoidable. a 1703 Burkitt On N.T. Matt. xxviii. 15 What an improbable and unlikely lie this was, which they put into the soldiers' mouths to vouch. 1750 tr. Leonardus' Mirr. Stones 117, I believe the saying of Pliny is very true, that there is no lie so impudent which is not vouched by authority. 1774 Reid Aristotle's Logic vi. §2. 237 They will..respect nothing but facts sufficiently vouched. 1827 Hallam Const. Hist. xv. II. 496 note, Boyer, in his History of the Reign of Queen Anne, p. 12, says [etc.]... I should be glad to have found this vouched by better authority. 1841 W. Spalding Italy & It. Isl. II. 99 Other legends were vouched by grave citations from a certain Book of Martyrdoms. 1879 M. Pattison Milton 153 An idle story that Milton died a Roman Catholic..is not well vouched, being hearsay three times removed. |
| absol. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles i. vi, Further vouches not my lay, Save that such lived in Britain's isle. 1878 Browning La Saisiaz 66 Go and see and vouch for certain. |
b. With subordinate clause: To bear witness, to testify, that (etc.).
| 1604 Shakes. Oth. i. iii. 262 Vouch with me Heauen, I therefore beg it not To please the pallate of my Appetite. a 1806 Bp. Horsley 9 Serm. (1815) 138 Some few hours after, Peter vouches that he had seen our Saviour. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xxxiv, The Prior of the Dominicans will vouch for me, that they are more than half heathen. 1884 Marshall's Tennis Cuts 24 That there are now occasional complaints on this score we can vouch from personal knowledge. |
c. With complement to the object.
| 1684–5 South Serm., Prov. xvi. 33 (1697) I. 358 If a man succeeds in any attempt, though undertook with never so much folly and rashness, his success shall vouch him a politician. 1693 ― Serm., Eccl. i. 18 (1842) V. 3 His [sc. Solomon's] judgment, whom God has hitherto vouched the wisest of men. 1903 Times 29 Jan. 13/4 The girl..had vouched the man Waugh as having been present. |
6. To support or uphold by satisfactory evidence; to back with proofs of a practical or substantial character.
| 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 3/1 That all they that teache, may vouch in deede, and of a trueth, that Iesus Christ speaketh by their mouth. Ibid. 458/1 To vouch our Godlinesse, that is to say, to shewe in deede & without dissembling that wee labour to serue God. 1662 Glanvill Lux Orient. i. 3 Let us take some account of what the 2 first opinions alledge one against another..: now, if they be found unable to withstand the shock of one anothers opposition; we may reasonably cast our eies upon the third, to see what force it brings to vouch its interest. 1667 Milton P.L. v. 66 Mee damp horror chil'd At such bold words voucht with a deed so bold. 1697 C. Leslie Snake in Grass (ed. 2) 281 If G. Whitehead cannot, by some better Miracles than these, vouch that Curse and Prophecy. a 1704 T. Brown Sat. French King Wks. 1730 I. 59 A change so monstrous I cou'd ne'er have thought, Tho' Partridge all his stars to vouch it brought. 1778 Hist. Eliza Warwick I. 29 Say, Madam, how can I possibly relieve you..and my zeal in serving you will best vouch the sincerity of my words. 1828 D'Israeli Chas. I, II. ii. 49 He afterwards honourably vouched his words by his deeds. 1830 Scott Demonol. x. 394 The extreme antiquity of the building is vouched by the immense thickness of the walls. 1911 E. Beveridge North Uist vii. 239 The general character of this site is fully vouched by traces of five or six old dwellings. |
b. To attest or substantiate by written evidence.
| 1745 Pococke Descr. East II. iii. i. 126 When I arrived at Scutari, they took my slave from me, as I had not the original writing by me to vouch the property of him. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 462 Either party may appeal to the superior court..except on bonds or notes vouched by two witnesses. 1886 Law Times Rep. LXXX. 197/1 All expenses so claimed must be strictly vouched. |
7. To support by recommendation; to become sponsor for (a person or thing). rare.
| 1590 Greene Never too Late Ep. Ded., Knowing you are such a Mæcenas of learning, that you will as soone vouch with Augustus a few verses, giuen by a poor Greeke, as of the Arabian Courser. 1659 T. Pecke Parnassi Puerp. i, I want no Patrons for to vouch my Books. 1775 C. Johnston Pilgrim 212 It was impossible to object to such a scheme, especially as the magistrate vouched the fellow's sagacity. 1906 A. Noyes Drake i. 82 Leicester vouched him; ‘This man's tale is true!’ |
b. To affirm or guarantee (the truth of a statement).
| 1607 Shakes. Cor. v. vi. 5 Bid them repayre to th' Market place, where I..Will vouch the truth of it. 1670 Covel in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.) 112 One of our English Merchants there (of good repute, though I shall not vouch the truth of his story)..told us [etc.]. 1741 C. Middleton Cicero II. vi. (ed. 3) 149 The three Tribuns..terrifying the City with forged stories..produced their creatures in the Rostra to vouch the truth of them to the people. 1771 E. Griffith Hist. Lady Barton III. 131 She had framed a novel against me,..so guarded at all points, that each part of it seemed to vouch the truth of the rest. 1805 E. de Acton Nuns of Desert II. 179 Willet..should be summoned to vouch the truth of his own despatches. |
c. To give or pledge (one's word of honour) for something.
| 1898 Daily News 10 Nov. 4/7 M. Cavaignac has..insulted France by vouching his personal honour for a gross, clumsy,..forgery. |
8. intr. With for. a. To speak or bear witness in behalf of (a person); to be surety or sponsor for.
| 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. Pref. c, As to the Englishing of this Work, since the Translator has no body to Vouch for him, he must e'en leave it to take its chance. 1698 Collier Immor. Stage 215 The Salvo of Sir John Friendly's appearing at last, and vouching for Lord Foplington, won't mend the matter. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v., A Person is said to Vouch for another, when he undertakes to maintain or warrant him in a thing, or passes his Word in his behalf. 1781 Cowper Lett. 19 Feb., Mr. Hill knows me well enough to be able to vouch for me that I am not over-much addicted to compliments and fine speeches. 1820 Scott Monast. xviii, I dispute not the lad's qualities, for which your reverence vouches. |
b. Of things: To supply evidence or assurance of (some fact).
| 1755 Young Centaur v. Wks. 1757 IV. 222 What year, nay, what day, has passed unimpowered to vouch for his clement, and absolute reign? 1757 W. Wilkie Epigon. Pref. p. xxxv, The stories..would have appeared..altogether ridiculous,..till antiquity had procured them credit, or a tradition been formed afterwards to vouch for them to the world. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey v. viii, The very incident vouches for its sweet seclusion. 1867 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1877) I. v. 324 The plan which he formed, though not successful, seems to vouch for his generalship. 1884 tr. Lotze's Metaph. 276 The certainty of the law..is vouched for..by the results of experiment. |
c. To give personal assurance of the truth or accuracy of (a statement or fact). Also with accuracy, truth, etc., as object.
| 1777 Sheridan Sch. Scand. iv. iii, A very clear account, truly! and I dare swear the Lady will vouch for the truth of every word of it. 1798 in Nicolas Disp. Nelson (1846) VII. p. clx, I do not vouch for what I have said of the Bellerophon and Majestic. 1800 Med. Jrnl. IV. 510, I cannot vouch for the accuracy of every minute particular, but am certain that the general statement will be found to be correct. 1841 Lane Arab Nts. I. 24 When he relates anything for the truth of which he can not vouch. 1865 W. G. Palgrave Arabia II. 176, I can vouch for the great frequency of these sources. 1882 M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal II. iv. 54, I love the country better than ever, I can vouch for that. |
† 9. trans. To assert a claim to (something). Obs. rare.
| 1488 Acta Dom. Conc. (1839) 108/1 Becauss þe said thomas clamit þe said landes to pertene to alane kynnard.., and that he walde woche thaim wiþ the perell: The lordis þarefore ordanis þe said maister William to woche samekle of þe said landis as he plessis. 1491 Ibid. 216/2 The said Johne allegiit þat all þe saidis landis wer his fee & heretage, & wochit þe samyn wiþ þe perell of law in presens of þe lordis. 1549 Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par. 1 Cor. 39 Howebeit this labor of myne, I vouche not as myne, but gyue al to goddes goodnes, by whose helpe all was wrought. |
† 10. To guarantee the title to, or legal possession of (something). Obs. rare.
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. v. i. 117 Will his Vouchers vouch him no more of his Purchases? a 1661 Fuller Worthies (1662) i. 64 If one ignorantly buyeth stolen Cattel, and hath them fairly vouched unto him,..he cannot be damnified thereby. |
11. † a. To deign or think fit to do something; = vouchsafe v. 6. Also with simple object. Obs.
| 1589 Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 51, I was..drawne..to..affoord you such companie as a poore swaine may yeeld without offence, which if you shall vouch to deigne of, I shall be..glad of such accepted seruice. 1590 Lodge Euphues' Gold. Leg. F 3 b, Marry, if you want lodging, if you vouch to shrowd your selues in a shepheards cotage, my house (for this night) shalbe your harbour. c 1590 Greene Fr. Bacon vii, Then must we all make suit..To Friar Bacon, that he vouch this task, And undertake to countervail in skill The German. |
b. To condescend to grant or give; to allow or permit; = vouchsafe v. 2 a.
| 1594 Lodge & Greene Looking Gl. ii. iii. 855 If that I meant not, Rasni, to forgiue,..I would not vouch her presence in my Courts. 1612 Two Noble K. v. iv. 123 Our master Mars Hath vouch'd his Oracle, and to Arcite gave The grace of the Contention. 1848 Bailey Festus (ed. 3) 200 Power And means vouched heretofore to some, and now To him who words the wonders he hath seen. |
† 12. intr. To deign to accept of something; = vouchsafe v. 6 d. Obs. rare.
| 1589 Greene Tullies Love Ded., Then..if my worke, treating of Cicero, seeme not fit for Cicero..yet I craue your Honour will vouch of it, only for it is written of Cicero. 1590 ― Never too Late (1600) 6 This Palmer..returning me many thanks, voucht of my proffer, and was willing to take my house for his Inne. 1602 Rowlands Greenes Ghost 6 But you kind friends, that loue your countries wealth, Vouch of my labours. |
Hence vouched ppl. a., ˈvouching vbl. n.
| 1573–80 Baret Alv. s.v. Vouch, Such vouching or constant affirmance. 1610 Shakes. Temp. ii. i. 60 Gon. But the rariety of it is, which is indeed almost beyond credit. Seb. As many voucht rarieties are. 1611 Cotgr., Vouchement, a vouching in law. 1657 W. Morice Coena quasi κοινὴ xi. 127 By the vouching of Theophylact I conceive they have gotten nothing. 1757 E. Griffith Lett. Henry and Frances (1767) IV. 76 A Gentleman had bought a Horse, some Time ago, which happened not to answer his Vouchings. 1816 Scott Antiq. xxxvi, Aymer de Geraldin..who, by the less vouched, but plausible tradition..of the country, is said to have been descended from the Marmor of Clochnaben. 1832 Rolls of Parlt. Index 955/2 Collusive Sale of Land, and vouching by Warranty. 1894 A. Birrell Ess. i. 4 This side of the account needs no vouching; but there is another side. |