warrant English · revision 6573

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1225|origins=frk *warand}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈwɒɹənt/ ''(UK)''; /ˈwɔɹənt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English warant, [[bor|fro|warant|t=defender; surety; justifying evidence]], the Old North French form of Old French guarant, garant,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[frk|*warand]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) related to [[goh|werēnt|t=guarantor]] and German [[m|de|gewähren|t=to grant]].^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) It is a doublet of [[guarantee]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A protector or defender: about 1200, before 1225 in the OED, a sense now obsolete.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Security or assurance given by a protector, and permission from a superior that frees one from blame, are from about 1300,^(Etymonline) as are letters validating authority.^(Etymonline) In law, a guarantee of title to property is from the early 14th century,^(Etymonline) and a written document authorizing an action, a writ, from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) A justifying reason or ground, as in ''no warrant for such a claim'', is from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) The verb, to protect or keep safe, is from 1275 and is obsolete;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) to guarantee as true is from about 1300, and to guarantee goods from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) The ''warrant officer'' holds office by warrant rather than by commission.^(Etymonline) In Yorkshire and Lancashire mining, warrant was the clay beneath a coal seam.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1225 – a protector.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1275 – the verb, to protect.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – an assurance; to guarantee as true.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – a writ.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – a justifying reason.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A document issued by a court or official authorizing an action, such as an [[arrest]] or search.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Justification or good reason: ''no warrant for this view''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A document giving the holder a right, such as to buy [[share|alt=shares]] at a set price.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To justify or call for: ''the case warrants investigation''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To guarantee, or to state with confidence: ''I'll warrant he's lying''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[warrantability]]

+ * [[warrantable]]

+ * [[warrantably]]

+ * [[warrantless]]

+ * [[prewarrant]]

+ * [[warrantee]]

+ * [[warranter]]

+ * [[warrantor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[unwarrantable]]

+ * [[unwarranted]]

+ * [[warranty]]

+ * [[guarantee]]

+ * [[garrison]]

+ * [[ward]]

+ * [[warrant officer]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}