warrant
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈwɒɹənt/
ipa: /ˈwɔɹənt/
ipa: /ˈwɑɹənt/
rhymes: -ɒɹənt
Forms: form: warrants
form: warraunt
Etymology: The noun is derived from Middle English warant (“protector; guard, shield, protection”), from Anglo-Norman warrant, Old Northern French warant, warand, a variant of Old French guarant, garant, garand (“assurance, guarantee; authorization, permission; protector; protection, safety”) (modern French garant), from Frankish *warand, present participle of *warjan (“to fend off; to stop, thwart”). The word is cognate with Old High German werento (“guarantor”).
The verb is derived from Middle English warrant, waranten (“to give protection; to protect, shield; to assure, pledge, promise; to guarantee”), from Anglo-Norman warantir, warandir, warentir, and Old Northern French warandir, warantir, variant forms of Old French guarantir (“to protect”) (modern French garantir), a Romance formation from the noun guarant: see above.
Senses: examples: text: Two years after the first appearance on the London stage by an English actress, a royal warrant of 1660 decreed that women rather than boys were to play all female roles.
ref: 2007, Gill Perry, “Notes”, in Spectacular Flirtations: Viewing the Actress in British Art and Theatre, 1768–1820, New Haven, Conn.; London: Published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art by Yale University Press, →ISBN, footnote 15, page 205, column 2:
glosses: Authorization or certification; a sanction, as given by a superior.
examples: text: a warrant of authenticity; a warrant for success
text: The brazen serpent, lifted up in the centre of Israel's camp, with the publick declaration of its use, was a sufficient warrant to every man, when bitten by a fiery serpent, to look unto it. But [...] if any looked without at all expecting a cure according to the word of the Lord, they must have perished; not for want of a warrant to believe; but because they did not submit to the wisdom and authority of God, or rely on his faithfulness and mercy, in this appointed way of preservation.
ref: 1801, Thomas Scott, “Section II. Scriptural Proofs, that the Sinner Wants No Warrant for Believing in Christ, Except the Word of God.”, in The Warrant and Nature of Faith in Christ Considered, with Some Reference to the Various Controversies on that Subject, 2nd revised edition, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire: Printed by J. Seeley, sold by L. B. Seeley, […], →OCLC, page 23:
text: "None. But," said Francesca, hesitatingly, "will not Lord Avonleigh need some warrant for the truth of this history?"
ref: 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XIII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 163:
text: He almost gives his failings as a warrant for his greatness.
ref: 1987, Garry Wills, Newsweek, volume 110, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 17, column 1:
glosses: Something that provides assurance or confirmation; a guarantee or proof.
examples: text: And also be in enactid by the auctorite aforseid that no manꝰ [man's] clerke or clerkes or other parsone or parsones do wryte or make any maner of wryting warraunt or warrauntes, upon any maner gyfte or graunte made by the Kynges Highnes or by any other his Gracys offycers as aforsaide, [...]
ref: 1535–1536, “Chapter XI. An Acte Conc̉nynge Clerkes of the Signet and Privie Seale. [27 Henry VIII., c. 11]”, in The Statutes, revised edition, volumes I (Henry III. to James II. A.D. 1235–6 – 1685), London: Printed by George Edward Eyre and William Spottiswoode, printers to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, published 1870, →OCLC, page 458:
text: A Warraunt to Sir Edmond Peckham Knight, for twenty Pounds to be delivered to Fraunces Pitche, being ſent with Lettres to the Quene's Ambaſſador reſydent with the Frenche King.
ref: 1553 September 24, “State Papers in the Reign of Queen Mary”, in Samuel Haynes, editor, A Collection of State Papers, Relating to Affairs in the Reigns of King Henry VIII. King Edward VI. Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, from the Year 1542 to 1570. […], London: Printed by William Bowyer, published 1740, →OCLC, page 187:
glosses: An order that serves as authorization; especially a voucher authorizing payment or receipt of money.
examples: text: But they [police juries] have no power to [...] issue promissory notes or warrants to cover funds which may be set aside for this purpose in future taxation without express authority from the supreme political power of the state.
ref: 1896, William A. Reid, “General Power to Incur Pecuniary Liability—Public Corporations”, in A Treatise on the Law Pertaining to Corporate Finance […] In Two Volumes, volume I, Albany, N.Y.: H. B. Parsons, law publisher, →OCLC, § 12, page 18:
text: The first Eurobond offering was for Crédit National who issued $50m 13.75% five-year notes with six-month warrants to purchase the same principal amount of 13.75% ten-year bonds. The cum-warrant price of the note quickly rose to 105.5% in a rising market, yet the warrants alone were quoted at $15.
ref: 2015, Chris O’Malley, “Masters of the Market: 1979–1984”, in Bonds without Borders: A History of the Eurobond Market, Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 76:
topics: business
finance
glosses: An option, usually issued together with another security and with a term at issue greater than a year, to buy other securities of the issuer.
examples: text: an arrest warrant issued by the court
text: Mr. Musso said he desired to make an application at this stage on behalf of the accused, namely, that he be discharged on the ground that he was improperly held in custody, there being no warrant issued by the Court and no counter-signature to any warrant by the Senior-Consul. At the last hearing the fact was disclosed that the accused was arrested without a warrant.
ref: 1913 October 11, “The Bomb-making Charge. An Important Discussion.”, in The North-China Herald and Supreme Court & Consular Gazette: The Weekly Edition of the North-China Daily News, volume CIX (New Series), number 2409, Shanghai: Printed and published at the offices of the North-China Daily News & Herald, Ld., →OCLC, pages 113–114:
text: Avina: Former Spectre agent Saren Arterius is nearing the vicinity of the Council Camber.
Avina: A warrant has been issued for his arrest, though Citadel Security is unable to respond at this time.
ref: 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Citadel:
topics: law
glosses: A judicial writ authorizing an officer to make a search, seizure, or arrest, or to execute a judgment.
examples: text: [Dave T.] Daniels also stated that many supported the idea of an officers indoctrination course, with the aim of preparing warrants for broader responsibility.
ref: 2006, David R. Welsh, “Warrant Officer Associations over the Years: Chief Warrant Officers & Warrant Officers Association U.S. Coast Guard: 1919–Present”, in The Legacy of Leadership as a Warrant Officer, Nashville, Tenn.; Paducah, Ky.: Turner Publishing Company, →ISBN, page 40:
topics: government
military
politics
war
glosses: Ellipsis of warrant officer.
examples: text: Several days passed away, and at length down came an order for [Harry] Bartlett to go on shore and take up his warrant for a sloop of war that was then round at Plymouth, to which place he was to make all haste to join. […] "Well, my man," said Sir Joseph [Sydney Yorke], in his usual deliberative manner, "and so it has pleased the powers aloft to reward your deserts, and you are now a warrant officer."
ref: 1854, “The Old Sailor” [pseudonym; Matthew Henry Barker], “Harry Bartlett”, in Floating Remembrances and Sketches of a Sea Life, London: Whittaker and Co.; Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.; Nottingham, Nottinghamshire: Dearden, →OCLC, page 86:
topics: government
military
politics
war
glosses: Ellipsis of warrant officer.
A certificate of appointment given to a warrant officer.
examples: text: Some years ago he had bought a motor vehicle with a warrant issued the same day only to find that the hand brake was not functioning properly and only one brake drum had any lining on it. He had recently heard of a similar case of a vehicle which had been issued with a warrant by the Christchurch City Council testing station, and the purchaser had to pay $60 to have the hand brake and hydraulic brake equipment fixed and the brakes relined.
ref: 1968 October 22, Norman Eric Kirk, “Appropriation Bill—Estimates”, in Parliamentary Debates (Hansard): Second Session, Thirty-fifth Parliament: House of Representatives, volume 357, Wellington: A. R. Shearer, government printer, published 1969, →OCLC, page 2502:
text: She had inherited from Rufus a 1994 Nissan Vanette that routinely failed its warrant and was always breaking down;
ref: 2023, Eleanor Catton, Birnam Wood, page 55:
topics: road
transport
glosses: A document certifying that a motor vehicle meets certain standards of mechanical soundness and safety; a warrant of fitness.
examples: text: And whanne I ſawe her makynge ſuche dole / I asked her who ſlewe her lorde ¶ Syre ſhe ſaid the falſest knyght of the world now lyuyng and he is the mooſt vylayne that euer man herd ſpeke of / and his name is ſir Breuſe ſaunce pyte / thenne for pyte I made the damoyſel to lepe on her palfroy / and I promyſed her to be her waraunt / and to helpe her to entyere her lord
ref: [1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum secūdum”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book X, [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC, leaves 207, verso – 208, recto; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC, pages 414–415:
glosses: A defender, a protector.
topics: business
mining
synonyms: warren earth
glosses: Underclay in a coal mine.
Derived terms: sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: arrest warrant
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: bench warrant
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: death warrant
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: detention warrant
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: dock warrant
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: fugie warrant
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: general warrant
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: imprisonment warrant
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: letter warrant
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: mental inquest warrant
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: release warrant
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: search warrant
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: sign one's death warrant
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: sign one's own death warrant
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: warrantable
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: warrant canary
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: warrant card
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: warrantee
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: warranter
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: warrantless
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: warrantlessly
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: warrant of arrest
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: warrant of attorney
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: warrant officer
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: warrant of fitness
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: warrant of payment
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: warrantor
sense: Terms derived from warrant (noun)
word: warrant return
Related terms: sense: Terms related to warrant (noun)
word: unwarrantability
sense: Terms related to warrant (noun)
word: unwarrantable
sense: Terms related to warrant (noun)
word: unwarrantableness
sense: Terms related to warrant (noun)
word: unwarrantably
sense: Terms related to warrant (noun)
word: unwarranted
sense: Terms related to warrant (noun)
word: unwarrantedly
sense: Terms related to warrant (noun)
word: unwarrantedness
sense: Terms related to warrant (noun)
word: unwarrantied
sense: Terms related to warrant (noun)
word: warrantedness
sense: Terms related to warrant (noun)
word: warrantise
sense: Terms related to warrant (noun)
word: warranty