warrant

Authorization or certification; a sanction, as given by a superior.countableuncountable

• 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.

Something that provides assurance or confirmation; a guarantee or proof.countable

• a warrant of authenticity; a warrant for success

An order that serves as authorization; especially a voucher authorizing payment or receipt of money.countable

• 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.

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.countable

• 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.

A judicial writ authorizing an officer to make a search, seizure, or arrest, or to execute a judgment.countable

• an arrest warrant issued by the court

Ellipsis of warrant officer.abbreviationalt-ofcountable

• [Dave T.] Daniels also stated that many supported the idea of an officers indoctrination course, with the aim of preparing warrants for broader responsibility.

Ellipsis of warrant officer.; A certificate of appointment given to a warrant officer.countable

• 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,"

A document certifying that a motor vehicle meets certain standards of mechanical soundness and safety; a warrant of fitness.New-Zealandcountable

• She had inherited from Rufus a 1994 Nissan Vanette that routinely failed its warrant and was always breaking down;

A defender, a protector.countableobsolete

• 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

Underclay in a coal mine.uncountable

To protect, keep safe (from danger).obsoletetransitive

• [A]ll honeſt meanes for a man to warrant him-ſelfe from euills, are not onely tolerable, but commendable.
• I'le warrant him for drowning, though the Ship were no ſtronger then a Nutt-ſhell, and as leaky as an vnſtanched wench.

To give (someone) an assurance or guarantee (of something); also, with a double object: to guarantee (someone something).obsoletetransitive

• Crato in a conſultation of his for a noble patient, tels him plainly, that if his Highneſſe will keepe but a good diet, hee will warrant him his former health.
• The warranty that a ship shall sail on a given day must be strictly performed. Thus, if a ship, warranted to sail on or before a particular day, be prevented from sailing on that day by an embargo, the warranty is not complied with.

To guarantee (something) to be (of a specified quality, value, etc.).transitive

• Tuc[ca]. [...] Can thy Author doe it impudently enough? / Hiſt[rio]. O, I warrant you, Captaine: and ſpitefully inough too; he ha's one of the moſt ouerflowing villanous wits, in Rome. He will ſlander any man that breathes; If he diſguſt hi
• The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent. [...] His pure tight skin was an excellent fit; and closely wrapped up in it, and embalmed with inner health and strength, like a revivified Egyptian

To guarantee as being true; (colloquial) to believe strongly.transitive

• That tree is going to fall, I’ll warrant.

To authorize; to give (someone) sanction or warrant (to do something).transitive

• I am warranted to search these premises fully.

To justify; to give grounds for.transitive

• Circumstances arose that warranted the use of lethal force.