warrant
1. war.rant \'wo.r-*nt, 'wa:r-\ n [ME, protector, warrant, fr. ONF warant,
modif. of a Gmc noun represented] by OHG were-nto guarantor, fr. prp. of
were-n to warrant; akin to OHG wa-ra trust, care - more at VERY 1a1:
SANCTION, AUTHORIZATION; also : evidence for or to ken of authorization
1a2: GUARANTEE, SECURITY 1b1: GROUND, JUSTIFICATION 1b2: CONFIRMATION,
PROOF 2a: a commission or document giving authority to do something;
specif : a writing that authorizes a person to pay or deliver to another
and the other to receive money or other consideration 2b: a precept or writ
issued by a competent magistrate authorizing an offic er to make an arrest,
a seizure, or a search or to do other acts incident to the administration
of justice 2c: an official certificate of appointment issued to an officer
of lower ra nk than a commissioned officer 2d1: a short-term obligation of
a municipality or other governmental body i ssued in anticipation of
revenue 2d2: an instrument issued by a corporation giving to the holder the
right t o subscribe to the capital stock of the corporation at a fixed
price either for a limited period or perpetually
2. warrant vt [ME warranten, fr. ONF warantir, fr. warant] 1a: to declare
or maintain with certainty 1b: to assure (a person) of the truth of what
is said 2a: to guarantee to a person good title to and undisturbed
possession of ( as an estate) 2b: to provide a guarantee of the security of
(as title to property sold) usu. by an express covenant in the deed of
conveyance 2c: to guarantee to be as represented 2d: to guarantee (as
goods sold) esp. in respect of the quality or quantit y specified 3: to
guarantee security or immunity to : SECURE 4: to give warrant or sanction
to : AUTHORIZE {the law ~Xs this procedure} 5a: to give proof of : ATTEST
5b: to give assurance of the nature of or for the undertaking of : GU
ARANTEE 6: to serve as or give ground or reason for : JUSTIFY
Webster's English Dictionary