vouchsafe

verb

Etymology: From vouch + safe, written as two words in Middle English and early Modern English.

1. To graciously give, to condescendingly grant a right, benefit, outcome, etc.; to deign to acknowledge.

   “If Brutus will vouchſafe that Antony / May ſafely come to him ...”

   “Wilt thou, whoſe will is large and ſpacious, / Not once vouchſafe to hide my will in thine?”

2. To receive or accept in condescension.

   “Nancy's lips parted abruptly, as if there were angry words all ready to come; but her eyes, resting on Pollyanna's jubilantly trustful face, saw something that prevented the words being spoken. "Humph!" she vouchsafed. Then, showing her old-time interest, she went on: "But, say, it is queer, his speakin' to you, honestly, Miss Pollyanna. He don't speak ter no one; and he lives all alone in a great big lovely house all full of jest grand things, they say. Some says he's crazy, and some jest cross; and some says he's got a skeleton in his closet."”

3. To disclose or divulge.

   “She vouchsafed to me that she regretted ever marrying him.”

   “What have the gods told you? What have you foreseen? The gods have vouchsafed me nothing, told me nothing.”