1. One who vouches for the truth or correctness of a fact or statement or corroborates another person in this respect; an author or literary work serving this purpose.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), 290. Without painting of phrases or collecting of great Authours for my Vouchers.
1679. Penn, Addr. Prot., I. vi. (1692), 22. They would make him a Voucher of all their Falshood.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 252. Whether the Beams were of Cedar, it is not so fortunate as to have a Voucher of its own Nation.
1715. M. Davies, Athen. Brit., I. 96. For the authenticalness of his Chymical MS. he produces no other Voucher than one Reinesius.
1754. Edwards, Freed. Will, II. v. 53. The Use he makes of Sayings of the Fathers, whom he quotes as his Vouchers.
1826. Scott, Woodst., xiv. Tomkins … was in the habit of being voucher for his master.
1836–7. Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph. (1859), I. iii. 47. Heraclides and Sosicrates, the two vouchers of this story.
1853. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk. (1873), II. I. ii. 81. But here I am only concerned with its wealth, for which grave writers are the vouchers.
b. One who vouches for the respectability or good faith of another, or who undertakes to guarantee some procedure.
1667. Waterhouse, Fire Lond., 105. Deteining suspicious persons till they brought good vouchers and cleared themselves.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 253, ¶ 3. All the great Writers of that Age … stand up together as Vouchers for one another’s Reputation.
1732. Swift, Lett. to Barber, 14 Dec. Mr. Pilkington … says you will be his voucher that he still continues his modest behaviour.
1791. Mrs. Inchbald, Next door Neighb., III. ii. 66. Mr. Manly, notwithstanding you are these people’s voucher, this appears but a scheme.
1820. Hazlitt, Lect. Dram. Lit., 94. The only way that I know of is to make these old writers, as much as can be, vouchers for their own pretensions.
1829. Scott, Jrnl., 9 March. The Solicitor was voucher that they would keep the terms quite general.
1871. R. Ellis, trans. Catullus, lxiv. 362. Voucher of him last riseth a prey untimely devoted E’en to the tomb.
c. transf. Or things, in preceding senses.
1713. Rowe, trans. Lucan, iv. 820. The Seas, and Earth, our Virtue shall proclaim, And stand eternal Vouchers for our Fame.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., IV. 553. Religion! the sole voucher man is man; Supporter sole of man above himself.
1835. J. H. Newman, Par. Serm. (1837), I. xiii. 195. Nothing but past acts are the vouchers for future.
1838. Emerson, Addr. Cambridge, Mass., Wks. (Bohn), II. 192. Speak the truth, and all things alive or brute are vouchers … to bear you witness. Ibid. (1856), Eng. Traits, Aristocr., Ibid., 84. The grand old halls scattered up and down in England, are dumb vouchers to the … broad hospitality of their ancient lords.
† 2. A supporter or upholder of some practice or theory. Obs.
1677. W. Hughes, Man of Sin, II. iii. 56. This Practice must needs declare it self a notorious moral Wickedness;… and so bids fairer still for its great Vouchers claim unto that Title of the Man of Sin.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., I. 31. A stout Voucher of the 4 Humours, tells how he read … that the Gout arose from Vapours.
† 3. Cant. One who utters counterfeit coin. Obs.
1673. R. Head, Canting Acad., 69. Gilts,… Runners, Padders, Booth-heavers, Vouchers and the like. Ibid., 191. The first was a Coyner that stampt in a Mould, The second a Voucher to put off his Gold.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Vouchers, that put off False Money for Sham-coyners.
† 4. Law. a. = VOUCHEE 1. b. = VOUCHOR. Obs.
1596. Bacon, Use Com. Law (1635), 52. Which I. H. is one of the Cryers of the Common Pleas, and is called the Common Voucher.
1637. Cowell, Interpreter, s.v., The partie that voucheth in this case, is called the Tenent, the partie vouched is termed the Voucher.
1672. Manley, Cowell’s Interpreter, s.v., He that voucheth is called Voucher, (vocans) and he that is [vouched is] called Vouchee, (Warrantus).
