warrant
UK: ˈwɒrənt | US: ˈwɔːrənt
n. an official document authorizing action (e.g., arrest, search)
n. justification or grounds for an action or belief
vt. to guarantee or justify something as necessary
The word "warrant" traces back to Old North French warant (protector, guarantor), derived from Frankish warand (related to "protect" or "defend"). The root warr- reflects the idea of assurance or security, later evolving into legal contexts (e.g., authorization). The suffix -ant nominalizes the action, solidifying its meaning as a formal guarantee.
The judge issued a search warrant for the suspect’s home.
His actions did not warrant such a harsh punishment.
The warranty serves as a warrant for the product’s quality.
There’s no warrant for these baseless accusations.
The police officer presented the arrest warrant at the door.