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Mr. Tom Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary

The use of "vouchsafe"

Hi

Can we use "vouchsafe" (maybe humorously) in everyday spoken English? Or would it sound way too formal?

He vouchsafed to me a few family secrets.

Thanks,

Tom
  

Top answer

Vouchsafed is not used much these days. If you used it in a conversation it would probably be for a particular effect; it's not something most people would usually say. I suspect quite a few native speakers would not know it.

— Blue Jay

  • Vouchsafed is not used much these days.
  • If you used it in a conversation it would probably be for a particular effect; it's not something most people would usually say.
  • I suspect quite a few native speakers would not know it.
  • An educated audience might enjoy hearing it, though.
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2 Answers
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Vouchsafed is not used much these days. If you used it in a conversation it would probably be for a particular effect; it's not something most people would usually say. I suspect quite a few native speakers would not know it. An educated audience might enjoy hearing it, though.
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It sounds Shakespearean to me. Or from the times of knights and ladies.
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