ˈwȯrəntē, ˈwär-, -ti noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English warantie, from Old North French, from feminine of waranti, past participle of warantir to warrant
1.
a.
(1) : the undertaking or obligation of a feudal lord to defend his vassal tenant in the possession of the land held of him as lord, whether originally received by the lord by commendation or not or to give the tenant lands of equal value
(2) : a real convenant binding the grantor of an estate of freehold and his heirs to warrant and defend the title and in case of eviction by title paramount to yield other lands of equal value in recompense — see special warranty
b. : a collateral undertaking that a fact regarding the subject of a contract is or will be as it is expressly or impliedly declared or promised to be and although breach of such an undertaking does not void the contract it does make the warrantor liable for damages
c. : a statement expressly or impliedly made in an insurance policy by the insured that a fact relating to the subject of insurance or the risk exists or will exist or that some related act has been done or will be done and that must be literally true or fulfilled if the policy is not to become void — distinguished from representation
2. : something that authorizes, sanctions, supports, or justifies : a justificatory mandate or precept : substantiating evidence, proof, or assurance : warrant , authorization
a glib fluency is no warranty of genuine talent — A.T.Weaver
by what warranty has he assumed such powers
3. : a usually written guarantee of the integrity of a product and the good faith of the maker given to the purchaser and generally specifying that the maker will for a period of time be responsible for the repair or replacement of defective parts and will sometimes also provide periodic servicing
a one-year warranty on a television set