Both Uses of
warrant
in
Macbeth
- And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
But shift away. There's warrant in that theft
Which steals itself, when there's no mercy left.p. 73.3 *warrant = justificationeditor's notes: These lines from Malcolm could be paraphrased as: "Let's not worry about taking the time for polite farewells; we should just slip away. There's justification for sneaking off when there's no mercy to be found."
- Now we'll together, and the chance of goodness
Be like our warranted quarrel!p. 147.9warranted = justifiededitor's notes: This could be paraphrased as: "Now let’s stay together, and may the chance of success be as strong as the justification of our cause."
Definitions:
-
(1)
(warrant as in: has a warrant to...) a document (granting the right to do something)for example:
- a document signed by a judge giving police the right to search a home
- a document signed by a judge giving police the right to arrest someone
- a document giving someone the right to buy stock shares at a given price by a given date
- a voucher documenting the right to receive payment
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(2)
(warrant as in: serious enough to warrant surgery) to justify (make an action reasonable or necessary)
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(3)
(warrant as in: I warrant it) to promise, guarantee, or indicate certainty of something