voucher
voucher
UK[ˈvaʊtʃə(r)]US[ˈvaʊtʃər]
n
A piece of paper that can be used to pay for particular goods or services or that allows you to pay less than the usual price for them.
n
An official document or receipt that serves as proof that money has been paid or that information is correct.
Morpheme Breakdown
vouch
er
vouch
to guarantee
er
agent suffix
Etymology
The word 'voucher' entered English in the early 16th century from Anglo-French 'voucher', meaning 'to summon, call upon, vouch for'. This French term is derived from the Latin root 'vocare', meaning 'to call', which is also the source of words like 'vocal' and 'voice'. The semantic journey from 'calling' to 'guaranteeing' stems from the legal practice of calling someone into court to confirm a claim or provide evidence. Thus, a 'voucher' evolved from a person who gives evidence to a document that serves as proof or a guarantee for a financial transaction or claim.
Analysis
Structure: vouch (to guarantee) + er (agent suffix)
- vouch: From Anglo-French 'voucher', meaning 'to call, summon, vouch'. Its functional role is the core verb stem meaning to guarantee or attest.
- er: A Middle English agent suffix from Old English '-ere', indicating a person or thing that performs the action. Here, it forms a noun meaning 'a thing that guarantees'.
Examples
The company gave its employees a voucher for a free meal at a local restaurant.
Please keep your sales voucher as proof of purchase.
She used a government-issued voucher to help pay for her child's education.