safe-conduct
noun, verb
Forms safe-conducts safe-conducting safe-conducted
- noun A document that grants safe passage through enemy territory in times of war.
- noun A convoy or guard to protect a person in a foreign country.
- verb (obsolete) To guarantee safe passage by granting such a document.
Synonyms
Etymology
Attested as early as the 14th century in Robert of Gloucerster's chronicles written in Middle English; ultimately a calque of Old French sauf-conduit.
Webster’s 1913
- noun That which gives a safe, passage; either (a) a convoy or guard to protect a person in an enemy's country or a foreign country, or (b) a writing, pass, or warrant of security, given to a person to enable him to travel with safety. Shak.
- verb To conduct safely; to give safe-conduct to. [POetic]
Etymology [Safe + conduct: cf. F. sauf-conduit.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “safe-conduct”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details