ˈsickerness Obs. exc. Sc.
[f. sicker a.]
1. † a. Certain prospect or possession of something; assurance; certainty. Also with inf. Obs.
| c 1100 in Napier Contrib. O.E. Lexicogr. 57 Heo habbeð blisse for þære sicornysse Godes rices. a 1300 Cursor M. 27017 Again þe toþer hoping, þat es In werldes welth [to] hald sikernes, We find a..sample laid. a 1340 Hampole Psalter i. 1 Þe ferth is sykirnes neuer to lose þat goed. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 134, I not in what manere I scholde Of worldes good have sikernesse. c 1460 Wisdom in Macro Plays 37 He xall..dey in sekyrnes of joy perpetualle. 1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel 1597 Twene hope and drede My lyfe I lede, But of my spede Small sekernes. |
b. Certainty with regard to fact.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 3472 Oure lauerd..Had don hir in to sikernes..Quat suld be þaa childer vie. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 105 He doth al his thing be gesse, And voideth alle sikerness. c 1450 Myrr. our Ladye 162 She sayeth as yf yt were paste for syckernesse of the fulfyllynge. 1533 Bellenden Livy i. i. (S.T.S.) I. 7 To write þe said history with mare faith and sikkirnes. 1897 Shetland News 15 May (E.D.D.), Dis I sed we mair dan ordinar sikkerness. |
† 2. Sense of security; self-confidence. Obs.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 234 Sikernesse streoneð ȝemeleaste & ouerhowe, & boðe..inobedience. a 1340 Hampole Psalter ii. 11 Dred is wirkere of vertus, and sykirnes brynges necligence. a 1400 Hylton Scala Perf. (W. de W. 1494) ii. xi, He myȝt so falle into rechelesnes & into fals sikernes. 1587 Mirr. Magistr. (1610) 327 In their most weale, let men beware mishap, And not to sleepe in slumbring sickernesse. |
3. The state or condition of being secure; freedom from danger or harm.
| c 1230 Hali Meid. 7 Se seli sikernesse as ha was in..under Godes warde. a 1300 Cursor M. 1158 Hou sal ani herthli flesche lende wit þe in sikernese. a 1340 Hampole Psalter cxlv. 1 Till crist, þare is þi rest and þi sikirnes. c 1412 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 26 In mene estaat eek sikernesse at all Ne saw I noon. 1464 Rolls of Parlt. V. 563/2 Caleis stode in grete sikernesse. 1526 Skelton Magnyf. 2539 A playne example of worldly vaynglory, Howe in this worlde there is no sekernesse. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. xi. 55 She..drew her selfe aside in sickernesse. |
† b. A means or source of security. Obs.
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 76 b/2 Almesse is a grete sykernesse to fore the hye god unto all them that doo it. c 1557 Abp. Parker Ps. civ. 295 The rockes, all inaccesse, To Conies bee theyr sikernesse. |
† 4. Security for the performance of a treaty, contract, etc.; an instance of this, a bond, pledge.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 342 ‘And haue ine wille þet tu nult nan more sunegen.’ Lo! þus ne askede he non oðer sikernesse. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 129 Þe king him het þe panewes ȝelde oþur sikernesse him make. a 1375 Joseph Arim. 623 ‘Do me sikernesse þer-to,’ seis Ioseph þenne. c 1425 Eng. Conq. Irel. 8 Of this was good sekernes Imaked on ether half. c 1470 [H. Parker] Dives & Pauper (W. de W. 1496) ii. ix. 118/2 A Jewe lente a crysten man a grete somme of golde..& toke no sykernesse of hym but his fayth. |
† 5. Sure keeping; safe custody. Obs.
| 1678 Sir G. Mackenzie Crim. Laws Scot. i. ix. §ix, He shall abide in Sickerness (id est, in Prison) at the King's will. |