surety, n.
(ˈʃʊətɪ, ˈʃʊərɪtɪ)
Forms: 4–5 suretee, surte, seur(e)te, -tee, sewrte, 4–6 suerte, 5 seuerte, sewerte(e, (swer-, suyrte, -tee, -tie, surtey), 5–6 surete, suertee, -ty, sewertie, surtee, 5–7 sure-, suertie, (6 suer-, soertye, seurtie, sew(e)rtye, surtie, -ty, Sc. swir-, suirtie), 6–7 suretye, surtye, 6– surety.
[a. OF. surte, -tey, seurte, later seurete (mod.F. sûreté):—L. sēcūritātem, -tās, f. sēcūrus sure a.: see -ty1.]
I. Condition of being (or something that is) sure.
† 1. Safety, security from danger, an enemy, etc.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 58 Did not Ionas in Iude suche Iape sum-whyle, To sette hym to sewrte, vnsounde he hym feches? c 1374 Chaucer Former Age 46 In surte they slepte. c 1425 Cast. Persev. 1546 in Macro Plays 123, I prey ȝou putte me In-to sum place of surete, þat þei may not harmyn me. 1432 Paston Lett. I. 31 For the goode reule, demesnyng and seuretee of the Kynges persone. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 36 It is good that ye do so for the suerte of youre good name. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon cxxi. 432 He sate downe to reste hym, and layd his sword by hym, thynkynge then to be in a suerty. 1572 Form Com. Prayer B iv b, That by thy ayde..we may obtayne suertie from our enimies. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. i. 1 b, That for the more suretie of his voyage, he shoulde returne by Sea. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iv. ii. 206 For the conservation, reparation, suretie, ornament and exaltation of his workes. 1620 [G. Brydges] Horæ Subs. 268 It much concerned the surety of Augustus his gouernment, to haue..them content. |
† b. Security of contract, right, or possession.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 641, I hoope þu will holde þat þu here said: More suerty, for sothe, yet I sue fore. 1422 Yonge tr. Secr. Secr. xxxiii. 186 For more grettyr Surte thay bounde ham in grete Somes by dyvers Instrumentes. 1442 Rolls of Parlt. V. 57/2 Ye myght not have..the seide possessions in enheritaunce to youre availle and suerte. a 1475 Ashby Active Policy 183 How may any estate be in seurtee Of his welthe..If couetous folke be in his favour? 1545 Test. Ebor. (Surtees) VI. 227 For the more sewrtie I have setto my seal. |
† c. transf. A means of safety, a safeguard. Obs.
| c 1386 Chaucer Pard. T. 609 Looke which a seuretee is it to yow alle That I am in youre felaweshipe yfalle. c 1400 tr. Secr. Secr., Gov. Lordsh. viii. 53 And y trist þat þis techinge shall be..surtee and sufficiante to þy gouernaille. 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII, c. 14 §1 The nauy.. is..a greate defence and suerty of this realme. |
2. † a. Trustworthiness, reliability. Obs. rare.
| 1470–85 Malory Arthur xiii. v. 617 For the suerte of this swerd I brought none with me. c 1530 L. Cox Rhet. (1899) 56 Cato was honored for his ernestnes and surete. 1591 Troub. Raigne K. John ii. (1611) 90, I need not doubt the suretie of your wills. |
b. Accuracy; = sureness 3. rare.
| 1422 Yonge tr. Secr. Secr. 132 Sotylte and Vndyrstondynge, seurte of connynge. 1799 Stuart in Owen Wellesley's Desp. (1877) 114 The enemy pierced through the jungles with such surety and expedition. 1892 Sat. Rev. 17 Dec. 705/1 He handled French..with neatness of movement and surety of touch. |
3. † a. Freedom from care or anxiety; feeling of safety; confidence; = security 3. Obs.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 833 Myn lif to lede In al Ioyȝe & seurte out of drede. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione i. xx. 24 Þe surete of holy men was neuere wiþoute drede of god... The surete of shrewes growiþ of pride & presumpcion. 1481 Caxton Godfrey xxvi. 58 His vyctorye brought Solyman in in grete pryde, and in grete sewrte he smote in to the lodgis of the Cristen men. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cclvi. 380 Sir Perducas Dallreth..turned..Englisshe..whereof the duke of Aniou..thought than the lasse surete in the sayd Sir Perducas. c 1598 Deloney Thomas of Reading Wks. (1912) 222 Pouerty with suretie, is better than honour mixed with feare. |
b. Certain knowledge; = security 2, sureness 2 b. arch.
| 1509 Fisher Funeral Serm. C'tess Richmond Wks. (1876) 307 Veray suerte can not be had but only by the reuelacyon of god almighty. 1577 St. Aug. Manual (Longman) 29 So as I might reioice in suretie of the incorruptiblenesse of the everlastyng immortalitie. 1870 Ruskin Lect. Art iii. (1875) 81 Doing what the hand finds to do, in surety that..whatsoever is right the Master will give. |
4. † a. Certainty of an end or result aimed at; certainty of obtaining something. for surety (of), in order to make sure (of) or ensure. Obs.
| 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love i. v. (Skeat) l. 9 Acrisius shette Dane his doughter in a tour, for suertee that no wight shulde of her have no maistry. 1454 Rolls of Parlt. V. 263/2 If he..myght be putte in suerte of payment therof. 1509–10 Act 1 Hen. VIII, c. 16 Preamble, Divers actis of Parliament have been made for suerty of Payment of the expensez. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 26 Whiche putteth hym in surety of as moche lawfull money to be delyuered to hym in an other countre. 1607 Markham Caval. ii. xiv. 139 You must obserue that his head and necke stand streight..for suretie wherof you shal euer carry the outmost reine euer a litle straiter then the inmoste. |
† b. Certainty of a fact or event. Obs.
| 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy ii. 2253 It is wel bet by-tymes to abstene Þan put in doute þat stant in surete. c 1449 Pecock Repr. i. xiv. 78 Probabilite a this side suerte [i.e. short of certainty]. 1594 Plat Jewell-ho. ii. 5 For the most parte you shall have all the oiles of your hearbs..to ascend with the first pottle of water, neverthelesse for the more surety you may draw of a gallon, and prove what you can gather out of the last pottle. 1604 Shakes. Oth. i. iii. 396, I know not if 't be true, But I..Will do, as if for Surety. |
c. A certainty, fact: esp. in phr. for or of a surety = for certain. arch.
| c 1460 Sir R. Ros La Belle Dame 675 But þis is the seurte, I must suffre, which way þat euer hit go! c 1475 Harl. Contin. Higden (Rolls) VIII. 446 A man wolde have thouȝhte as for a suerte that he scholde have spedde welle. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. clvii. 190 The kyng..rode to Charters to have the better of surety what thenglysshmen dyd. 1535 Coverdale Gen. xv. 13 Knowe this of a suertye, that thy sede shalbe a straunger, in a londe that is not theirs. 1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence, Andria Argt. 2 As soone as hee knewe for a suretie his loue. 1816 Scott Old Mort. xxx, He was of a surety lawfully redeemed from death. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped i, ‘Nay,’ said Mr. Campbell, ‘who can tell that for a surety?’ |
II. Means of being sure. (See also 1 c.)
5. A formal engagement entered into, a pledge, bond, guarantee, or security given for the fulfilment of an undertaking. Chiefly in phr. to do, make, find, give, put in, take surety or sureties; in, to, under, upon surety. Now superseded by security 8.
| 13.. Sir Beues (A.) 73 Maseger, do me surte Þat þow nelt nouȝt discure me To no wiȝt. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 746, I defye the seurete and the bond Which that thou seist þat I haue maad to thee. ― Man of Law's T. 145 He shal han Custance in mariage, And certein gold,..And heer to founden sufficient suretee. ― Wife's T. 55 And suretee wol I han er þat thou pace Thy body for to yelden in this place. ― Frankl. T. 853 But wolde ye vouche sauf vp on seuretee Two yeer or thre for to respiten me. c 1400 Destr. Troy 11494 Þai depely desyret..To haue suertie full sad of a syker pes. 1424 Cov. Leet Bk. 83 The Costis that John Leeder spendithe..in getyng Suertie of C li. þat was lent vnto kyng Henry the vjte. c 1440 Engl. Conq. Irel. 75 Thay toke Surtey, and othis Sware. 1447 Rolls of Parlt. V. 129/2 Money by hir receyved, and in suretees remaynyng in the kepyng of the saide Katerine. 1470–85 Malory Arthur xv. ii. 657 Thenne was there pees betwyxe the Erle and this Aguarus, & grete seurte that the erle shold neuer werre ageynst hym. 1495 Cov. Leet Bk. 569 Þat they be putte vnder suertie..vnto such tyme þat þe Maire..may be suerly acerteyned of their good behauyng. 1530–1 Act 22 Hen. VIII, c. 12 §3 He shall be kepte in the Stockes till he hathe founde suertie to goo to servyce or ellse to laboure. 1536 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 7 Ye shall..put hym to Sewrtye to appere before the kinges Cownsayle. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. ii. i. 135 There remaines vnpaid A hundred thousand [crowns] more: in surety of the which, One part of Aquitaine is bound to vs. a 1628 F. Grevil Cœlica lxxi, Find suerties, or at Honour's Sessions dye. 1632 Lithgow Trav. viii. 358 Hauing obtayned my pasport..and surety taken for my life and moneyes. 1752 Hume Ess. & Treat. (1777) I. 338 A man may find surety nearly to the amount of his substance. 1762 ― Hist. Eng. I. viii. 282 He agreed to pay the sum; and immediately gave sureties for it. 1848 A. Jameson Sacr. & Leg. Art (1850) 469 [He] prevailed upon the jailer by large bribes, and by giving sureties for his return, to permit him to visit his wife. |
† b. A document embodying such an agreement or pledge. Obs.
| 1425 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 289/1 For as muche as the seurtees of yis said somme..may not have beene engrossed. 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas i. vi. (MS. Bodl. 263) 23/2 Atween the which bi surete off hond In mariage there was maad a bond. c 1500 Three Kings' Sons 187 The trews was taken bytwene them..and whan the surtees were made, sworne, and ensealed [etc.]. |
c. surety of (the) peace, a bond entered into for the maintenance of peace between parties; spec. in Law, a security entered into to the king by the offending party and taken by a justice for keeping the peace; so surety for (the) good behaviour: see quot. 1808.
| c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxxii. 145 He graunt þam suertee of peess. 1444 Rolls of Parlt. V. 110/1 Persons that be..in thair Wardes by condempnation, execution,..suertee of pees. 1479 in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 313 What so ever parson..be bounde in suertie of the peace. 1507 in Leadam Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden) 259 Suertie of peas was taken afore the Justice of peas..ayenst John Sawyer. 1581 Lambarde Eiren. ii. ii. (1588) 82, I will (at this day) call Suertie of the Peace, an acknowledging of a bond to the Prince, taken by a competent Iudge of Record, for the keeping of the Peace. 1769 Blackstone Comm. iv. 252 Wherever any private man hath just cause to fear, that another will burn his house, or do him a corporal injury,..he may demand surety of the peace against such person. 1808 Hutcheson Treat. Just. Peace Scot. ii. ii. §3. I. 391 Any justice of peace may command this surety of the peace, and grant his warrant for it upon the complaint of any person ‘threatened, or fearing to be wronged’. Ibid. §4. 399 Surety for good behaviour, is a recognizance entered into to the king for being of good behaviour. The good behaviour including the peace, he that is bound to the former, is therein bound to the latter also. |
6. gen. Ground of certainty or safety, guarantee: = security 7. Now rare.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 9241 Þou shall..say hym vpon sewertie thy-seluyn with mouthe,..I shall filsyn þis forward, in faith, þat I can. c 1500 Lancelot 2388 What suerte schal I have for to gone At libertee out of this danger free? a 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. V, 6 On the suretie of his owne conscience he determined to goo to them. 1556 Aurelio & Isab. (1608) D viij, The Quene with suche suerties and with many other thinges,..withoute fearinge more daenger nor the deathe of hir doughter she confortede hir. 1667 Milton P.L. v. 538 My self and all th' Angelic Host..our happie state Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds; On other surety none. 1838 Lytton Leila ii. i, Thou didst ask me for a surety of my faith. 1855 Prescott Philip II, ii. x. I. 254 Their character and position.. were sufficient sureties that they meditated no violence to the state. |
7. A person who undertakes some specific responsibility on behalf of another who remains primarily liable; one who makes himself liable for the default or miscarriage of another, or for the performance of some act on his part (e.g. payment of a debt, appearance in court for trial, etc.); a bail: = security 9.
Formerly also applied collectively to a number of persons.
| 1428 in Surtees Misc. (1888) 3 Yt was awarded yat John Lyllyng suld fynd seurte of v{supc} marke..and apon yis John Gascoigne and William Bedale become pleges and seurte for ye sayd John Lyllyng. 1451 Paston Lett. I. 194 He proferyd me suerte, men of the seid town of Routon. 1535 Coverdale Ecclus. xxix. 14 A good honest man is suertye for his neghboure. 1538 in R. G. Marsden Sel. Pleas Crt. Adm. (Selden) II. 67 And for your more suertye I have geven youe for my soertye in this case William Parkar merchaunt. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. v. i. 254 Then you shall be his suretie. 1660 Jer. Taylor Duct. Dubit. iii. ii. rule 7. §2 Persons conjunct in Contract; such as are Pledges in War, Sureties for Debt, Undertakers for appearance, and the like. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. Introd. iv. 110 Ten freeholders..were sureties or free pledges to the king for the good behaviour of each other. 1805 C. James Milit. Dict. (ed. 2) s.v., Every paymaster in the British service is obliged to find two sureties, who bind themselves in given sums, for the security of monies entrusted to him by government. 1847 Tennyson Princess v. 24 King, you are free! We did but keep you surety for our son. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 525 When a man becomes surety, let him give the security in a distinct form. |
| Comb. c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. cxxxiv. 7 He learnd but suretie-like to write for me, Vnder that bond that him as fast doth binde. |
b. A sponsor at baptism. Obs. or arch.
| 1548–9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Public Baptism, These infantes muste..promise by you, that be theyr suerties. 1575 Reg. St. Olave's Ch., Hart St. 14 Apr., Baptism of Henry Deaveraux third Sonne to the Earle of Essex... The Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Burrowes and the Lady Rich weare Sewerties. 1704 Nelson Fest. & Fasts ix. (1739) 585 Those who promised by their Sureties in Baptism do renew..that Contract. 1803 Gilpin Serm. III. xxiii. 259 You know..how many come as sureties for children, who are themselves..ignorant of all the duties of religion. |
c. fig. Applied to Christ (after Heb. vii. 22).
| [1535 Coverdale Ps. cxviii[i]. 122 Be thou suertie for thy seruaunt to do him good, that the proude do me no wronge.] 1557 N.T. (Genev.) Heb. vii. 22 By so muche is Iesus made a suretie of a better Couenant. 1709 Watts Hymns i. cl. 7 To this dear Surety's Hand Will I commit my Cause. 1781 Cowper Convers. 506 Soon after He that was our Surety died. 1869 Spurgeon Treas. David Ps. xv. 4 Our blessed Surety swore to his own hurt, but how gloriously he stood to his suretyship. |
| attrib. 1645 Rutherford Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845) 235 It is only the cautionary, the surety-righteousness of Christ-God, that is made ours. 1782 J. Brown Nat. & Rev. Relig. iii. ii. (1796) 222 What..reward of his surety-service, Christ should have from God the Father. 1868 H. Law Beacons of Bible 77 The sin-bearer, and His surety-agony. |
† d. phr. to call to surety.
| 1601 Shakes. All's Well v. iii. 108 She call'd the Saints to suretie, That [etc.]. |
Hence † surety v. trans., to be surety for.
| 1601 Shakes. All's Well v. iii. 298 Good mother fetch my bayle. Stay Royall sir, The Ieweller that owes the Ring is sent for, And he shall surety me. 1607 ― Cor. iii. i. 178 Wee'l Surety him. |