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Sure
Definitions
- 1 Physically secure and certain, non-failing, reliable.
"This investment is a sure thing."
- 2 Certain in one's knowledge or belief.
"The very excess of the extravagance, in fact, by suggesting to the reader continually the mere aeriality of the entire speculation, furnishes the surest means of disenchanting him from the horror which might else gather upon his feelings."
- 3 Certain to act or be a specified way.
"Be sure to lock the door when you leave."
- 4 Free from danger; safe; secure. obsolete
"Feare not: the Forreſt is not three leagues off, / If we recouer that, we are ſure enough."
- 5 Betrothed; engaged to marry. obsolete
"c. 1513-1518 (probably date written, published after 1535) Thomas More, History of King Richard III The king was sure to Dame Elizabeth Lucy, and her husband before God."
- 1 exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance wordnet
- 2 impossible to doubt or dispute wordnet
- 3 having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured wordnet
- 4 certain to occur; destined or inevitable wordnet
- 5 reliable in operation or effect wordnet
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 physically secure or dependable wordnet
- 7 certain not to fail wordnet
- 8 infallible or unfailing wordnet
- 9 (of persons) worthy of trust or confidence wordnet
- 1 Without doubt, certainly. modal
"Sure he's coming! Why wouldn't he?"
- 2 Without fail, surely. archaic
"Theſe are the wings ſhall make it flie as ſwift, As dooth the lightening: or the breath of heauen, And kill as ſure as it ſwiftly flies."
- 1 definitely or positively (‘sure’ is sometimes used informally for ‘surely’) wordnet
- 1 Yes; of course.
""Could you tell me where the washrooms are?" "Sure, they're in the corner over there.""
- 2 Yes; I guess; you could say that; a weak or noncommittal positive response.
""Do you like cats?" "Sure.""
- 3 You're welcome; polite response to being thanked.
""Thanks for helping me with that electrical fault." "Sure. Any time.""
Etymology
From Middle English sure, seur, sur, from Middle French sur or Old French seür, from Latin sēcūrus (“secure”, literally “carefree”), from sē- (“apart”) + cūra (“care”) (compare Old English orsorg (“carefree”), from or- (“without”) + sorg (“care”)). See cure. Doublet of secure and the now obsolete or dialectal sicker (“certain, safe”). Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewis, ġewiss (“certain, sure”)), as well as Middle English siker (“sure, secure”) (from Old English sicor (“secure, sure”)) with which it was cognate.
From Middle English sure, seur, sur, from Middle French sur or Old French seür, from Latin sēcūrus (“secure”, literally “carefree”), from sē- (“apart”) + cūra (“care”) (compare Old English orsorg (“carefree”), from or- (“without”) + sorg (“care”)). See cure. Doublet of secure and the now obsolete or dialectal sicker (“certain, safe”). Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewis, ġewiss (“certain, sure”)), as well as Middle English siker (“sure, secure”) (from Old English sicor (“secure, sure”)) with which it was cognate.
From Middle English sure, seur, sur, from Middle French sur or Old French seür, from Latin sēcūrus (“secure”, literally “carefree”), from sē- (“apart”) + cūra (“care”) (compare Old English orsorg (“carefree”), from or- (“without”) + sorg (“care”)). See cure. Doublet of secure and the now obsolete or dialectal sicker (“certain, safe”). Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewis, ġewiss (“certain, sure”)), as well as Middle English siker (“sure, secure”) (from Old English sicor (“secure, sure”)) with which it was cognate.
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