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Surety
Definitions
- 1 Certainty. countable, uncountable
"Know of a surety, that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs."
- 2 something clearly established wordnet
- 3 That which makes sure; that which confirms; ground of confidence or security. countable, uncountable
"[We] our happy state Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds; On other surety none."
- 4 a guarantee that an obligation will be met wordnet
- 5 A promise to pay a sum of money in the event that another person fails to fulfill an obligation. countable, uncountable
"There remains unpaid A hundred thousand more; in surety of the which One part of Aquitaine is bound to us."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 one who provides a warrant or guarantee to another wordnet
- 7 One who undertakes to pay money or perform other acts in the event that his principal fails therein. countable, uncountable
"He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it."
- 8 a prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another party will meet specified terms wordnet
- 9 A substitute; a hostage. countable, uncountable
"...It happen’d on a solemn eventide, Soon after He that was our surety died, Two bosom friends, each pensively inclined, The scene of all those sorrows left behind, Sought their own village, busied as they went In musings worthy of the great event: They spake of Him they loved, of Him whose life, Though blameless, had incurr’d perpetual strife, Whose deeds had left, in spite of hostile arts, A deep memorial graven on their hearts..."
- 10 property that your creditor can claim in case you default on your obligation wordnet
- 11 Evidence; confirmation; warrant. countable, uncountable
"She called the saints to surety, That she would never put it from her finger, Unless she gave it to yourself."
Etymology
From Middle English surete, attested since the early 1300s in the sense "guarantee, promise, pledge, assurance", from Anglo-Norman seurté/Old French seurté with the same meaning (whence modern French sûreté), from Latin sēcūritās. Equivalent to sure + -ty. The senses "security, safety, stability" and "certainty" are attested since the late 1300s. "One who undertakes to pay if another does not" is from the early 1400s. Doublet of security.
See also for "surety"
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