Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Surety

Sure′ty

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Sureties
(#)
.
[OE.
seurte
, OF.
seürté
, F.
sûreté
. See
Sure
,
Security
.]
1.
The state of being sure; certainty; security.
Know of a
surety
, that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs.
Gen. xv. 13.
For the more
surety
they looked round about.
Sir P. Sidney.
2.
That which makes sure; that which confirms; ground of confidence or security.
[We] our happy state
Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;
On other
surety
none.
Milton.
3.
Security against loss or damage; security for payment, or for the performance of some act.
There remains unpaid
A hundred thousand more; in
surety
of the which
One part of Aquitaine is bound to us.
Shakespeare
4.
(Law)
One who is bound with and for another who is primarily liable, and who is called the principal; one who engages to answer for another’s appearance in court, or for his payment of a debt, or for performance of some act; a bondsman; a bail.
He that is
surety
for a stranger shall smart for it.
Prov. xi. 15.
5.
Hence, a substitute; a hostage.
Cowper.
6.
Evidence; confirmation; warrant.
[Obs.]
She called the saints to
surety
,
That she would never put it from her finger,
Unless she gave it to yourself.
Shakespeare

Sure′ty

,
Verb.
T.
To act as surety for.
[Obs.]
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition


Surety

SU'RETY

,
Noun.
Certainty; indubitableness.
Know of a surety, that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs-- Gen.15.
1.
Security; safety.
Yet for the more surety they looked round about.
2.
Foundation of stability; support.
We our state
Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;
On other surety none.
3.
Evidence; ratification; confirmation.
She call'd the saints to surety.
That she would never put it from her finger,
Unless she gave it to yourself.
4.
Security against loss or damage; security for payment.
There remains unpaid
A hundred thousand more, in surety of the which
One part of Aquitain is bound to us.
5.
In law, one that is bound with and for another; one who enters into a bond or recognizance to answer for another's appearance in court, or for his payment of a debt or for the performance of some act, and who, in case of the principal debtor's failure, is compellable to pay the debt or damages; a bondsman; a bail.
He that is surety for a stranger, shall smart for it. Prov.11.
Thy servant became surety for the lad to my father. Gen.44.
6.
In Scripture, Christ is called 'the surety of a better testament.' Heb.7.22. He undertook to make atonement for the sins of men, and thus prepare the way to deliver them from the punishment to which they had rendered themselves liable.
7.
A hostage.

Definition 2024


surety

surety

English

Noun

surety (countable and uncountable, plural sureties)

  1. Certainty.
    • Bible, Genesis xv. 13
      Know of a surety, that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs.
    • Sir Philip Sidney
      For the more surety they looked round about.
  2. That which makes sure; that which confirms; ground of confidence or security.
    • Milton
      [We] our happy state / Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds; / On other surety none.
  3. (law) A promise to pay a sum of money in the event that another person fails to fulfill an obligation.
    • Shakespeare
      There remains unpaid / A hundred thousand more; in surety of the which / One part of Aquitaine is bound to us.# (law) One who undertakes to pay money or perform other acts in the event that his principal fails therein.
    • Bible, Proverbs xi. 15
      He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it.
  4. A substitute; a hostage.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Cowper to this entry?)
  5. Evidence; confirmation; warrant.
    • Shakespeare
      She called the saints to surety, / That she would never put it from her finger, / Unless she gave it to yourself.

Translations

See also