Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Sure

Sure

,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Surer
;
sup
erl.
Surest
.]
[OE.
sur
, OF.
seür
, F.
sûr
, L.
securus
;
se
aside, without +
cura
care. See
Secure
, and cf.
Assure
,
Insure
,
Sicker
sure.]
1.
Certainly knowing and believing; confident beyond doubt; implicity trusting; unquestioning; positive.
We are
sure
that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
Rom. ii. 2.
I’m
sure
care 's an enemy of life.
Shakespeare
2.
Certain to find or retain;
as, to be
sure
of game; to be
sure
of success; to be
sure
of life or health
.
3.
Fit or worthy to be depended on; certain not to fail or disappoint expectation; unfailing; strong; permanent; enduring.
“His sure word.”
Keble.
The Lord will certainly make my lord a
sure
house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord.
1 Sam. xxv. 28.
The testimony of the Lord is
sure
.
Ps. xix. 7.
Which put in good
sure
leather sacks.
Chapman.
4.
Betrothed; engaged to marry.
[Obs.]
The king was
sure
to Dame Elizabeth Lucy, and her husband before God.
Sir T. More.
I presume . . . that you had been
sure
as fast as faith could bind you, man and wife.
Brome.
5.
Free from danger; safe; secure.
Fear not; the forest is not three leagues off;
If we recover that we are
sure
enough.
Shakespeare
–
To be sure
, or
Be sure
,
certainly; without doubt; as, Shall you do? To be sure I shall.
–
To make sure
.
(a)
To make certain; to secure so that there can be no failure of the purpose or object.
“Make Cato sure.”
Addison.
“A peace can not fail, provided we make sure of Spain.”
Sir W. Temple.
(b)
To betroth.
[Obs.]
She that's
made sure
to him she loves not well.
Cotgrave.
Syn. – Certain; unfailing; infallible; safe; firm; permanent; steady; stable; strong; secure; indisputable; confident; positive.

Sure

,
adv.
In a sure manner; safely; certainly.
“Great, sure, shall be thy meed.”
Spenser.
'T is pleasant,
sure
, to see one's name in print.
Byron.

Webster 1828 Edition

Sure

SURE

,
Adj.
shure. [L. assevero, and to be connected with swear, and perhaps with L. verus; s being the remains of a prefix.]
1.
Certain; unfailing; infallible.
The testimony of the Lord is sure. Ps.19.
We have also a more sure word of prophecy. 2 Pet.1.
2.
Certainly knowing, or having full confidence.
We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth-- Rom.2.
Now we are sure that thou knowest all things. John 16.
3.
Certain; safe; firm; permanent.
Thy kingdom shall be sure to thee. Dan.4.
4.
Firm; stable; steady; not liable to failure, loss or change; as a sure covenant. 2 Sam. 23. Neh.9. Is.28.
The Lord will make my lord a sure house. 1 Sam.25.
So we say, to stand sure, to be sure of foot.
5.
Certain of obtaining or of retaining; as, to be sure of game; to be sure of success; to be sure of life or health.
6.
Strong; secure; not liable to be broken or disturbed.
Go your way, make it as sure as ye can. Math.27.
7.
Certain; not liable to failure. The income is sure.
To be sure, or be sure, certainly. Shall you go? be sure I shall.
To make sure, to make certain; to secure so that there can be no failure of the purpose or object.
Make sure of Cato.
A peace cannot fail, provided we make sure of Spain.
Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure. 2 Pet. 1.

SURE

,
adv.
Certainly; without doubt; doubtless.
Sure the queen would wish him still unknown.
[But in this sense, surely is more generally used.]

Definition 2024

Sure

Sure

See also: sure, süre, and sûre

German

Noun

Sure f ‎(genitive Sure, plural Suren)

  1. sura

sure

sure

See also: Sure, süre, and sûre

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

sure ‎(comparative surer, superlative surest)

  1. Physically secure and certain, non-failing, reliable.
    This investment is a sure thing.   The bailiff had a sure grip on the prisoner's arm.‎
  2. Certain in one's knowledge or belief.
    • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 4, in The Celebrity:
      The Celebrity, by arts unknown, induced Mrs. Judge Short and two other ladies to call at Mohair on an afternoon when Mr. Cooke was trying a trotter on the track. The three returned wondering and charmed with Mrs. Cooke; they were sure she had had no hand in the furnishing of that atrocious house.
    He was sure she was lying.   I am sure of my eventual death.   John was acting sure of himself but in truth had doubts.‎
  3. Certain to act or be a specified way.
    Be sure to lock the door when you leave.‎
  4. (obsolete) Free from danger; safe; secure.
    • Shakespeare
      Fear not; the forest is not three leagues off; / If we recover that we are sure enough.
  5. (obsolete) Betrothed; engaged to marry.
    • Sir T. More
      The king was sure to Dame Elizabeth Lucy, and her husband before God.
    • Brome
      I presume […] that you had been sure as fast as faith could bind you, man and wife.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Look at pages starting with sure.

Translations

Adverb

sure ‎(comparative more sure, superlative most sure)

  1. (modal adverb) Without doubt, certainly.
    Sure he's coming! Why wouldn't he?
    "Did you kill that bear yourself? ―"I sure did!"

Usage notes

  • Often proscribed in favor of surely. May be informal.

Interjection

sure

  1. Yes. (Expresses noncommittal agreement or consent.)
    "Do you want me to put this in the garage?" "Sure, go ahead."‎
  2. Yes; of course.
    "Could you tell me where the washrooms are?" "Sure, they're in the corner over there."‎

Synonyms

  • (noncommittal yes): OK, yes

Translations

References

  • 1996, T.F. Hoad, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Etymology, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0192830988

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: er · children · English · #320: sure · indeed · leave · rest

Anagrams

Danish

Adjective

sure

  1. definite and plural of sur

Finnish

Verb

sure

  1. Indicative present connegative form of surra.
  2. Second-person singular imperative present form of surra.
  3. Second-person singular imperative present connegative form of surra.

Anagrams

French

Adjective

sure

  1. feminine singular of sur

Anagrams

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

sure

  1. singular definite of sur
  2. plural of sur

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

sure

  1. singular definite of sur
  2. plural of sur

Old English

Etymology

From Germanic, related to sūr ‎(“sour”).

Pronunciation

Noun

sūre f

  1. sorrel

Romanian

Adjective

sure

  1. feminine singular genitive form of sur
  2. feminine singular dative form of sur
  3. feminine plural nominative form of sur
  4. feminine plural accusative form of sur
  5. neuter plural nominative form of sur
  6. neuter plural accusative form of sur
  7. feminine plural genitive form of sur
  8. feminine plural dative form of sur
  9. neuter plural genitive form of sur
  10. neuter plural dative form of sur

Swedish

Adjective

sure

  1. absolute definite natural masculine form of sur.

Turkish

Etymology

From Arabic سُورَة ‎(sūra).

Noun

sure ‎(definite accusative sureyi, plural sureler)

  1. sura

Declension

Etymology

From Middle English sure, sur, from Middle French sur, from 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. Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis ‎(“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewis, ġewiss ‎(“certain, sure”)), Middle English siker ‎(“sure, secure”) (from Old English sicor ‎(“secure, sure”)).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈsuːre/

Similar Results