surenessn.
/ˈʃʊənəs/, /ˈʃɔːnəs/, U.S. /ˈʃʊrnəs/ 1.
a. Subjective certainty on the part of an individual; confidence, conviction.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > [noun]
sickerlaika1225
sickerness?c1225
sickerheadc1250
boldness1330
certaintya1340
traistc1340
assurancec1374
certain138.
sureness1419
surancea1450
affiancec1460
certitude?a1475
resting?a1475
security1535
firmancec1540
confidence1555
assuredness1561
resolution1590
plerophory1598
reliance1606
undoubtfulness1619
positiveness1711
positivity1741
decidedness1800
positivism1842
undoubtingness1857
inexpugnability1864
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > [noun]
mid iwissea1000
certaina1300
certaintya1340
sickerness1390
sickerty1405
sureness1419
redinessc1425
suretyc1425
surenessa1475
assurancec1485
certitude1538
constancy1563
assuredness1570
certainness1571
confirmedness1667
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > certain prospect or possession > [noun]
sickernessc1100
sickerty1405
sureness1419
surety1453
certitude1597
securancec1642
1419 Charter Edinb. Reg. House No. 299 The quhilk forsaidis wedsettingis in al pointis articlis and condicons befor writin in al sournes and effecte I apprife [etc.].
a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. (1587) 29 Faith is a surenesse: faith is a sure confidence of things which are hoped for.
1584 T. Lodge Alarum against Vsurers f. 23 I shall ouerpasse the sorrow by surenesse.
1641 ‘Smectymnuus’ Vindic. Answer Hvmble Remonstr. xiii. 129 You give us no ground of your surenesse.
1746 A. Hill Free Thoughts upon Faith 12 What haughtier Sureness, more imprints the Soul, By modern Truth's new Cast of Thought inspir'd, Than sway'd the solemn Pagan's Breast, of Old?
1847 Teacher's Offering May 109 I feel such a sureness that he died for me!
1890 Spectator 8 Mar. 340/2 A strong affection and sureness of faith.
1908 Edinb. Rev. Apr. 345 Memoranda collected..on foreign relations gave him the sureness needed for his gigantic undertaking.
2012 H. Gudenkauf One Breath Away 30 ‘You'll be back,’ my father said with a sureness that made my chest hum with anger.
b. Objective or absolute certainty. Also in in (also for) sureness: surely, certainly. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > [noun]
mid iwissea1000
certaina1300
certaintya1340
sickerness1390
sickerty1405
sureness1419
redinessc1425
suretyc1425
surenessa1475
assurancec1485
certitude1538
constancy1563
assuredness1570
certainness1571
confirmedness1667
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > making certain, assurance > of course, certainly [phrase]
to iwissea1000
mid iwissea1000
in wisc1000
to wis(se)c1000
without(en (any) weenc1175
sans fail1297
thereof no strife1297
but werea1300
forouten werea1300
out of werea1300
without werea1300
without deceit1303
for certainc1320
it is to wittingc1320
withouten carec1320
without nayc1330
without noc1330
without (but out of) dread1340
no doubtc1380
without distancec1390
no fresea1400
out of doubta1400
without doubta1400
for, (in, at obs.), of, to (a) certaintyc1400
withouten stance14..
hazel woods shakea1413
of, on, in warrantisec1440
sure enough?1440
without question?1440
wythout diswerec1440
without any dispayrec1470
for (also of) a surety?a1475
in (also for) surenessa1475
of certainc1485
without any (also all) naya1500
out of question?1526
past question?1526
for sure1534
what else1540
beyond (also out of, past, without) (all) peradventure1542
to be a bidden by1549
out of (also without) all cry1565
with a witness1579
upon my word1591
no question1594
out of all suspicion1600
for a certain1608
without scruple1612
to be sure1615
that's pos1710
in course1722
beyond (all) question1817
(and) no mistake1818
no two ways about it (also that)1818
of course1823
bien entendu1844
yessiree1846
you bet you1857
make no mistake1876
acourse1883
sans doute1890
how are you?1918
you bet your bippy1968
a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) l. 8129 (MED) I the putte in ful surnesse Ther lyth A mortal hunteresse In a-wayt to hyndre the.
a1500 Foly of Fulys & Thewis of Wysmen l. 349 in R. Girvan Ratis Raving & Other Early Scots Poems (1939) 61 For suernes thai wald neuir wyrk.
?1527 Iudycyall of Vryns ii. ii. f. 13v Yet is ther no suernys of amendyng.
a1599 R. Rollock Lect. Epist. Paul to Colossians (1603) vi. 55 The surenes of our redemption by that bloud.
1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge Contents sig. c4 A time beyond which the world shall not hold out, may be fastned on, from the sureness of the bodies rising again.
1711 B. Allen Nat. Hist. Mineral-waters Great Brit. 47 Some Effects are common in some Degree to all the Waters, tho' for Sureness, some are peculiar.
1796 B. S. Barton Mem. Rattle Snake 8 I have known this prejudice so deeply and so powerfully rooted, as to mock the light and sureness of facts, and all the strength of reasoning.
1840 Chinese Repository 9 510 The back of a horse with that of a cow, for sureness wo'nt compare.
1871 E. F. Burr Ad Fidem xii. 228 Does it follow that they [sc. miracles] have never occurred, or even that they cannot be known with scientific sureness to have occurred?
1936 K. K. Darrow Renaissance of Physics iii. 44 Being far short of omniscience, we never can say with absolute sureness that the gas remaining in the tube is having no effect on the phenomena.
2. † a. Safety, security; freedom from danger, protection from harm, loss, escape, etc. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > [noun] > safety or security
frithc893
sickernessc1230
orec1275
suretya1387
sickerty1405
surenessc1425
surance1426
security?a1475
warrandice1512
assurance1559
fastness1596
impunity1800
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iii. l. 5526 (MED) Far-wel oure helpe, now Hector is goon, In [whom] þe surnes of vs euerychon Was wont to reste.
c1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 824 That han be tymes passid this thurghfare, And kowde therin fynde no surenesse.
1534 (?a1500) Weavers' Pageant l. 238 in H. Craig Two Coventry Corpus Christi Plays (1931) 41 That in this lande here he schuld make surenes, And he to be cawlid the Kyng of Pes.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxxix Admonishyng hym..not to myngle..his safetie and surenesse, with the vnstablenesse and vnsuretie of his newe alye.
1573 J. Davidson Breif Commendatioun Vprichtnes xl. 30 Quhat surenes fand the Bischopis halynes Into Dumbartane?
1634 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. Hist. New Test. (STC 12640.5) 276 They bragd of the surenesse of the place, and unremoveablenesse of that load [sc. the stone blocking the mouth of the vault].
b. Soundness, solidity, strength; stability. Frequently in figurative contexts. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > stability, fixity > [noun]
stablenessa1300
tack1412
steadfastnessc1450
surenessc1450
stability1470
radicationa1500
constance1509
steadiness1530
certitudea1533
firmance1533
staidness1556
establishment1561
settledness1571
settling1582
state1597
groundedness1601
inviscerationa1631
setness1642
unmalleableness1644
fixedness1647
poise1649
inveteracy1716
well-foundedness1735
fixity1791
unmalleability1828
deep-rootedness1860
instatement1877
steady state1885
hard and fastness1897
c1450 tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Lyfe Manhode (Cambr.) (1869) 67 The surenesse of the armure.
1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione Courtyer iii. sig. Dd.i The cause then of the continuall loue of the woman towarde the first that she hath bine with,..I impute it to the surenesse and stablenesse of the woman, and waueringe of the man.
1650 T. Bayly Worcesters Apophthegmes To Rdr. sig. A3v [Like] the man who went to search after the surenesse of the foundation, when his house was all on fire.
1689 T. Grantham Truth & Peace 79 If the Pomps and Celebrity of Marriage be omitted, nothing is wanting to the Firmness and Sureness of Marriage.
1766 T. Craner Christian Hero's Work & Crown 21 The absolute stability and sureness of the covenant of grace.
1856 R. Duncan Of Living by Faith iv. 250 We know the sureness of the foundation of a house which standeth upon a rock.
1914 Sci. Amer. 5 Sept. 190/1 (advt.) Continental Mortors... The sureness of construction that five-score companies link their reputations with!
3. The quality of being unerring or unfailing, infallibility; accuracy, assurance, or proficiency of aim, perception, touch, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > [noun]
rightness?a1425
sureness1589
accurateness1611
right1633
rectitude1656
unerringnessa1674
justness1832
errorlessness1875
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > reliability > [noun]
sureness1589
unfailableness1624
unfailingnessa1656
undoubtedness1691
reliability1810
reliableness1841
1589 P. Ive tr. R. Beccarie de Pavie Instr. Warres i. iv. 25 I would commend them [sc. archers and crossebow men]..for the surenesse of their shot, which is almost neuer in vayne.
1642 J. Ward Taking of Winchester sig. A3v Two hundred of their men that were best horst, For speed and surenesse, presently rode post, To strike th'Allarum up.
1764 Museum Rusticum 2 lxxi. 233 I know this method will be objected to, as being slow; but the sureness of it makes full amends.
1837 W. Irving Adventures Capt. Bonneville III. xli. 128 The detection of this blunder in the two veterans, who prided themselves on the sureness and quickness of their sight.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. xvii. 316 The chamois itself, with its..admirable sureness of foot, is not always safe among the crevasses.
1911 J. L. Myres Dawn of Hist. viii. 181 An artistic style..able to draw inspiration from other styles and methods, without losing the sureness of its own touch.
1960 H. Innes Doomed Oasis v. 245 He worked fast and with absolute sureness, but it all took time.
2011 K. C. Belmonte Defiant Joy xii. 111 Chesterton's book carried with it a gravitas and sureness of touch that belied his years.
Phrases
† for (also occasionally to) (the more) sureness and variants: for greater certainty, to make sure, to be on the safe side. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > caution > with caution [phrase] > on the safe side, etc.
for (also occasionally to) (the more) sureness1419
on the safe side1719
safety first1843
better (to be) safe than sorry1874
1419 in R. A. Hay Geneal. Sainteclaires (1835) 61 And for the mair seuirnes all thir conditiones..and trewly to be kepyt in maner and forme befor saide.
a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1905) i. 192 To the more surenesse, this charter is made endented.
1525 tr. H. von Brunschwig Noble Experyence Vertuous Handy Warke Surg. liv. sig. M.iv/2 Therfore is put in the wounde oyle of roses before the tentes, for surenes that there shall no euyll accedent come ther to.
1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus (iii. 2) 575 How often for surenes hath the Lord threatned, [etc.].
1679 tr. Trag. Hist. Jetzer 10 M. Magdalene, who devoutly gather'd the Blood that dropt from his wounds as he hung there, and for sureness took up the Earth with it.
a1714 J. Sharp 18 Serm. (1716) xiii. 283 They were in doubt which was the right day..and therefore for sureness, they would keep both.
a1728 J. Woodward Attempt Nat. Hist. Fossils Eng. (1729) 118 He diverted himself so much with the Speculation of the Seed of Coral; and, as for more sureness he repeats it, the Sperme of Coral.
1754 E. Farneworth tr. G. Leti Life Pope Sixtus V x. 414 When Sixtus heard of his death, he pretended that his effects belong'd to the nephew that was hang'd (as an estate in trust) and for sureness order'd the officers of the Apostolick Chamber to seize upon it.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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