Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Surety - 8 dictionary results

sur⋅e⋅ty

[shoor-i-tee, shoor-tee, shur-i-tee, shur-tee]
–noun, plural -ties.
1. security against loss or damage or for the fulfillment of an obligation, the payment of a debt, etc.; a pledge, guaranty, or bond.
2. a person who has made himself or herself responsible for another, as a sponsor, godparent, or bondsman.
3. the state or quality of being sure.
4. certainty.
5. something that makes sure; ground of confidence or safety.
6. a person who is legally responsible for the debt, default, or delinquency of another.
7. assurance, esp. self-assurance.

Origin:
1300–50; ME surte < MF; OF seurte < L sēcūritāt-, s. of sēcūritās security
sur·e·ty   (shŏŏr'ĭ-tē)   
n.   pl. sur·e·ties
  1. The condition of being sure, especially of oneself; self-assurance.
  2. Something beyond doubt; a certainty.
  3. A pledge or formal promise made to secure against loss, damage, or default; a security.
  4. One who has contracted to be responsible for another, especially one who assumes responsibilities or debts in the event of default.

[Middle English surte, from Old French, from Latin sēcūritās, from sēcūrus, sure; see secure.]
sur'e·ty·ship' n.

Surety

Sure"ty\, n.; pl. Sureties. [OE. seurte, OF. se["u]rt['e], F. s[^u]ret['e]. 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. --Shak.

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. --Shak.

Surety

Sure"ty\, v. t. To act as surety for. [Obs.] --Shak.

surety 
c.1300, from O.Fr. seurté, from L. securitatem (nom. securitas) "freedom from care or danger, safety, security," from securus (see secure). Until 1966, the Fr. national criminal police department was the Sûreté nationale.

Surety

When a guarantor or a sum of money is held as a guarantee for a loan in good faith.

Investopedia Commentary

It is similar to a deposit on a loan or contract.

See also: Guarantor


Main Entry: sure·ty
Pronunciation: 'shur-&-tE
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ties
Etymology: Anglo-French seurté, literally, guarantee, security, from Old French, from Latin securitat- securitas, from securus secure
1 : a formal engagement (as a pledge) given for the fulfillment of an undertaking
2 : one (as an accommodation party) who promises to answer for the debt or default of another
NOTE: At common law a surety is distinguished from a guarantor by being immediately liable as opposed to becoming liable only upon default of the principal. Under the Uniform Commercial Code, however, a surety includes a guarantor, and the two terms are generally interchangeable.

Surety

one who becomes responsible for another. Christ is the surety of the better covenant (Heb. 7:22). In him we have the assurance that all its provisions will be fully and faithfully carried out. Solomon warns against incautiously becoming security for another (Prov. 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16).

Search another word or see Surety on Thesaurus | Reference