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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.

The state of being surety; the obligation of a person to answer for the debt, default, or miscarriage of another. Bouvier.

One who is surety with another.

Insecurity. [Obs.]

Want of surety; uncertainty; insecurity; doubt. [Obs.] Sir T. More.

A bond or obligation given by a prisoner and his surety, to insure the prisoner's appearance in court, at the return of the writ.

A surety; one who is bound, or who gives security, for another.

The pledge or surety thus given. Blackstone. Tomlins.

Something deposited as security; a pledge; a surety; a hostage. [Obs.] Ye may retain as borrows my two priests. Sir W. Scott.

A surety or sponsor.

Suretyship.

tatement, a statement made in opposition to, or denial of, another statement. -- Counter surety, a counter bond, or a surety to secure one who has given security. -- Counter tally, a tally corresponding to another. -- Counter tide, contrary tide.

of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce. [Obs.] I defy the surety and the bond. Chaucer. For thee I have defied my constant mistress. Beau. & Fl.

to exhaust a remedy against, as against a principal debtor before proceeding against the surety. Burrill.

One who enters into an engagement or agreement; a surety. Several sufficient citizens were engagers. Wood.

The act or state of being bound as surety for another; suretyship.

A surety; one bound for another, conjointly with him; a guarantor. Blackstone.

A pledge or surety for the good behavior of freemen, -- each freeman who was a member of an ancient decennary, tithing, or friborg, in England, being a pledge for the good conduct of the others, for the preservation of the public peace; a free surety.

A man who becomes sponsor for a child at baptism, and makes himself a surety for its Christian training and instruction. There shall be for every Male-child to be baptized, when they can be had, two Godfathers and one Godmother; and for every Female, one Godfather and two Godmothers; and Parents shall be admitted as Sp…

One who makes or gives a guaranty; a warrantor; a surety.