Noun

(wikipedia surety)

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.

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.

(legal) 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.

(legal) 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.

A substitute; a hostage.

(Cowper)

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.

Noun

(en noun)

(countable) A firmly held belief.

(countable) A judgement of guilt in a court of law.

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=December 14 , author=Steven Morris , title=Devon woman jailed for 168 days for killing kitten in microwave , work=Guardian citation , page= , passage=He said Robins had not been in trouble with the law before and had no previous convictions . Jail would have an adverse effect on her and her three children as she was the main carer.}}

(uncountable) The state of being found or proved guilty.

(uncountable) The state of being convinced.

* 2013 , Daniel Taylor, Rickie Lambert's debut goal gives England victory over Scotland'' (in ''The Guardian , 14 August 2013)[http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/14/england-scotland-international-friendly]

The visitors were being pinned back by the end of the first half. Yet Gordon Strachan's side played with great conviction and always had a chance of springing a surprise when their opponents were so susceptible at the back.