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

(uncountable) The act of paying.

(countable) A sum of money paid in exchange for goods or services.

* , chapter=7

, title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=“[…] This is Mr. Churchill, who, as you are aware, is good enough to come to us for his diaconate, and, as we hope, for much longer; and being a gentleman of independent means, he declines to take any payment .” Saying this Walden rubbed his hands together and smiled contentedly.}}