[f. as prec. + -NESS.]
1. Objective certainty; = ASSURANCE 6.
1570. T. Norton, trans. Nowell’s Catech. (1853), 151. He continued and maintained the assuredness of his promises.
1680. H. More, Apocal., Pref. 14. That there may be no distrust of the assuredness of our Interpretation.
1851. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., II. III. II. iii. § 25. That which is doubtful … has strength, sinew, and assuredness, built up in it by fact.
2. Subjective certainty, certitude, confidence, trust; = ASSURANCE 7.
1561. T. N[orton], Calvin’s Inst., I. 14. To fasten in their harts that assurednesse that godlinesse requireth.
a. 1679. T. Goodwin, Wks., 1864, VIII. 266. In all faith there is … an assuredness of the things that I do believe.
3. Self-confidence, firmness of mind, intrepidity; hardihood, audacity. Cf. ASSURANCE 8, 9.
1581. Savile, Tacitus’ Agric. (1622), 202. With an assurednesse and great grace in his countenance.
1613. Sir E. Sackville, in Guardian, No. 133 (1756), II. 199. Being verily mad with anger, the lord Bruce should thirst after my life with a kind of assuredness.
1647. Cottrell, Davila’s Hist. Fr. (1678), 16. To encounter with … assuredness any opposition.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), II. i. 3. To give us women a little air of vanity and assuredness at public places.
