Obs. exc. dial. (see Eng. Dial. Dict.). Forms: see prec.; also 5 suyr, sowyr; 6 pa. pple. (Sc.) suirit, sewerit, -at, sewarat, severit. [Aphetic f. ASSURE v. Cf. SOVER v.]
† 1. trans. To make or keep safe, to secure; = ASSURE 1. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 14. Whanne þei … suren hem of al perel.
c. 1470. Harding, Chron., CLXXVII. vi. (MS. Arch. Seld. B. 10), lf. 139 b. Þey myht nat passen oute But thorouȝth a mosse þat al men trowed was sured.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), III. 412. That halie place wes suirit … Fra fyre, bot nocht fra spulȝe and fra reif.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 108. And with thair handis thay sall the sure, That thow hurt nocht aganis ane craig Thy fute.
† 2. To give an assurance or promise to (a person); to secure (a thing) to a person by a pledge or promise. Obs.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 547. Conscience and kynde witte … deden me suren hym sikerly to serue hym for euere.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 12386. And also anothir thing sche schold hym Sure: that harm to his body scholde sche neuere do.
c. 1460. Play Sacram., 279. I wolle sure yow be thys lyght Neuer dystrie yow daye nor nyght.
† 3. To bind by promise, plight, pledge (one’s faith or troth). Obs.
c. 1400. Beryn, 1486. I suyr ȝew my trowith … That I shall do my devoir.
c. 1450. Merlin, xxxi. 628. Than thei sured theire feithes be-twene her two to holde these covenauntes.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 170. Henry, than stywarde of Godestowe, suryd hys trowthe for the Abbas & couent þys couenant to be kepyd.
† 4. pass. To be bound by a promise or pledge; spec. to be engaged to marry, to be betrothed (cf. SURE a. 7 a). Obs.
1420–2. Lydg., Thebes, 2234. He sured was and sworn To Tydeus.
c. 1475. Partenay, 5087. In noble Bretain gan he to mary, Affyed and sured to A gret lady.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Poge, xi. A wydower wowed a wydowe for to … Wedde her to his wyf And at the last they were agreed and sured to gyder.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 38. All the bordaris … quho war sewarat witht thame. Ibid., 42. Quho had bene constranit … to be severit [v.r. suirit] and tak on the reid crose and obey thame selfis to be trew subiectis to king Harrie.
5. To make (a person) sure or certain; = ASSURE 9, 10. Now dial.
c. 1400. Beryn, 1886. I suyr þe be my fey That þow art much I-bound to me.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 112. Fyrst I wyll be sewyred, That ower cownselle ye wylle kepe.
a. 1536. Songs, Carols, etc. (E.E.T.S.), 9. He was born of a virgyn pure,… as I you sure.
[1667. Dryden & Dk. Newcastle, Sir M. Mar-all, IV. i. How shall I be ’sur’d ’tis so?]
