Obs. Also suers-. [f. SURE a. + -BY 2.] An appellation for a person (and hence for a thing) that is ‘sure’ or may be depended upon.
[a. 1553. Udall, Royster D., IV. i. (Arb.), 59. Is there any man but I Sym Suresby alone, That would haue taken such an enterprise him vpon?]
1553. Bradford, Serm. Repent. (1574), E vj b. Remedy now know I none. What said I none?… Yes, there is one which is suresby, as they say, to serue, if any thyng wyl serue.
1588. Marprel. Epist., 4. I am olde suersbie at the proofe of such matters.
1588. J. Harvey, Disc. Probl., 98. Sundry like ancient surebies and old sokers.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Andria, IV. v. You are the same man that you were: old suresbie [ed. 1607 surebie]: no flinsher.
1602. F. Hering, Anat., 14. He flieth to those old Suresbies and Trudge blew-coats, Antimony and Mercury Precipitate.
1603. Harsnet, Pop. Impost., xii. 63. This was the traynd sent, he knew his dogges were old suers-by at this.
1634. Withals’ Dict., 562. Lydius sive Heracleus lapis, hee is old suresby.
1643. Trapp, Comm. Gen. xxix. 13. Look rather unto the Lord,… he is the onely Suresby, as they say; and will never fail us.
attrib. 1612. T. James, Corrupt. Scripture, II. 13. All the printed and written copies haue forsaken him, saue only the old suresby Cambron copie.
1675. J. Smith, Chr. Relig. Appeal, II. 83. Dealing with every man at his own suresby-weapon.
